Before we get started, let’s clearly define what the “golden age” is exactly.
The golden age of Toronto raves can be neatly packaged within the Captain B. Mental era. Lest we forget one of Toronto’s original ravers who was a driving force behind the inception of Toronto’s scene. In the September 1995 issue of The Communic8r, John Angus of Exodus Productions cited Captain as an influence while forming Toronto’s first raves. He was also the brainchild behind Pleasure Force, he owned and operated X-Static (“Toronto’s Rave HQ”) and financed numerous other rave companies. He earned the scene’s highest honors for being an integral part of its heritage and growth. And yet it was the Captain’s integrity that would eventually be questioned under court martial.
In mid-1995 he went AWOL from the scene after purchasing a one way ticket out of Canada. Numerous extra-curricular activities had caught up to Alan Stephenson (the not-so-secret identity of B. Mental). Rumors swirled that he was spotted in Mexico, then Russia, and later confirmed that he was back in Britain. His departure triggered a series of unfortunate events where truth became stranger than even Lemony Snickett’s fiction. With no Captain left to pilot the ship and tragedy surrounding Stephenson’s replacement, Toronto was entering uncharted territory.
Regardless, by the time 1996 rolled around, the scene had evolved so prematurely there was no more room for innovation. This status was the result of the city’s pioneering promoters who were aware of the scene’s potential and overzealous to synchronize it with the UK. Our events were laced with top live acts, amazing attractions and massive productions which always outdid the last. The city’s earliest ravers were spoiled at the expense of the promoters, their staff or the service providers they couldn’t afford to pay. Barring Britain, our scene couldn’t be topped, even literally, given one event would land on the then highest free-standing structure in the world: the CN Tower.
The only thing left to achieve was to grow the scene which contradicts the clandestine concept of raving; nevertheless by the late 1990s Toronto raving became so mainstream it rivaled the popularity of clubbing in the entertainment district. The term “rave” which once represented a surreptitious society no longer needed to be explained to joe public thanks to negative media coverage. This prompted heavy involvement from the police department followed by a city hall agenda of anti-rave resolutions for the new millennium.
Having said all that, I feel the period spanning 1991-1995 defines the golden age of raving in Toronto.
Relax, I’m not saying there were no good raves in ‘96 and beyond; I know there were plenty. Although I do firmly believe Toronto’s first five years were its best. Whether you agree with me or not, surely you must agree that the latter part of the scene left everyone with mixed emotions on the movement. Unfortunately the worst parts of it were strung together and immortalized in a 1999 book titled, Rave America: New School Dancescapes. Upon publication, it was clear those who offered their words weren’t prepared for the author’s sensationalized portrayal of Toronto’s scene. Claims of misquoting and misinformation appeared online and eventually the author surfaced, stood by her work and fired back. The rest of the scene, now guilty by association, jumped in the shower to get rid of that not-so-fresh feeling the book left behind.
Let’s start from scratch and remind ourselves there’s a hell of a lot Toronto did right.
July 7th, 2009 at 8:42 pm
My first rave was in 1991 in toronto at Nitrous 012 with 2unlimited and was raving right through 96 does that make me a geezer?
July 7th, 2009 at 11:10 pm
We hereby declare you a certified geezer. (P.S. 2 Unlimited played Nitrous 013 in 1992, we’re still stuck in 1991.)
July 8th, 2009 at 8:33 am
summer 92 glenn, I took you there and you never left for 10 years… haha, and your still kicking, bro..
July 26th, 2009 at 10:06 pm
Our circle of friends had a huge following many weekends to Better Days, Pleasure Force Parties and danced and talked about dj dan, jeremy heally, terry mullin./……they were great times. We were truly spoiled. It isnt and hasnt been the same in years and now we all have marriages, children, professions and responsibilties but more than the memories, the ability to still tap into and feel the genuintiy of others and love felt at that time, can be fun to reminisce, but depressing, knowing it will never be repeated. Were the feelings real? Some of us made life altering decisions during this period and now, nothing measures up. There is a feeling of hopelessness in our now, marriages, relationships, etc….and we question the reality of the past. Was it a sham? Were we all tricked? Because now, it is not so easy to feel the love and connect with others anymore.. Especially those who we once connected with.
September 28th, 2009 at 3:22 pm
WOW sooooo many memories
February 11th, 2010 at 11:33 am
Wow tru memories brought back.. i remember the pleasure force days better days i was at destiny 1!! those were the yrs but the scene has grown from that n is now worldwide we started a pheneomenal thing which tdot has carried into the now.. jungle dnb scene is huge but again the pioneers mystical marcus every1 cap j ravin will always be a place to come 2gether in peace love n music one luv
March 18th, 2010 at 1:41 pm
Yes!!! I can officially say I was there for the “good old days” :^) The Golden Age mark is very fitting for the era; i believe that those who witnessed it can say that there was something extraordinary about the time, the city and the people that provided a context for the phenomenon we experienced. I feel very privileged to have been among the ranks of those who saw the light.
April 16th, 2010 at 11:18 pm
i just listened to the ruffneck from Delirium meeting of minds! 1994! my first rave i still remember walking out of the concert hall, up yonge street, dazed and tripping on acid! going back to Cj’s place,, he had a set of RCMP roof lights hanging off his ceiling! i still think, what did i discover? this new jungle music? everyones having a blast! and nice weed everywhere! and no cops! this is awesome!
16yrs later, i still get out!
April 20th, 2010 at 6:27 am
Lots of truth Marnie. Things don’t seem as good now as they did back then.
It’s a bittersweet feeling reading these, those were good times.
May 27th, 2010 at 1:05 pm
The good thing about memories is that we can make new ones as we please. Yes, ‘back in the day’ things were better and more exciting in the scene but we still have some excellent parties! Cherry Beach Sundays courtesy of Promise; Harvest Festival, etc. Get out there and make new memories!
July 21st, 2010 at 12:04 pm
I agree with Marnie – I used to come to toronto every weekend from the states and I would do anything to be able to feel that type of connection and acceptance and just pure happiness again. It felt so exciting and amazing to be a part of the birth of a scene unlike anything ever before. Most of my tapes from that era got played so much that they are worn thru and I didn’t have a way to convert them so if anyone knows any sites that have old sets for download please let me know – I would also be dying for any video footage because as we all know this scene was before everyone had a cell phone let alone video recorders. I miss those days so much and still get butterflies in my stomach when I hear tracks from that time