The Happy2bHardcore DJ and Rave Legend
For those of you that know the history, or have read the book, one of the early main characters is MC E-by-gum.
We’ve floated in and out of touch over the years. I was able to tell him he was going to be in the book, but he recently contacted me again and I was able to get his current mailing address and his copy is today’s mail.
He’s married with children and now lives on the west coast of Canada with his family.
Readers of Requiem for My Rave will recognize the reference to “AMC hot dog kid”. A fan that had an encounter with me. The story had it’s ups and downs (ultimately up), but I’m glad that they got to see that I thought it important enough to include in the book.
I haven’t seen or heard from this person for over 15 years but received an email from them that they were glad they got to make it back for the final Hullabaloo and be included in the book.
It was a pleasure for me to hear from them, and I’m glad the book is making its way out in the world.
A recurring theme through the raver letters in Requiem for My Rave, and even now in the reviews for my book, are a very similar message: You saved my life.
I never shirked from this responsibility. I always knew the stakes were high. That was why I did what I did.
Looking back, I admire that young-self version of me. All that responsibility thrust onto the shoulders of an early 20-something. In many ways seen as a father figure, even though just a young kid myself.
I did the best I could with what I had, and I’m proud of what I accomplished.
I’m proud to share those memories today.
I’m extremely proud to hear your stories.
My time was before social media, so I don’t have any. My book is now out in the world and it can use all the help it can get spreading the word. Please share information about the release, post your own reviews (especially at Amazon), and help the book find its audience. My hope is the book will find fans outside of old ravers, but anyone interested in a human story and a topic rarely written about.
Have you read it? Please leave your comments at the bottom of the official Requiem for My Rave page.
Thanks.
I’m really happy with how the cover turned out. This is the story of the process.
Initially I had found a very well-known cover designer. He has designed many famous book covers. I wanted something that I could put on my wall, that I could be proud of. I spared no expense in producing this book and was ready to pay whatever it took to make it happen. I contacted him and we had a phone conversation that lasted an hour. I talked about the themes of the book, of service, sacrifice, triumph through adversity, of creation.
“Wow, that’s a lot to fit into a cover”, he responded.
Continue reading “How the cover for Requiem for My Rave was designed”
This is captured video of the book reading for REQUIEM FOR MY RAVE.
Over 200 people attended this special Hullabaloo “high school reunion” event and hear about the new book. It was a very special night with a ton of love in the room.
The following is an excerpt from Requiem for My Rave: The Story of Anabolic Frolic, Happy Hardcore, and Hullabaloo!
The noise was deafening, unlike any noise you might hear anywhere else. Nothing was like this. Thousands of young partiers, around 3000 of them, blowing their whistles and screaming simultaneously. It pierced into your brain, but it was also the sound of pure joy. It was also almost six in the morning.
This particular morning was a cold Canadian one at the Docks Entertainment Complex in the Toronto Port Lands—really the middle of nowhere, but with a beautiful view across a slice of Lake Ontario to the tall modern buildings of downtown Toronto. The lake was frozen over, with the wind blowing snow across its glass surface. Inside the venue the windows were steamy with condensation from the humidity of thousands of dancers, creating running tears on the inside glass. The city was sleeping, as the ear-piercing noise filled the club.
There was a rave happening here, one of the illicit all-night events of myth and legend. This wasn’t any old rave, however; this was a “Hullabaloo!”, affectionately referred to as “Hulla,” one of history’s most celebrated and revered rave promotions. The members of the crowd weren’t just ravers but were the most colorful collection of “Hulla Ravers” you would ever come across.
The noise was meant in appreciation for me, Chris, better known to a generation of ravers as Anabolic Frolic, their DJ of the past hour. And also, the promoter of Hullabaloo, this very event that they so appreciated. Continue reading “Requiem for My Rave Excerpt”
The most recent Star article mounted for my memorabilia wall.
The Toronto Star did a feature about me and my upcoming memoir.
My memoirs of my rave years has just been released, titled Requiem For My Rave. A requiem is an act of remembrance. The second part of the title refers to “my” rave. This thing that I created and suffered in service for.
I started writing the book at the conclusion of my rave company, Hullabaloo, in 2005. I finished the first draft in 2009. I then hit “save” and ten years passed.
I returned to the book at the start of 2019. I had begun the process of digitizing old VHS tape of my performances to upload to YouTube. Continue reading “Requiem For My Rave”
I have the advance copies of my new memoir in my hands, Requiem For My Rave.
14 years in the making, my memoirs titled REQUIEM FOR MY RAVE: THE STORY OF ANABOLIC FROLIC, HAPPY HARDCORE, AND HULLABALOO! has a release date of Nov 19, 2019!
We’re going to do a very special Hullabaloo book launch party titled ONE LAST GROUP HUG on the same day. Not a rave but a “class reunion” and one last chance for old faces to see each other again.
