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CLUB 101: START WITH YOUR READING!

Nothing happens in a vaccum club-wise, except more vacuous nightclubs! The truly creative night will often reflect or reference the many nightclub cultures that have gone before - even if it means a total negation of them. Though Jackie 60 actually sought to recreate past clubs as part of her "Great Club Series", many more clubs are inspired by an updating of past aesthetics. For example, Studio 54's Velvet Rope became an in-joke at the door of the tiny, gritty Mudd Club. If you'd like to know more about the long and glorious history of Nightclubbing, here are some excellent places to start: six of our fifteen indispensable books for creative club producers, in association with amazon.com. We own at least one copy of each, and consult them regularly. Enjoy!

1) Lipstick Traces by Greil Marcus

If you are going to read one book from our list, this is the one! A masterfully written history of nihilistic impulses expressed in worldwide music and club scenes from the Cabaret Voltaire through Post-Punk.
Lipstick Traces

2) The Andy Warhol Diaries -Editor Pat Hackett

Andy not only went out, he took copious notes! As the rest of the night world was on a giant coke binge for decades, this book often provides the only names, dates and places for researching parties and club personalities. Until it's available as searchable hypertext, the index is indispensable.
warhol diaries

3) Last Night A DJ Saved My Life:
The History Of The Disc Jockey

The best new nightclub book in years! The story of world clubbing as told by master spinners - lots of insider accounts of decades of legendary nightspots. We've been out in New York clubs for over two decades, and worked in many, and we still learned plenty!

DJ Book Cover

4) The Psychotronic Encyclopedia of Film

From Vamp/Gothic nights to Lesbian go-go bashes, much of underground nightclub culture borrows from psychotronic and cult film. This bible is a must for creative club producers in search of ideas, themes and inspiration.
psychotronic enc.

5) Please Kill Me by Legs McNeill

This uncensored oral history of Punk's glory days is a must for capturing the essence of this homegrown and still-influential club movement.
please kill me

6) Low Life by Luc Sante

Did you know that nocturnal New York was infinitely more sleazy, outrageous and fun in the 19th century than it was in the 20th? That the tranny clubs of Civil War era NY were as prevalent as today's? Fascinating and inspirational.
low life