Available Formats
Hardback
Published: 12th September 2023
Paperback
Published: 26th September 2023
Paperback
Published: 3rd December 2024
Rave New World: Confessions of a Raving Reporter
By (Author) Kirk Field
Bonnier Books Ltd
Nine Eight Books
12th September 2023
22nd June 2023
United Kingdom
General
Non Fiction
Music reviews and criticism
Music recording and reproduction
Reportage, journalism or collected columns
781.648
Hardback
368
Width 143mm, Height 219mm, Spine 32mm
431g
'Love this book! It triggers so many memories of the rave era. Thoroughlyrecommended.' - FATBOY SLIM
'Captures the hedonism and humour of the nineties with a laugh-out-loud honesty.The perfect Ibiza holiday read...if you can get it through customs!' - JUDGE JULES
As a humble barman at the M25 Orbital raves, Kirk Field witnessed the moment acid house exploded. Inspired by media lies to start writing the truth about what he saw unfolding, Kirk became a 'raving' reporter for the clubbers' bible Mixmag, covering the historic parties from the inside and sending sweat-soaked dispatches from distant dancefloors as the scene expanded across Europe and beyond.
With a cast of characters including Diego Maradona, Timothy Leary, the KLF, Michael Eavis, Genesis P-Orridge, Brigitte Nielsen, Boris Yeltsin, Boy George, Saddam Hussein's wife, the president of Tunisia, the CIA, the KGB, Dave Courtney, Norman Lamont's dominatrix and even Her Majesty the Queen, Kirk's whirlwind account of the golden age of clubbing tells the story of what really happened in the 'naughty '90s', exposing the seedy underbelly of rave culture while also capturing the nostalgic spirit of the era.
Told through a mixture of vivid first-person narrative, surreal insider anecdotes and incisive social commentary, this honest, hilarious and uncensored postcard of hedonism will appeal to anyone who's ever put their hands in the air like they just don't care.
'Love this book! It triggers so many memories of the rave era. Thoroughly recommended.' -- Fatboy Slim
'Captures the hedonism and humour of the nineties with a laugh-out-loud honesty. The perfect Ibiza holiday read...if you can get it through customs!' -- Judge Jules
'Like myself, Kirk was there right from the start of the 'rave new world', reporting and recording our revolution as it happened. This book is full of great tales and laughs - the perfect balance of history, hedonism and humour.' -- Slipmatt
'Kirk Field took a fathoms deep dive in to the chaotic, curious, and sometimes highly ridiculous world of DJ's and nightclubbing and lived to tell the tale. And what a tale it is.' -- Richard Norris, The Grid
'The rave era was a time of exploration and new possibilities and here Kirk Field documents his discoveries and experiences with skill, humour, and warmth. Whether you were there too, or just interested to learn more, this is a great read.' -- Nick Halkes, XL, Positiva Records
'A wonderful first-hand account, direct from the front-line Kirk Field was right there in the eye of the storm of those early, incredible, halcyon days of Rave. His wide-eyed enthusiasm lights up every page as he blazes through anecdote after anecdote from a truly pivotal time in the UK's cultural history.' -- Dave Seaman, Mixmag editor, DJ, producer
'Such an enjoyable book. I loved Kirk's playful style of writing and finding out about all his lively antics in clubland. Kirk is one of the most interesting people I've met in clubland, so it was a joy reading all the mischief he's got up to over the years.' -- Lisa Pin-Up, producer
'An excellent insight to what it was like to eat, sleep and breathe the vibes of the original raves. I feel like I've been transported back in time and reliving the journey!' -- Aston Harvey, The Freestylers
Kirk Field was re-born in June 1989 in a courtyard in Hackney and spent the next decade of his life dancing, travelling, writing, singing and promoting some of London's biggest club nights, his words appearing in the likes of Mixmag, DJ Mag and the NME.
In 1999, he formed a bespoke clubbing travel company, becoming the first person to deliver international club cruises from the UK. His knowledge of the scene led to him penning Ibiza guides for everyone from The Sun to Time Out and presenting features on Radio 1 and MTV.
Since 2005, Kirk has helped to develop the world's premier alpine music festival, Snowbombing in Austria, for which he continues to provide creative consultancy and media hosting.