Joe Biden and the Decline of Rave Parties in America

A few days after Senator Joe Biden was chosen as a vice-presidential candidate, my net crawlers unexpectedly dug some old debates about his role in the anti-rave legislation in the U.S.

As I crosschecked U.S. Congressional records, Joseph Biden indeed authored the RAVE act, a piece of legislation approved in 2003 that has allegedly contributed to the demise of rave parties in the U.S. (or, at least, the first generation of "underground" events).

As a legal acronym, RAVE stands for "Reducing Americans' Vulnerability to Ecstasy". It cracks down on rave promoters if drugs are found in their events, even if they have provided effective security, and even if they have no relation with individuals who consumed or traded drugs in their events. Moreover, based on former "crack house statutes", the law also criminalizes the venue owner (club, bar, warehouse etc.) just for renting their space. Again, landlords don't have to be related to - or not even aware of - those dealing or consuming drugs in their venue, in order to be heavily prosecuted.

Civil liberty groups have found some problems in the content and manner of the bill when it was introduced to Congress. Strangely, it entered legislative discussion as an amendment to a child abduction bill, a quite unrelated issue. As troubling, the bill was evaluated without any public hearing or vote in Congress.

After ten months, 30,000 protest faxes and the withdrawal of two senators' support, the RAVE act was finally passed, but after some revision. The original bill proposed that the sales of water, glowsticks and even telletubbie bags were to serve as criminal evidence. This disposition was soundly removed, as well as the word "rave". Though formally focusing on ecstasy, the act targets promoters and landlords for any type of drug or musical event (hip-hop, rock, etc).

Despite its repressive effects, I don't think that the RAVE act was the main cause for the decline of rave in America, as claimed by some insiders. Although being a tool for controlling any emergent rave scene locally, the law has been very inconsistently applied, according to state, city, authority, and scene status.

The terrorist attacks of September 11 (2001) likely had a much worse impact on the rave scene across the country. Before 9/11, the growth of rave culture in America was fueled by a blatantly pop Romantic ideology. Permeated with sheer optimism and the overtly celebration of innocence, mainstream-to-be "candy ravers" were seen hugging strangers, sucking on pacifiers, and declaring P.L.U.R. at each email (Peace, Love, Understanding, and Respect). But, with 9/11, the nation was immediately regimented for war - a decisive blow on the spirit of rave. Party kids were frightened and demoralized, to say the least.

The RAVE act is a missed opportunity. It could and should have been much better formulated. I support civil rights liberties, but also find it disturbing when masses of teenagers are buzzing high on drugs. Not only drugs become part of their lives, but are often abused at every weekend, just worsening psychological and social problems typical of this age. Yes, this is also true of alcohol, which surprisingly is quite tolerated by U.S. Law. Just attend any bar district of any big city, and you'll see ethylic overdoses at a staggering level.

There is no easy solution for the problem. The typical move has been to criminalize subcultures, with contradictory results, and the RAVE act is a recent example. Yet, from a variety of international cases, a more intelligent approach on drugs - one that recognizes the differences among drugs, uses, user profiles, and official intervention -, tends to produce much superior results.

Who is then to be monitored and educated? Kids, parents, MTV, or government itself?...

Letter to Journalists vacationing in Ibiza

News about Ibiza's club scene are often written by outside journalists on vacation. Off work, their initial plan is just to relax. However, they soon realize that the island's party frenzy is easy material for a one-off piece, then sent to their employer in some big city.

These articles are typical. The style is upbeat yet rushed. They start with vague notes on mass tourism and mega-clubs, then zooming on anecdotes about party tourists, annoyed residents, and official authorities. To note, Pacha is the only club that these mainstream journalists seem to attend: "the best club on the island", so they believe.

I sometimes respond to these articles. Below is a letter I recently wrote to a Chicago Tribune journalist. Based in Italy, she was apparently vacationing on La Isla Blanca (- Italy literally shuts in August due to collective vacation...).


"Nice article, Christine,

I lived on the island for several years, and can say that your letter is very accurate in showing this specific side of Ibiza. Yet, you only describe one scene of the island: mainstream clubbing. You letter says nothing about "real" underground clubbing, or the hippie scene, the trance parties in the countryside, the expat scene, the eco-organic scene, etc...

That's understandable. Islanders tell outside journalists to go to Pacha, renowned for attracting celebrities and models. But, in fact, Pacha is not the favorite club among native and global clubbers, who prefer wilder venues at Space, Amnesia, or DC-10. These clubs can indeed be a tad overwhelming, if you are not used to that.

Thanks for the letter. I love the expressions you use. (They remind me of my conversations with expats).

In sum, Pacha is not the best club in Ibiza. And clubbing is not the only thing on the island for natives and expatriate residents - and, mind you, not even for tourists. As a matter of fact, according to different estimates, only 15% of tourists fall in the clubbing category...

If interested in more details, please check my book on Ibiza expats, global clubbing and tourism titled "Global Nomads" (Routledge 2007). I also have a blog about global dance music scenes: <http://globalraver.blogspot.com/>

Sincerely,"

Can you recognize the place on the photo?... Post your answer below!

Laser Blinds at a Trance Festival in Moscow

Following a psytrance festival in Moscow last month, about 30 people sought treatment in the city hospitals with injuries to their eyes. The diagnosis was the same for all victims: retinal hemorrhage. Though most victims recovered their sight, some of them will suffer partial permanent loss.

According to a participant, "When I was hospitalized, the loss of eyesight was 70 percent. It is 30 percent after the hospital and the eyesight will never restore." Other victims have already actioned the police and consumer rights authorities to investigate the case.

The trance festival Aquamarine is promoted by the Cosmic Connection. According to crew member DJ Sashi: "the laser show was ordered from a firm that has all safety certificates, but the firm responsible for the laser delivered the program with the beams descending sometimes." In any case, the team has already decided never again to use lasers in their parties.

This is very unfortunate. I recall my own experiences. In Es Paradis, a top nightclub in Ibiza, I regularly witnessed stroboscopic lights being used forcefully for periods of over 30 seconds. I've seen similar situations at clubs in Rio de Janeiro. Clearly, some countries - such as USA and UK - have stricter regulation concerning lights, comparatively to other countries like Spain or Brazil.

Wherever and whoever you are - promoter or dancer - watch out for those powerful lights. Make sure that this is a pleasant, beautiful and safe experience, to be seen many times over again...