• MDMA &
    Empathogenic
    Drugs

    Welcome Guest!

The Rise and Fall of the Rave ?

G

GAIA

Ex-Bluelighter
Joined
Apr 16, 2010
Messages
26
Location
The planet called Earth.
1985 - After several years of being legal and widespread use , MDMA is placed under Schedule 1

1990 - The rave culture begins to rise again, as markets are taken underground

1995 - Rave culture is widespread and rampant, along with a mass of drug use

1999 - Rave Culture dies down after several tainted studies convince the American people that they are causing holes to burn in their brain

2002-2004 - Rave Culture is at an all time low...Ravers are associated as "E-Tards" ecstasy use becomes less attractive

2005 - Raves begin to take shape again after a short economic boom and news that studies done in the past had been skewed as anti ecstasy propaganda...

2006 - "Massives" begin to emerge in Southern California under the guise of "electronic music festivals" as opposed to "raves" (Which is a term associated with drug use for some reason)

2007-2008 - A new culture of much younger ravers begin to flood the events...raves have become cool again and many adopt its subculture

2009 - Electronic music culture is now widely accepted and mainstream. Sites like youtube, google, facebook, and bluelight allow users to quickly exchange information and help build an empire of communication

2010 - Electric Daisy Carnival

Have raves hit there peak and are kids sick of ecstasy or are things only going to get bigger?
 
Electronic music is huge now, there is no doubt about that. Just how huge? Well, several huge festivals are based on electronic music, more and more electronic music is taking over other fests (warped tour, lolla, bamboozle), and there seems to be no end in sight, for now. I think festivals now are trying to one-up other festivals. EDC, coachella, bonnaroo, it's all about who's big, who's hot and who's playing where. Kids are NOT sick of MDMA and they never will be.
 
It is SO huge right now, which truly and deeply affects me, because I started raving a little bit before it started getting so big. Now that it's so "in" and so "cool," it makes me upset. I don't want to see random kids from my old high school at raves you know? And there's considerably less respect at raves these days. I really miss how it was a couple of years ago, because there is a BIG difference if you think about it. Who knew about EDC back in 08? Mostly people who actually loved the music and when it wasn't a trend yet. Now, EDC is HUGE. And this year is probably going to be overcrowded, which also upsets me.

I really don't know if this trend is going to continue to grow. But I REALLY hope it dies down soon, because even though the scene will never be how it used to, I'm sure there will be some positive changes and I will be happier by not seeing random and disrespectful ptots and people who are just going to be "in."

At the beginning of every single rave I go to, there's already someone passed out on the floor or an ambulance carrying someone away. Really? People should really know their limits, and if they don't, learn from their mistakes! So many people fuck up and just keep on doing what they were doing before. No one is invincible, and teenagers should start becoming aware of that. I'm only 18, but I've never thought I was invincible. To avoid that kind of stuff, raves should start being 18 and over EVERYWHERE. Now they are starting to make it better, with 16 and over, but all ages?? Come on.

In 09, I saw a little 5 year old girl all candied out with her mom or aunt or guardian or whatever, and the guardian was rolling balls! How is this acceptable? Well it wasn't, because security kicked them out of the rave.

Another thing, 15 year olds dressed like hookers ---- what is the point????? To get attention from guys? They are definitely not getting the right kind of attention.

/rant

Sorry, just had to get that out of my chest. But yea, I don't know if/when it's going to start to die down... I'm praying that it's soon though.
 
P.S - they're now starting to integrate hip hop at raves now...... I mean, I like hip hop, but I'm not at raves to hear hip hop, I'M AT A FUCKING RAVE TO HEAR EDM!!!!
Will.i.am at EDC? Great... Attract even more people to the once lowkey rave scene. Now it's all mainstream.
Why are they doing that? Because all people care about is money. Money, money, money. Fuck this.

/rage
 
Pinkpuff said:
P.S - they're now starting to integrate hip hop at raves now...... I mean, I like hip hop, but I'm not at raves to hear hip hop, I'M AT A FUCKING RAVE TO HEAR EDM!!!!
Will.i.am at EDC? Great... Attract even more people to the once lowkey rave scene. Now it's all mainstream.
Why are they doing that? Because all people care about is money. Money, money, money. Fuck this.

/rage
Click to expand...

Why is he coming? Because I'm in the House was a HUGE hit by steve aoki and Zuper Blahq(Will.i.am) and they are going to play that song, probably open with it.
 
Nas and Damien Marley were at Ultra Miami, and I really like them both...

However I agree that the cultures don't blend well. On the one side you have a bunch of MDMA induce teenagers, and on the other a culture that disconnects itself and condones MDMA.
 
I was 18 when I graduated high school in 2006, and a friend of mine introduced me to raves. That was way before I even knew what MDMA was. I'd never smoked weed before. I got into the scene, and I fell in love with it for the music and the atmosphere. A couple years go by, massives become INSANELY overpriced. Monster Massive was my first massive; it was amazing, but the tickets shot up to over $70 I believe. Ever since then, I avoid the massives. They've just become flooded with disrespectful kids who don't embrace the culture the way I was shown.
Prices. Prices. Prices. Money is everything in the culture apparently. It's not keeping people safe. Seriously? $3 for a damn water? They need to direct the money flow elsewhere if that's what they want. Free water/25 cents a water, but get more booths up selling fun glow in the dark toys, glowsticks, pacifiers, whatever!
Now, I am guilty of dressing "slutty" to raves. Boot covers, short skirts, bikini top. I think it's just part of the generation. Some do it for the attention, and some do it because it's what they want to wear. Since then I've changed, and would rather enjoy a nice pair of ufo pants and a tank lol. Now, 15 or 16 year old girls need to keep some clothes on. It angers me to know most of these events don't have a set age limit. I've seen 13/14 year olds rolling, and I wonder where their parents are and what their parents would think of this.
As far as hip hop being integrated into the rave culture, it doesn't mesh well with me. I go to hear EDM. I enjoy some hip hop sober, but it's not my thing when I roll.
My post is all a blur lol. Sorry for the ramble. =P

Oh, and to answer the OPs question...I think the rave scene is growing, but changing. It's more mainstream now than ever before. I wish it wasn't because it seems like the generation is changing the scene drastically. I do have to say, it has hit a VERY huge peak recently.
MDMA was big back in the day, and it may have slowed down for some time. I think that it is back and bigger than ever again.

<3
 
Last edited:
Pinkpuff said:
It is SO huge right now, which truly and deeply affects me, because I started raving a little bit before it started getting so big. Now that it's so "in" and so "cool," it makes me upset. I don't want to see random kids from my old high school at raves you know? And there's considerably less respect at raves these days. I really miss how it was a couple of years ago, because there is a BIG difference if you think about it. Who knew about EDC back in 08? Mostly people who actually loved the music and when it wasn't a trend yet. Now, EDC is HUGE. And this year is probably going to be overcrowded, which also upsets me.

I really don't know if this trend is going to continue to grow. But I REALLY hope it dies down soon, because even though the scene will never be how it used to, I'm sure there will be some positive changes and I will be happier by not seeing random and disrespectful ptots and people who are just going to be "in."

At the beginning of every single rave I go to, there's already someone passed out on the floor or an ambulance carrying someone away. Really? People should really know their limits, and if they don't, learn from their mistakes! So many people fuck up and just keep on doing what they were doing before. No one is invincible, and teenagers should start becoming aware of that. I'm only 18, but I've never thought I was invincible. To avoid that kind of stuff, raves should start being 18 and over EVERYWHERE. Now they are starting to make it better, with 16 and over, but all ages?? Come on.

In 09, I saw a little 5 year old girl all candied out with her mom or aunt or guardian or whatever, and the guardian was rolling balls! How is this acceptable? Well it wasn't, because security kicked them out of the rave.

Another thing, 15 year olds dressed like hookers ---- what is the point????? To get attention from guys? They are definitely not getting the right kind of attention.

/rant

Sorry, just had to get that out of my chest. But yea, I don't know if/when it's going to start to die down... I'm praying that it's soon though.
Click to expand...

I'm pretty much in the same boat as you. And I agree A LOT with your opinions in this post.

It deeply bothers me when people attend electronic dance music events for the WRONG reasons. People go because they think it's the place to do drugs. People go because it's starting to be a "trend". The main reason I am worried about electronic dance music events becoming "too mainstream" is because I feel like a lot of people go to the events not because they LOVE the music, but for other miscellaneous bullshit.

The main (and only) reasons I attend these events is to:
1. DANCE
2. Hear the music I am interested in (electronic dance music!)
3. Be around people I enjoy the company of.
 
well, i have only been attending raves for about a year so i'll just say what i've noticed about them...

at least half of the kids are there just for the drugs; normally, i wouldn't care, but a lot of them just bring bad vibes and i'm just trying to have a good time ):
the second thing that i don't like are the (usually underage) girls in thongs, lacy panties, etc; i can handle a bra and skirt or whatever but please cover up a little bit.
the third thing i really dislike is the profiteering that goes on; honestly, $2-5 for a bottle of water? i'm just trying to make sure i don't pass out on the dance floor.

overall though, i enjoy the experience and intend to continue to attend events :3
 
GAIA said:
1985 - After several years of being legal and widespread use , MDMA is placed under Schedule 1

1990 - The rave culture begins to rise again, as markets are taken underground

1995 - Rave culture is widespread and rampant, along with a mass of drug use

1999 - Rave Culture dies down after several tainted studies convince the American people that they are causing holes to burn in their brain

2002-2004 - Rave Culture is at an all time low...Ravers are associated as "E-Tards" ecstasy use becomes less attractive

2005 - Raves begin to take shape again after a short economic boom and news that studies done in the past had been skewed as anti ecstasy propaganda...

2006 - "Massives" begin to emerge in Southern California under the guise of "electronic music festivals" as opposed to "raves" (Which is a term associated with drug use for some reason)

2007-2008 - A new culture of much younger ravers begin to flood the events...raves have become cool again and many adopt its subculture

2009 - Electronic music culture is now widely accepted and mainstream. Sites like youtube, google, facebook, and bluelight allow users to quickly exchange information and help build an empire of communication

2010 - Electric Daisy Carnival

Have raves hit there peak and are kids sick of ecstasy or are things only going to get bigger?
Click to expand...

Depending on who you ask, the rave scene died in the mid 90s, late 90s or even the mid 2000s. The fact of the matter is that, just as there will always be rock concerts, there will always be electronic music concerts with DJs and these are generally accepted as being "raves". It's silly to try and create an actual history as the history of each "rave scene" is unique to its regional area. The scene may grow, evolve, and change but there will always be a "rave scene" as long as there are people that enjoy electronic music. I don't see EDM being as much of a fad as disco was.

It deeply bothers me when people attend electronic dance music events for the WRONG reasons.
Click to expand...

As a raver from the late 90s, I have to say that there is no such thing as a wrong reason to go to a rave. Judgment has no place at a party. People can dance, love, live, be free -- however they want -- for a few hours at a rave.

Here's something from an old usenet post back in 1994:

I've noticed that Rave (tm, etc) is faced with a small dilemna here: The ethos of rave is, as they say, PLUR. What this means is that descrimination and judgementalism are taboo in the rave scene, in much the same way that love and self-expression are taboo in normal society. This is good, and is what makes rave so much better than normal society.

The problem is that the ideals of PLUR exclude any opinions which have even a hint of elitism about them. The simple fact of the matter is that the scene, like any underground scene thrust rudely into the limelight, is being diluted and infiltrated by outside influences that are contrary to its basis. This always happens, and always will. The normal reaction of a subculture to this social pressure is to withdraw, or go underground again. This causes a split between those who head for the underground and those who prefer the more commercial side, which leads to friction.

What makes rave different from other subcultures is that the feelings of antipathy towards the outside influences and the very act of splitting are both contrary to the unwritten rules of raving, namely Peace, Love, Unity and Respect. So it seems to me that the future of rave has three possibilities:

1) Being assimilated into popular culture and diluted.
2) Rejecting outside influences, breaking the rules.
3) Withstanding outside pressures, and maintaining its ethics.

3 is the ideal, right? But is it possible?
Click to expand...

http://hyperreal.org/raves/spirit/plur/PLUR_Future.html

I wish we could all go back to this, but the scene, unfortunately took 1 instead of 3. I guess better luck next time!! 8)
 
AylaV said:
Depending on who you ask, the rave scene died in the mid 90s, late 90s or even the mid 2000s. The fact of the matter is that, just as there will always be rock concerts, there will always be electronic music concerts with DJs and these are generally accepted as being "raves". It's silly to try and create an actual history as the history of each "rave scene" is unique to its regional area. The scene may grow, evolve, and change but there will always be a "rave scene" as long as there are people that enjoy electronic music. I don't see EDM being as much of a fad as disco was.



As a raver from the late 90s, I have to say that there is no such thing as a wrong reason to go to a rave. Judgment has no place at a party. People can dance, love, live, be free -- however they want -- for a few hours at a rave.

Here's something from an old usenet post back in 1994:



http://hyperreal.org/raves/spirit/plur/PLUR_Future.html

I wish we could all go back to this, but the scene, unfortunately took 1 instead of 3. I guess better luck next time!! 8)
Click to expand...

Interesting. I'd say in vast majority of cases most subcultures eventually get diluted.
 
I find that when people say 'Scene/Subculture X is dead', what they really mean is that it doesn't remind them of what it used to be like for them personally, at the peak of their party days. Maybe the artists who used to play have sold out or don't perform anymore. Maybe the people they used to party with have all moved on. Maybe the drugs that were popular and easily available then aren't so anymore. And most of all, maybe the scene just doesn't hold the same place in the eyes of the wider society that it used to.

People talk about blues, bluegrass, gospel, and spoken word as if they were bygone art forms from a bygone era. But I could point you in the direction of some venues where all of these are still performed with great passion, to small and highly appreciative crowds. People have been predicting the death of rock n' roll for years now, but based on what I hear on the radio and while passing by city bars, I'm not writing any eulogies yet. I think the same is true for hip hop and electronic music -- so long as there are people who enjoy making, and people who enjoy listening to, these kinds of music, there will be a scene where one can hear them performed.

I don't think scenes ever truly die. They evolve and change and bleed into one another. But they never die. Disco didn't die, it became house music.

Bottom line, when I hear someone say anything along the lines of, 'Pfft, this is not a rave. Raves are dead. No real raves have happened since ____. You noobs wouldn't know a real rave if it hit you in the face...', my first reaction is to think, "Note to self, this is not someone I want to party with."
 
I went from being a baggy pants and green haired raver kid in 93 to being a guy who looks pretty normal but likes to go to festivals and events like burning man and transformus. I think I just outgrew the scene. I am in my 30s now.

PLUS, the scene will never be the same IMHO.... I feel as though it truly died around 1999... YES, we can still go get blown out on psychedelics and shake our money makers all night to electronic music, BUT, it still isn't the same.

I am just glad I was there for it. I am also glad I don't have 14 earrings, a nose ring and bright insane colored hair and HUGE UFO pants anymore. :)
 
Chaos23, remind me never to go raving with you :|

Just joking.

But seriously, I see nothing wrong with acknowledging, even sadly or nostalgically, that the scene has changed. What I have beef with is oldschoolers feeling this so strongly that they begrudge anyone newer or younger the enjoyment of the scene as it stands now.

I'm in my 30s too, but I was never into the rave scene during its first iteration, never had one steady crew, and never took on most of the fashion and other conventions of the subculture, so I'm coming at this from a pretty different perspective. I got into raving in Taiwan (where it's a very different scene), and only transitioned into the northeastern US rave scene when I came back, at age 25. I've always had my own fashion sensibilities when it comes to rave attire, and it's always been more of a personal thing to me than a shared group experience. So I don't really ever see myself wistfully looking back and saying, 'Yeah, those were the days.' I'll just continue to go to parties on my own terms as time permits, and whoever wants to join me is welcome to.
 
Everybody at my school wants to be a raver. But most of them are just being radical. If I ever truly get into the scene I want it purely to be for the love of the music :)
 
MyDoorsAreOpen said:
Chaos23, remind me never to go raving with you :|
Click to expand...

What you need to do is go to a burn with me. THAT is the shit. If you have never been to burning man or transformus I would HIGHLY suggest you check that shit out.

I have an affinity for naked hippies running around playing with fire on a bazillion hits of psychedelic drugs. <3<3<3<3

My Transformus camp this year will have body painters, musicians, I am gonna make grilled cheese and other food, and my other friends are bringing free jewelry and art. You are not supposed to sell or buy anything there. The community makes the event, and capitalism is strongly frowned upon.

WIKI TRANSFORMUS article.

I seriously enjoy this sort of thing more now. BUT, that is just me. We all have different lives, and likes, and loves, and experience, and we all end up following our own minds.

BUT, if you haven't checked shit like this out, I RECOMMEND it if you like raves. They have electronic music, among EVERYTHING else imaginable.

peace and love
 
Chaos23 said:
What you need to do is go to a burn with me. THAT is the shit. If you have never been to burning man or transformus I would HIGHLY suggest you check that shit out.

I have an affinity for naked hippies running around playing with fire on a bazillion hits of psychedelic drugs. <3<3<3<3

My Transformus camp this year will have body painters, musicians, I am gonna make grilled cheese and other food, and my other friends are bringing free jewelry and art. You are not supposed to sell or buy anything there. The community makes the event, and capitalism is strongly frowned upon.

WIKI TRANSFORMUS article.

I seriously enjoy this sort of thing more now. BUT, that is just me. We all have different lives, and likes, and loves, and experience, and we all end up following our own minds.

BUT, if you haven't checked shit like this out, I RECOMMEND it if you like raves. They have electronic music, among EVERYTHING else imaginable.

peace and love
Click to expand...

Wow this event sounds insane! I wish I could have gone. :/
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top