ICONIC CLUBBING

Legends of the Night/ By Laura Martínez

Throughout the history of nightlife, certain places are considered the greatest; they are nightclub temples and standard bearers for these cities’ cultural, art, and party scenes. They are still considered the worldwide nightlife capitals. Find out how, who, and why these clubs became the living legends of a scene that will always live on in the collective memory.

THE HAÇIENDA – MANCHESTER

In 1982, this celebrated venue appeared on the English nightlife scene; a former warehouse occupied by a club between Whitworth and Albion Streets in Manchester, designed by Ben Kelly and financed by New Order and their record label Factory Records. Tony Wilson, the label boss, was in charge of running the venue, or trying to, in a decade when the so-called Manchester sound led the nightlife scene and The Haçienda led the rave movement in the United Kingdom. In 2009, a brilliant book by New Order bassist Peter Hook, entitled The Haçienda: How Not to Run a Club, came out about his time as co-owner of the club, which in the late 1990s had to close because, to put it bluntly, it leaked money like a sieve. However, its glorious history is littered with legendary gigs: The Smiths performed there three times in 1983, it hosted Madonna’s first UK gig, and it was the launch pad for bands like Oasis, The Stone Roses, The Chemical Brothers, and The Happy Mondays.

STUDIO 54 – NUEVA YORK

If glamour could fit in one place, it would be at Studio 54. The ultimate disco shrine was conceived by Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager, two Big Apple entrepreneurs who bought the building in 1977, retaining much of the remaining theatrical and broadcasting equipment. Before becoming Studio 54, the venue was called the Gallo Opera House. This theatre housed the CBS radio and TV studios. Rubell and Schrager’s PR skills quickly made it into the place to be for the biggest celebrities: Andy Warhol, Liza Minnelli, Elizabeth Taylor, Truman Capote, Salvador Dalí, Michael Jackson, Julio Iglesias, Bianca Jagger, and Cher were among the regulars. Bianca Jagger, then wife of The Stones’ leader, starred in one of its most iconic moments, pictured on the back of a white horse, courtesy of Rubell, on her 30th birthday.

KU – IBIZA

Considered by many to be the best discotheque in the world to this day, KU revolutionised the world’s nightlife scene from Ibiza - more specifically from San Antonio. The place where you could see the fishmonger, the hairdresser, and the artisan dancing alongside Mick Jagger, Naomi Campbell, and Grace Jones opened its doors in 1978 thanks to Javier Iturrioz, and it soon became hot property. The island’s legendary PR man, Carlos Martorell, contributed significantly to raising the club’s status with an epic opening party that laid the foundations for what would become, in essence, KU. The discotheque that awakens the strongest sense of nostalgia among those lucky enough to experience that era on the island continued from the mid-90s under the name Privilege, the largest club in the world (with a capacity of 10,000 people and a Guinness World Record), which has been on standby since 2020.

VIPER ROOM – L.A

The Viper Room, situated on the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles, was a grocery shop during the 1940s when the area was experiencing socio-economic growth. To match this upturn in fortunes, the small shop became the Cotton Club. Still, it didn’t last long and then changed names several times until the 50s when it became a cabaret called The Melody Room, becoming a hangout for gangsters. In the 70s, it became The Central, where John Entwistle of The Who and C.C. DeVille, a Poison member, would come to play. With the 90s came both the golden years of grunge and The Viper Room, which owes its name to a band called ‘The Vipers’. This new lease of life came about thanks to Johnny Depp, who bought it and turned it into a place to listen to great live music with his friends. Word soon spread among Hollywood’s enfant terribles, becoming the new favourite haunt of Leonardo DiCaprio (who was probably underage at the time), Charlize Theron, and Keanu Reeves. But the excesses of the 90s took their toll, and one fateful night in 1993, the actor River Phoenix, the biggest star of the moment, died outside the club’s doors. The legend of the Viper Room had only just begun.

PARADISE GARAGE – NUEVA YORK

In the decade from 1977 to 1987, there was a key venue in the history of New York’s LGTBI+ culture. Coinciding with the rise of electronic music, this emblematic club was the regular residence of DJ Larry Levan, and its name derives from its origins as a car park. Paradise Garage’s business model was deeply inspired by the ‘Loft Parties’ of David Mancuso, DJ and founder of The Loft, the late-night invitation-only party held at this visionary’s house. It became a school for music lovers: no alcohol, food, or drink was served, and the party was invitation only. The unique and eclectic style played at Paradise Garage mixed disco and dance music, including The Police and The Clash, bands whose records were played regularly. It also witnessed numerous concerts by emerging bands and - at that time, a beginner - Madonna, queer icon and eternal Queen of Pop, filmed her first music video for ‘Everybody’ in 1982.