The closure of cutting edge, electronic music club, Fabric, is not simply just the end of a nightclub where we harness joyful and dazzling memories. It is the end of an era and the beginning of a downwards spiral for the underground electronic music community. Fabric was not classified as just a nightclub for many of its attendees. It was notoriously a place of discovery, mystery and a place to express an individual passion for music. The fact the police accused Fabric as a “safe haven for drugs” is ludicrous in its own right. If that is what they believe the venue was used for, then surely this is an expected assumption for various local organisations across the world? Indeed, Fabric is a safe haven. A safe haven for the young and the old. Those who refuse to comply to the bland, ordinary commercial type of music society expects us to fall into listening to, and those who feel a exhilarating sense of freedom when they enter the venue, as it is home for each individual.
I feel misery and regret. The death’s of the two teenagers has been tarnished. Where this tragic event should have been mourned, it has turned into a catastrophic war against whether one of London’s greatest clubs needs to be closed down. Over this debate, where some are adamant the council are fighting for its closure due to financial means, the excessive greed of the government once again sheds light on the hidden matter, and Fabric has become stigmatised and used as pawn in a losing battle. Alongside this – rightly – a variety of fabric’s supporters, including DJs and artists are pursuing the nightclub’s right to stay open due to how it affects the culture of the underground music industry. And above all this, the death of the young has been forgotten.
I find it difficult to understand why instead why lives are being destroyed and a prospering organisation is left in despair. Why are the government refusing to replenish this deteriorating part of society, by purposely not actively making a difference? Drug culture exists indefinitely, and no matter how many promising venues the council shut down will not vanquish the problem of irresponsibility. However, the government are showing minimal attempts to ensure the young especially, are educated on the matter. There have been small organisations involved in the music industry who are attempting this, but sometimes this is not enough. Even if it came compulsory in schools to have a class on the matter, or talks at University’s and local communities, that would be a step forward over the attempt of damaging more lives instead of helping them.
The closure of such a beloved venue has affected my view and many others on the underground music industry and we all have a genuine fear for the future of contemporary underground venues, like Fabric, and where we stand in our cherished music culture. Despite the argument that the club culture is dead, I refuse to accept that duplicitous lie. There is a reason why Fabric excelled in its essence of bringing forth the spectral aura coincided with an urban warehouse rave atmosphere. The beauty of rebelling against the commercial and celebrating the underground. Ravers from all over the world, different ages, cultures and communities came together to rave together. The closure of fabric does not mean the closure of the club scene. When one door closes, another better door opens. Long live fabric.