Exclusive Interview With Laurence Malice

We catch up with Trade founder Laurence Malice ahead of their marathon party on Saturday February 25th featuring International headliners Nicole Moudaber, Eats Everything, DJ Paulette, Smokin Jo, Uokhun?, Sue Veneers and many more.

For those unaware, let us in on who’s Laurence Malice?

Goggle me lol 🙂

Club legend Laurence Malice who revolutionised what we know as clubbing with a portfolio of ground-breaking events and clubs. He also helped introduce and popularise techno music in the UK through the first legal after hours party, Trade, and its Resident DJs Daz Sound and Trevor Rockliffe.

Click Here For Tickets To Trade’s Marathon Party

On the clubbing front Laurence went on to pioneer Sunday daytime clubbing with Lee Freeman at the legendary DTPM; ran some of the first all women house & techno clubs including Pumping Curls with Queen Maxine & Vicky Red; Candy Bar, with Kim Lucas and French Kiss with Doris; non-binary clubbing at Beyond with Tasty Tim and of course, Trade. Trade opened at 3am Sunday morning and ran until 9am and frequently beyond. It laid the groundwork for a new on-and-on party culture, while its sexual and gender diversity was a forerunner for today’s queer club scene. 

Trade was also one of the first ever super clubs, and pioneered touring the UK and the globe with its unique events and tents at festivals as well as launching its own label, merchandise range and being honoured with its own Exhibition “Trade: Often Copied, Never Equalled”.

Trade’s fame was truly international in pre-internet times and an episode of “Sex & The City” was dedicated to it, when Laurence was poached to run Saturday nights at Twilo in New York with Danny Tenaglia as the Resident DJ. Trade also hosted a series of events at Club Avalon in Los Angeles.

In the last 3 years Trade has been awarded 3 heritage plaques – 2 pink and 1 blue – dedicated to the club’s hugely influential and impactful legacy on the club and music scene.

“I’ve always been into music. First I was in bands and then I was running clubs. They were all really alternative and pushed the boundaries but in the end they weren’t really keeping me. My big passion was creating new events.”

“Trade was launched at the heights of the AIDS epidemic and the ethos behind it was to create a safe haven where people could relax, be themselves and release everything on the dance floor. I’ve always felt that a good sound system, great music and electrifying visuals and production are the essentials that fuel a great party, but I also feel that the clubbing experience is based on exhibitionism and voyeurism (you can’t have one without the other). We had a contemporary vision for a more inclusive clubbing experience that was welcoming and also full of energy.

Tell us how you got into the event planning industry?

As a child, I was into the high camp of the high Catholic church, from wearing the cassock as an altar boy…I loved the swish-swish of the outfits, whilst rustling the incense burner. My mind would always take off on a fantasy seeing all the parishioners out there as an audience which made me realise I was always meant to be a performer/artist promoter as this was the Laurence Malice show. This put me on a high stead for many youth cults to follow…

Since your first Trade event in 1990, what’s the biggest changes you’ve witnessed & how have they influenced the club scene?

When Trade first started, there was no such thing as the internet or social media. Now it’s all about it. Then you had to be exceptionally creative and inventive with promoting events and very hands on. Now it’s all part of a virtual reality.

With such a rich history, what impact do you believe Trade has had on the party & entertainment sector?

Where do you start ? First and foremost it’s got be all the quirky customers and the fantastic Trade team that have made this such a successful brand. Trade started with the unusual opening time of 3am until 9am on Sunday mornings and this set it apart from other clubs and it soon became the place to be. Its exclusivity further fuelled the desire to be part of what Trade had to offer. Trade changed club culture through the people that it brought together. While the club night was perceived to cater for the LGBT community, as long as an individual had the right attitude they were welcome at Trade, regardless of their sexuality or social background. We had bankers dancing next to pop stars, muscle boys next to stage actors and this great freedom gave everyone the chance to express themselves through art, music, and fashion. Our unique after-hours experience became a haven for creativity and expression, effecting new music and a new attitude. 

Trade also popularised the harder tech sound, which became hard house with Tony de Vit (RIP), and it was great to see him being honoured with a blue plaque this year at his former studio in Birmingham. I’m also proud of the Trade parties with Manumission in Ibiza which were the first to start playing techno on the white isle, and our Kinky Trade party in Ibiza is something of a legend.

Trade has always evolved on every level from the DJs and the musical styles to how we produce the events. We always try and improve it on every level to give clubbers the best time we can.

I also want to highlight the contribution of all the talented people that have made up the Trade collective across the years and without whom none of this would have been possible. Starting in the early days there’s artist, Mark Wardel, co-promoter Tim Stabler and then artist, Martin Brown (B-art), Lee Anderson, Mark McKenzie (Edna), Mel Divine, Stewart Whoo, Andrew Edwards and Steven Sharp. Rod Lay ran our Trade events in Ibiza with Anton 

Currently working alongside me on changing the direction of the event is Mark Williams. 

Trade’s marathon party takes place Saturday February 25th from 6pm onwards at Egg London, 5 – 13 Vale Royal, London, N7 9AP. The full line up features International Headliners – Nicole Moudaber, Eats Everything (Special Trade set) and DJ Paulette plus spread across 2 floors the sounds of Anahita Shamsei, Andy Farley, BK, Daz Saund, Frankel & Harper, Guy Williams, Kyle E,

Maze & Masters, Pagano, Smokin Jo, Sharp Boys, Trevor Rockcliffe, Somme Farris and the Blonde Spirit.

Loft Takeover with Uokhun? & Sue Veneers

Uokhun? featuring DJs: Victoria Peckham, Rita Lin, Sophie Joy +

Sue Veneers featuring DJs: Bryony Masters, Chester Hayes, Faff and Marie Malarie

Performers Jane Norman – Kaiden Ford – Mairi Houston and Paris TuBoleyn

Admission: Early Birds Sold Out; 2nd ReleaseTickets from £25 from RA: https://ra.co/events/1627627

Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1072945666908455