Brixton Cops Ban ‘Bashment’ & ‘Funky House’

February 4th, 2010 |

click on the picture for full line-up details (NOT SAFE FOR WORK)

Licensing authorities have ordered South London superclub Mass to refrain from hosting bashment or funky house events in the future, under strict new licensing conditions intended to reduce the threat of gang violence.

Local police chief Sergeant Steve Strange said they closed the Brixton venue for 28 days at Christmas after receiving intelligence that a doorman was marked for assassination following a fight he was involved in at a Farringdon club.

“We know there are disputes between gangs, and gangs have affiliations to certain promoters and venues,” Sergeant Strange told the South London Press.

“We are taking steps to keep warring – and I don’t use the word lightly – factions apart,” he continued, “This has been a problematic club and the main reason is the type of music that is played . . . ‘bashment’. We know it attracts gang members.”

Fetish institution Torture Garden (TG) briefly cancelled their New Year’s Eve party following the December 26 police closure though ended up opening after a judge over-turned the ban specifically for TG. Allen TG told Skrufff they’ll be going ahead with their March 20 Mass date as usual and said they remain confident of the club’s security.

“I don’t think these new conditions have any implications for Torture Garden at all,” said Allen, “In fact, they show that the authorities actually prefer to have fetish nights in their borough because they never bring any trouble.”

“When we were told Mass was being closed just four days before our New Year’s Eve party and we announced we were cancelling and looking for a new venue, we all got a few more grey hairs and we lost a few people, but in the end the event had more energy and felt more special,” he added.

“The fact people were relieved the party was happening added to the vibe and it was a great party. And on the flip side we got to check out some very interesting venues while we were looking for a replacement,” he said.

The sometimes extreme-dressing club promoter also downplayed the threat of violence in London in general, declaring ‘I’ve been clubbing for over 20 years and never had any trouble, at least since I left (South Coast town) Hastings, but then socializing on the alternative scene makes clubbing a very safe option,” said Allen.

“Neither myself not David (his ultra-flamboyant dressing TG partner) have been harassed on the street or anywhere else for many, many years,” he added, “London is a very tolerant place.”

“Having said that, clubs in London are having a very hard time with the new 24 drinking laws, DJ bars and the decline of club/rave culture and the superclub/ superstar DJ concept,” he added. “They are struggling to fill nights so quite a few are resorting to hosting high risk events featuring bashment and R&B music, which the police don’t like,” he said.

Charles Anokye was murdered outside Mass in 2006 after being singled out by thugs inside the club over his ‘wild dancing’. Anwar Hussain, 17 from notorious local street gang the Muslim Boys, was later jailed for life after being found guilty of stabbing Mr Anoyke 13 times. Speaking in court at the time, Hussain’s lawyer Andrew Campbell-Tiech QC described the killing as ‘a truly pathetic attempt to make himself popular”.

Another clubber was murdered at Torture Garden’s other South London home SE One in October 2008 at a funky house night hosted by Bobby & Steve. Erol Davis, 24, was shot inside the club at close range in the early hours. His killer remains at large.

Torture Garden are also continuing to hold (trouble-free) events at the massive venue London’s largest) and hold their always packed Valentines Ball there next Saturday (February 13).