The Zap Club was always much more to me than just a name above an archway. Its influence on my life far greater than anything this wide-eyed queer suede head could have imagined back in 1990 when I first made my way to its famous if filthy Brighton dancefloor. The sea salt ingrained in the crumbling arches was as fundamental to my life as a DJ in Brighton as the people I met there. Club Shame the foundation of my career in nightlife, cementing my love of house music and my desire to forever be part of LGBTQ+ nightlife. The Coco Club and a certain Mr Chris Coco (see what he did there?) are the reason I decided to take this thing we called DJing seriously. Helene Stokes the goddess on the door soon became a lifelong friend I will always cherish, family I didn’t know I could have. And Queenie the Xi-Xi babe bashing bongos with Meech Mash (complete with sailor top and tartan shorts) who would ensure thanks to those nights spent flirting between the Zap’s arches would become the second greatest love of my life. Sorry missus but Mike Dunn was right. Let it be house.

Add the DJs that influenced this queer wannabe to take my vinyl addiction to another level as DJ Paulette, Dulcie Danger, Damien Harris, Craig Woodrow, Dave Randall, Smokin’ Jo and Malcom lit the way. A way that led Queenie and me to DJing at Fruit Underground, Club Shame Reunion, Queer Nation, Pussycat Club, and more. A way that has, thirty years on, led to the booking that has brought more thrills than the many pills that may (or may not) have been consumed back in those dungarees-clad acid house gay days.  

So with goosebumps on goosebumps, I’m cuffed to announce that Queenie and I are joining a line-up of Zap Club dreamers on Saturday 27^th April at Brighton’s incredible Corn Exchange for a Zap Reunion like no other in a venue to meet the dancefloor highs we shall be loving. DJs include Dave Lee, Paulette, Chris Coco, Victor Simonelli, Dulcie Danger, Neil Roden, Alex Langley, Big Ben. Alex Van Poppell, Nickelle Nickel, Adam Bang Tidy and two old queers pinching themselves DJs called Wildblood and Queenie will gather with you to deliver the true Spirit of the Zap Club Reunion.

The old Zap Club days may be gone, the dungarees may be faded, the arches patched up, the E’s swapped for HRT but the joy incoming when we reunite this April to celebrate the soul of a nightclub that changed our lives in so many ways is a feeling I can’t wait for. See you at the front. Helene Stokes letting me in permitting.

Spirit Of Zap Reunion Saturday 27^th April 4pm-12pm. Corn Exchange, Royal Pavilion Gardens, Brighton BN1 1EE Tickets go on sale Wednesday 21st February 12noon. Dome Box Office £27+ BF Ticket link info via Facebook Zap Club