QX talks to legendary club promoter Laurence Malice ahead of his eagerly anticipated Trade party at EGG LDN in King’s Cross on 25th February 2023.

Laurence Malice transformed queer clubbing with innovative events and cutting-edge clubs, the most radical of which was the original all-night bender, Trade.

Trade

In the 90s, Trade was synonymous with late-night partying – fabulous music to shake your tail feathers to and an electric atmosphere where everyone was on their “friendliest” behaviour. These were the halcyon summer days of clubbing before the dating apps and the club closures, when going out clubbing was a rite of passage for most young queers coming out!

Trade

Trade was welcoming of everyone and always felt spectacular, no matter how many times you went, but you needed to have your batteries at full capacity. Regulars quickly learned that if you wanted to last the night, you needed to be in bed by midnight and get up in time to be at Turnmills by 4 am, refreshed and looking gorgeous! Trade Babies (as Trade regulars were known) needed to look their best. Tops were off, pecs were out, and torsos of all shapes glistened with sweat in that smokey laser-lit atmosphere. You could even accessorise with a bottle of poppers or a cigarette, yes you could do that in those days.

At the heart of Trade was an attitude to clubbing life and music that ensured demand for the Trade ethos across the globe. You could be different, you could be yourself, you could be who you were or who you wanted to be, but most of all, you had to be someone with the right attitude.

Trade appeared in tents at festivals and in other venues (besides Turnmills!). QX magazine even co-produced Trade 2000 at the Scala. That night the high-wire acts above the dance floor were spectacular and wowed the giddy dancers below. What a night that was! The exacting standards of Trade production values ensured a show worthy of the dawn of a new millennium. That is why Lawrence Malice is as much a showman as a club promoter.

Lawrence didn’t just help introduce techno music to the UK (along with Trade Resident DJs Daz Sound and Trevor Rockliffe); he also exported it to Ibiza with his Kinky Trade sessions at Manumission. Laurence was poached to run Saturday nights at Twilo in New York with Danny Tenaglia. Trade also hosted a series of events in Los Angeles at Club Avalon.

Trade was also one of the first-ever super clubs with pioneering UK and international tours, featuring unique events and tents at festivals, launching its own label and merch.

Trade’s fame was international in the pre-internet age as it was featured in club and music magazines everywhere, including regular features in the London queer club bible QX!

Having been awarded three heritage plaques and also having an episode of “Sex & The City” dedicated to it, Trade and Laurence (they are both one and the same!) have not been left wanting accolades.

Trade’s legacy has been honoured with a museum exhibition, “Often Copied, Never Equalled”:

Trade the Exhibition

Trade has been the subject of an international art exhibition, “My TRADE Experience – London 1990s”:

My TRADE experience – London 1990’s

Since Trade, Laurence Malice has involved himself in a range of clubbing experiences at his club and with other club promoters, and he has never been fearful of pushing boundaries.

Club promotion is embedded in the soul of Laurence Malice. Laurence pioneered Sunday daytime clubbing with Lee Freeman at the legendary DTPM; he ran some of the first all-women house and techno clubs, including Pumping Curls with Queen Maxine and Vicky Red, French Kiss with Doris and Candy Bar with Kim Lucas, as well as non-binary clubbing at Beyond with Tasty Tim.

You can be sure that Laurence’s new Trade adventure will be unique, involving new DJ talent and the usual high production values that we have come to expect from Lawrence Malice.

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Returning on Saturday, February 25th 2023, at Egg London, we catch up with founder and clubbing royalty Laurence Malice to chat all things Trade.

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QX and Laurence Malice have enjoyed some history together, and it’s lovely to catch up with you. When we were all together at Sheldon Mansions in Charing Cross Road, I remember you arriving at the QX office with a modem and generously gifting it, insisting that we get on the internet because it was going to be huge! Can you recall what year that was and how you feel about the most significant changes you’ve seen in queer clubbing as we’ve travelled through the digital age?

Like you, I cannot remember the date – OMG, have we come a long way! And it’s all about connectivity. It’s now easier to meet a companion in the cyber world than in the real world. What is real and what is not?

You’ve gone from being a club promoter to owning the Egg LDN club in Kings Cross. That’s an exciting journey; can you talk us through how it happened and how it feels to have your own venue?

If you watch the Trade documentary, the most poignant statement was the insecurity of operating in someone else’s venue.

When you run events in someone else’s venue, you are always subject to the rules, regulations and temperament of an individual – that operates that venue – and I can tell you – it ain’t easy! I must say, since owning my own venue, the hurdles one has to jump over to appease the authorities and your patrons are very difficult. The restrictions that the authorities apply to venues at present are almost inoperative with all the constraining conditions placed on the license. I always wanted to provide the perfect playground for people, where one can abandon one’s inhibitions, like Trade used to be.

Trade was in a class of its own regarding the music, and many of our friends DJ’d at the parties. Please tell us about the new generation of music talents you’ll showcase at Trade on February 25th.

Surprisingly enough, as all music is on a cycle – like fashion – what is the most popular sound in underground clubs (at this moment) is not dissimilar to what we used to play in Trade. Therefore, the DJs playing at the next event will offer a fresh twist to our original sound. We want to introduce it to a new generation of patrons who are open to a journey through music, which has always been the blueprint of Trade.

I understand there have been some changes to the venue since the last event; how will EGG LDN accommodate the free spirit of Trade on February 25th?

We have employed an entire team of welfare officers who are being supplied by LGBTQ+ Safe Only Ltd, and they will be there to take care of the patrons. We have taken on board feedback from the last party, and our new team’s main objective is to cater for a safer clubbing experience. These officers are not there to harass but are there to assist. Keep GBL out of all venues.

We have also built a new terrace on the Middle Floor, so each floor has an outside space to take a breather, and of course, with Trade, we will be decorating the club and utilising all the latest lighting and production.

Trade has enormously impacted queer clubbing, from the music and production to its core values of family and friendship shared over the years. What are your biggest uptakes from Trade? And how important are the relationships you’ve made from the club?

Trade was a major support network for most of the clubbers that came through our doors., The people I met along the way are still there today, and it’s quite strange, as when I meet new people, there often appears to be a “Trade connection”, It’s a recurrent theme that Trade was a ‘life-changing experience’, which corresponded to a phenomenon, that was just as much social, as it was musical and cultural.

Constantly evolving is something I know you’re eager to keep doing; why is it so important to you?

I don’t live in the past; I choose to honour the patrons who cherish their memories, but for me, this moment now will become a fond memory in the future. The same applies to all my projects: ever-evolving, ever-lasting, effervescent Trade.

Are there any plans for future Trade events, and do you still get that same energy from hosting this marathon session?

Watch this space.

If Laurence Malice had one wish for 2023, what would it be?

Eliminate all racism, homophobia, and world poverty, both material & spiritual.

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Trade welcomes a huge lineup of DJs, Performers and Hosts on Saturday, February 25th, from 8 pm onwards at Egg London, 5 – 13 Vale Royal, London, N7 9AP.

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The full Trade lineup

Nicole Moudaber & Eats Everything (Special Trade set)

plus, in alphabetical order

Anahita Shamsei

Andy Farley

Chester Hayes

Daz Saund & Trevor Rockliffe

Faff

Frankel & Harper

Guy Williams

Kyle E

Marie Malarie

Maze & Masters

Pagano

Rita Lin

Sharp Boys

Smokin Jo

Somme Farris

Sophie Joy

Victoria Peckham

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Loft Takeover with Uokhun? & Sue Veneers

OG Trash Queens of the East London queer scene UOKHUN? have sprinkled their clubbing magic from notorious toilet raves in Ibiza super clubs to parties in London strip bars and church basements. With a house, disco and pop soundtrack from Resident DJs Victoria Peckham, Rita Lin, and Sophie Joy Uokhun? serving up beats, campery and chaos, it’s all about the big love vibez at their Loft Takeover Trade session. Primed to keep things hot, sweaty and gagged. In the words of Shania…”LET’S GO GIRLS!” Uokhun have a Special Guest DJ to announce at the beginning of February.

Sue Veneers is an esteemed performance collective of DJs, dancers and hosts that have bought their unique day glo energy to festivals such as the Mighty Hoopla, Boomtown Fair and Elrow. Founded by choreographer and Resident DJ Chester Hayes, their Trade Takeover debut also features Bryony Masters, Faff and Marie Malarie. Live Performances come from the creme de la creme of the East London Queer scene including Jane Norman, Kaiden Ford, Mairi Houston and Paris TuBoleyn. In true Sue style & words…”We’re a stumble of Sues!!!! “ Performers Jane Norman – Kaiden Ford – Mairi Houston, and Paris TuBoleyn