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Features
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Interview with Torture Garden pioneer Allen TG
Reported by HarderFaster
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Submitted 05-05-05 23:09
Torture Garden is the biggest and most famous fetish party on the planet. Established in the early ’90s to fill a void left by mainstream clubs and other more musically challenged fetish parties, it’s always been a haven for the more alternative clubbers out there. This weekend Torture Garden celebrates its birthday by throwing their hugest party yet, a six arena birthday ball at London's SeOne club. To commemorate this landmark occasion, HarderFaster decided to get the low down on what has to be one of the most innovative clubs in the world from one of its founding members, Allen TG.
How did Torture Garden (TG) come about? Have you always been into the fetish scene, or did TG create the fetish scene as we now know it?
Well it’s interesting how TG isn’t really a dance club, but it basically brings a whole lot of people from different scenes into a club. We’ve been going for 14 years, and are still more popular than ever.
How has it changed in the last 14 years?
We do change the music, but people who go clubbing now want something a bit different. Drugs and clubs have been done to death—they’re all the same, a dj with x number of people in the club and if people are not in the mood, they’ll take drugs to get there.
Torture Garden offers a massive alternative to people in their late 20s/early 30s who still want to go out clubbing but don’t want to be with a whole lot of munted 18 year olds. We do have an older age group, people who’ve done the Friday to Monday clubbing experience, are settled in relationships and want more of an experience, be that finding new tastes in music or dressing up.
We’ve grown in popularity with the hard dance group. We were playing hard dance like Karim and E.J. Doubell before it came out of the gay scene and made it to the straight scene! Now we’ve softened it up a bit on the main dancefloor.
Torture Garden started out in October 1990 on a Thursday night in Shepherd’s Bush in a place called ‘The Opera on the Green’, which was also used for some hardcore gay nights. It started because me and my business partner, David, were into the alternative scene and were very bored by the lack of inspiration. We felt the scene had become stagnant, dressing up had become formalised and the sexuality had gone out of it. For me, clubbing is very much about sexuality, being out with like-minded people and pulling! David, my partner, was five years older was even more fed up with the scene that he rarely went out.
We sat down and tried to envisage our ideal club. We wanted a main room and a second room that would play music we liked but that no-one would ever dance to, basically a chill out room, but the term wasn’t in use yet!
We also wanted stalls to publicise alternative lifestyles—for example, different piercing styles, as this was before many people had body piercing. There was only one body piercing studio in London at the time and there was a six month waiting list, and you had to be introduced by a friend because it was totally illegal.
That’s quite hard to get your head around!
Well in the early days, people would be showing off their piercings like you might get people sharing tattoos. All the techniques used now were still being developed, so people would be comparing different methods — there was often a bit of genitalia and knitting needles on display! And of course tattoos, with everyone showing off their piercings!
OK, this sounds like it’s going to be quite a tale, be that pierced or non-pierced! So what was the first TG really like then?
At the first one I djed all night so I had the freedom to play what I wanted to play. I decided to play electronic music, because it was more in the style of what we wanted. The dancefloor was dark.
Our other criteria was that we must have live performances and visuals. Also, another basic thing, was that it had to be once a month to become an event. All clubs at the time were weekly then. So it was weird in those days to do a monthly thing, and kind of different to do visuals, video projectors back then were the size of small cars!!!
So you were well ahead of your time then?
Looking back now, Megatripalis was doing the same thing, taking the festival idea. We added a dress code because we wanted people to dress up. We didn’t deliberately set up to do a fetish club, but we wanted an alternative club for alternative people.
Finally, my first questions answered! So you were a club rather than a fetish party?
Yeah, well fetish clubs at the time were run by forty year olds. They were exciting because they were different with a sexual edge, but the music wasn’t appealing to 20 year olds and I was 20 at the time. I wanted to do something different that would cater to a younger crowd, not an older crowd.
So now it’s kind of reversed?
Well we do still cater for a younger crowd as we use young performers and young djs and we still go clubbing and do events around the world so I think we are still in touch with what brings new people into the club.
What else has changed then?
Whereas before me and David would do everything — I’d dj all night and David would do visuals and we payed a girl to run the door — now we have production managers, riggers, and a staff of 15 working the event. We were getting 500 people on a Thursday to Shepherds Bush. I don’t think we could do that now. It was new, exciting and underground then. But really, the whole clubbing scene has changed a lot!
How?
There’ve been big changes! When doing TG we eventually did our third birthday party @ The Ministry of Sound…
That’s pretty mainstream innit?
Well at one point we were pulling over 1000 on a Thursday night. Suddenly we became very well liked by the major clubs, because our crowds drank, rather than taking drugs.
There was also a major change around ’94, when I was playing a very eclectic electronic set. I couldn’t mix for toffee. I djed on cd and vinyl, as any eclectic dj would mix. I started to notice a drug become very prolific on the scene… being, of course, Ecstacy! Whereas before it was speed…
My partner told me I’d better start buying in some of these people called dance djs, because a lot of the crowd were complaining about my music. So I decided to go off and try this drug in the comfort of my own home.
The ultimate sacrifice for your work eh! 
You see, I was into dance music, but I didn’t really get it. The suddenly I had this eureka moment and decided to go off and learn to mix. Then I changed my entire record collection!
I was hanging out with Les from Lab4 and we’d go clubbing looking for the sound we wanted to hear and couldn’t find. We went to ClubUK in Wandsworth regularly, for DJs like Jam & Spoon, Sven Vath, but still we were finding it was missing the punch, until we went to Trade and heard Tony de Vit and the Trade sound.
This was also at the time Access came out. IT symbolised the sound of TG — industrial, and hard to it. For me, that was the TG sound.
Up until 97/98 we survived by doing the club once a month on Thursday nights. For the first six years things were always very dodgy — a lot of venues didn’t take us, and we never knew if we were going to be closed down. There was a lot of anti-fetish stuff in the press, a lot of court cases about S&M being illegal. But that all started to fall away a bit and TG became unique enough for people to make it once a month. Being on Thursdays we’d get an older crowd, plus regulars, but eventually the regulars realised TG was here to stay, as it was monthly so they didn’t need to come every month.
We realised we needed to move to a weekend night. Meanwhile… and there’s always a subplot… a lot of weekly dance nights were stopping and most dance nights were becoming monthly. That gave us an opening into the Mass (then called the Brix).
At that time, TG nearly stopped as we didn’t see the future, but moving to Friday, numbers increased.
It’s hard to imagine we started life without the internet! But really, the fact that we had a new thing called the internet, so we could make a website, really changed everything. Before, if you wanted to find out about TG, you had to go to a fetish or adult shop or another fetish/goth party. With the internet, it made going to a fetish club a whole lot more accessible. People could find out a while lot more about the scene. You can email your questions if you’re too shy to talk on the phone.
In 1997 we also realised it was no longer going to be a hobby and went full time.
What did you do before then?
I ran other clubs and djed and David had a graphic design job.
So how did you become so popular?
We really think the net made us a lot more popular. We also made a name by being more extreme with our shows. Branding, scarification, body hangings: we pushed it so far, yet now everyone’s familiar with it… you even get these things covered in magazines like Bizarre mag.
What we started out to do… there was a fetish establishment and we went in against them.
We were in competition with some other clubs. Submission was another club we had friendly competition with, but like chalk and cheese they were more mainstream, into trendy house music, while we were into dark stuff — techno, acid techno, trance, hard house.
As much as it went against the grain, we’ve now fended off every other club to become the fetish scene. We’re now at the top of the tree because we’ve gone against the others. As we’ve become older we’ve developed more of a sense of humour and developed a bit more fun at parties.
Anyway, moving on to the present day…
We now look at our parties as an experience. We’re both experienced club goers and look at the moment people enter the club and leave as a moment they won’t forget. If someone’s going to pay £18-20 for a night out they should get their money’s worth!
Also, TG isn’t just one club, it’s really four or five events. From summer parties, which are more social, to Halloween and Valentines Day, which bring a more commercial crowd, to the birthday party, which is really the most complete version of a TG party you can get, with extra space and a bigger budget.
So just how old is TG then?
We dropped the number this year as it was getting a bit tired! Soon people will be coming who weren’t born when we started out!
Is this the first time you’ve thrown a TG at SeOne?
Yes, this is the first time. Our venues are always very important to us. You can’t polish a turd, so we always choose venues that are right and will help create an atmosphere, rather than distract from it. SeOne have done a lot of work on their refurbishment. We’ve been looking at using them for years and now it’s refurbished to a level we feel happy with.
What birthday surprises do you have in store?
There’s 70 performers, 30 shows, 20 djs and 6 rooms. It’s our biggest production to date. This year we’re introducing an experimental art room that’ll add to the experience. There’ll be extreme performances from Poland and France, with extreme bondage and big S&M displays. There’s a cabaret room, with rock n roll and a casino 50s vibe, a wrestling stage, a fashion show, and of course the dungeon playrooms.
What kind of crowd are you expecting?
Lately we’ve been getting more Antipodeans, which is good as overall they’ve got a good attitude to sexuality and make for a cheerful and friendly crowd. It’s a very friendly experience, people chat.
So you’ve had no major problems over the years?
No! You forget that many of the women have weapons and the guys are too scared to touch them! There’s no hierarchy at TG and the fetish scene is large and respected at the moment. But if someone gets raped, what would happen? People who run these clubs take safety very seriously. We have dungeon monitors and security is always briefed. We’ve had no trouble in 14 years, but always expect the unexpected!
The biggest complains are the queues to get in, the cloakroom queues and drink prices, and we can’t control any of this. We spend as much on this as we do the shows!
You also do TG in Japan, that must be amazing!
Yes we’ve done Japan for four years, as our partner out there brings us out. It’s now established out there. I love Japan! We also guest all over the world—America, Europe!
It sounds like a dream lifestyle…
When I was 20 I started a club idea, and now I find the idea that I can travel the world by starting a club that I wanted to go to amazing! The only downside is that now I have to do taxes and accounts. It’s fun putting an event together — like most club promoters I love bringing a lot of people together. When you look around at 3am and see over 1000 faces enjoying the night you started 14 years ago, it makes it all worthwhile. It’s better than any money you can earn.
If a reader has never been to TG, why should they come to this one?
To experience Torture Garden! You’ve got to try it once while it’s still going as you never know when it might stop. The crowd is TG, we just create a backdrop. You’ve got to be part of the experience and willing to add yourself. There are no spectators at TG!
It’s a welcoming, friendly environment and it will be a very different experience! There’s no club like TG anywhere else in the world! I wish there was, but if you go around the world I think you’ll find nothing with the diversity TG offers. Expect a visual onslaught!
Part of the experience is in the dressing up and getting ready beforehand. The excitement and anticipation of getting ready, where you gear yourself up and go in there with a bring it on attitude!
You’re not expected to be racked up to a cross. You don’t need to go to the dungeon if you don’t want to!
This time there’s actually going to be six clubs at SeOne: a hard dance club, a cabaret, a dungeon, an electro room and an experimental performance room.
With the dressing up being such a big thing, what advice can you give first timers about what to wear?
The dress code is always a problem, especially for guys. Girls can usually get something from their wardrobe, a school uniform, sexy clubwear. For boys, you can be a superhero, a doctor, a school boy… On one level, it’s an adult fancy dress party. Some people going on Saturday will have been planning their outfits for weeks. We’ve had people turn up in bin liners and we can see the funny side! It’s something more interesting than rubber trousers and no top! If you’ve any questions at all, please just call the TG office, we’d like to help. For a lot of guys, they’re worried that they’re going to look silly, but you can’t look silly at TG! For girls, you can always visit www.tgclothing.com A lot of people go to Camden market for PVC clothes.
What’s your greatest achievement to date?
Personally, the first time we did Brixton Academy. We did a lot more variety and managed to pull it off. Also having the club still fresh and exciting after 14 years. As soon as I don’t want to do it anymore we’ll stop!
What about your craziest TG experience?
Well we did have a guy die of a heart attack in a pink rubber miniskirt and nothing else back in ’93. It was in the News of the World the next morning as ‘Whips clubs weirdo dies in nappy’!
In our first year, it was weird to read the Sunday papers a week after my club and see the title, ‘Naughty nights in the garden!’ which was an expose on us. If you check out our website there’s some good stories there!
What’s your favourite party been over the years?
There’s been loads! I guess the first one would have to be a night called Crash, based around the Cronenberg film. We used the Arches in Southwark so we could fit three cars in and smash them up. We made them look like a car crash and used it for the stage. We got an angle grinder, blood and bits of meat and it felt like a film set, not a club! It was a very exciting project creatively!
Another was having Franko B, an extreme performace artist hang from a harness of the MOS roof with a pissbag from his urethra and bloodbags. We’ve also hung people from meat hooks through the skin over the Brixton Academy stage.
The first time in Japan with Ian M djing and 1000 Japanese girls in rubber — you can’t go wrong!
Some of that sounds quite hardcore! Have you ever had any complaints over the years?
We usually get one or two complaints about one or two arseholes per night, but they’re quickly evicted.
Some people complain it’s not extreme enough. Some people expect us to kill people on stage. But we’re not doing a Michael Alig!
What would you do of you ever stopped TG?
I’d move into event production. And concentrate on my ten pin bowling!
Finally, is there anything else you’d like to say to HF?
When I first saw a group from HF coming down I thought, they’re a naughty bunch of people! We’ll welcome you with open arms!
Thanks Allen! All the best for Saturday night and happy birthday!
Photos courtesy of Allen TG.
Torture Garden Birthday Ball
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On:
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Saturday 7th May 2005
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At:
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SEONE
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From:
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10pm - 6am
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Cost:
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In Advance £23 mem £28 non-mem MOTD
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Website:
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www.torturegarden.com
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Ticket Info:
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In Advance £23 members, £28 non-members.
C/C tel: 44 (0)20 7613 4733 and online bookings £1 per ticket Booking fee
Torture Garden Clothing Showroom:
Unit 30 Cremer Business Centre, Cremer St, Shoreditch E2 (call 020 7729 7714 for access on Sat)
Shop Outlets. £1 booking fee may apply.
New: Fairy Goth Mother: 7 East Yard, Camden Lock, Camden NW1
New: Liberation: 49 Shelton St, Covent Garden WC2H
Paradiso: 41 Old Compton St, Soho W1
Breathless: 38b Camden Market Stables, Chalk Farm Rd NW1
Regulation: 17a St Albans Place, Angel N1
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Buy Online:
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Click here to buy tickets
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More:
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EUROPES LARGEST FETISH EVENT OF 2005
@ THE MASSIVE 6 ROOM, 5 SOUNDSYSTEM, 2500 CAPACITY SEONE
1 - MAIN CLUB ARENA
FASHION SHOW STAGE
Fashion Performances by:
TORTURE GARDEN CLOTHING
HW DESIGNS (Austria) / PUIMOND (US) / INNER SANCTUM / LIBIDEX / HOUSE OF HARLOT / PRETTY PERVY BY OBVIOUSLY ODD
Walkabout Stilt & Fire Performances by:
FLAMING FUN
Video Mixing by:
NUROPTICS
DJs: Nu Skool Breaks & Electro to Hard Dance
2 – ECLECTIC ARENA
WRESTLING RING STAGE
FUEL ORGASM CARS & SOUNDSYSTEM www.liquidinjuredhearing.com
3 Hard Core Wrestling Bouts by
RAMWA featuring MC LEEVIL
Asian Dominatrix Wrestling by
AMRITA (Tokyo)
EMPRESS VICTORIA (Hong Kong)
Performances by:
EMPRESS STAH
ESME
JONNIE STUD BUNNY
Freak Walkabout Terrorism by:
PSYCHO CLOWNS LIBIDEX
XXX POLE DANCERS
Fetish Fashion Art Porn Visuals
DJs Playing Mash-Up Sleazy Electro Clash, Bootlegs, Trash, Disco Punk & R n B Booty
3 - BODY ART ARENA
BODY ART STAGE
Body Art & Suspension Performances by
BODY ART - ART KOR (France) www.body-art.net
Performance Art Terror by:
SUKA OFF – FLESH CAMP (Poland) www.sukaoff.com
Live Visuals by Black Flesh Video
Live Music by C H District www.chdistrict.com
Japanese Bondage Performances by:
SATOMI (Osaka)
AMRITA (Tokyo)
KUMI (US)
KAZAYA & MASTER DARCY
Medical Performances by:
MISTRESS OLIVIA
EMPRESS VICTORIA
Medical Equipment by CRASH 70
DJs: playing Electronica, Experimental, Classical, Ritual
4 - CABARET BALLROOM
CABARET STAGE
Live Swing Band starring Lucifire & Tia Maria:
FLAMING DOO DITS
Burlesque Cabaret Performances by:
SEFI
PALOMA
DEE DEE LUXE
ROXY VELVET
CASINO TABLES
Sumptuous Red Cabaret Decor
Sleazy Burlesque & Decadent Cabaret Visuals
DJs: Playing Lounge Exotica, Vegas Beats, Neo Swing & Decadent Cabaret
5 - DUNGEON PLAYROOMS
Mistresses:
EMPRESS VICTORIA
AMRITA
KAZAYA
MISTRESS OLIVIA
Equipment by
INFERNAL MECHANIX
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Flyer:
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Region:
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London
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Music:
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Trance. Hard Trance. Hard House. Breaks.
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DJ's:
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Room 1 - Main Arena
SOTA SUZUKI (TG Japan),
Ed Real (Riot),
THE **Ting* (Proactive),
Allen TG,
JIMMY MOFO (Mofo Mag & Raindance)
Nu Skool Breaks & Electro to Hard Dance
Room 2 - Eclectic
OAP (Kaspoint),
SEBASTIAN & VALERIE (Noblesse Oblige & Caligula),
DAVID TG,
PANDORAS JUKEBOX, S
UKEBAN
Mash-Up Sleazy Electro Clash, Bootlegs, Trash, Disco Punk & R n B Booty
Room 3 - Cabaret
El Nino (Lady Luck)
Johnny Chrome & Silver (Modern Times)
Sukeban
David TG
Room 4 - Body Art
RICHARD TORRY & BISHI (Siren Suite), EYEBALL LICKER
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The views and opinions expressed in this review are strictly those of the author only for which HarderFaster will not be held responsible or liable.
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