[Dear reader. This is an example of a BAD ARTICLE. Please enjoy the notes I have included to clear up the many obvious misconceptions present. - BB] _Riding_the_rave_wave_ Ravers play across the Bay by Alfonso Ruiz _Contributing_Writer_ If you're "raving" these days it does not necessarily mean you're insane -- you may just be following an increasingly popular underground dance craze. [raves have been a west coas phenomena for three years now.] "Raves," as they were dubbed by the British press in the country of their birth, are underground parties spread only by word of mouth, and have become highly popular on both coasts of the United States, especially around the Bay Area. As epitomized by the yellow happy-face that has come to symbolize the rave, patrons cut loose and dance all night to a mix of techno-pop called "house" music. Use of the drug ecstasy is commonly associated with the parties. [The happy face is more associated with acid-house from 1988.] The origins of the rave movement can be traced to England, where parties are said to have started in garages and empty warehouses in the mid to early '80s. [Actually the origins go back to Detroit ca. 1987, then to Ibiza and Manchester in 1988] After their introduction to the United States, where the first non- licensed underground raves were held in deserted buildings and aircraft hangers, they have grown to such size -- with some parties attracting nearly 2000 people at a time -- that it has become difficult for parties to remain undetected by police. [ToonTown New Year's Eve 1992 had 5000 people. Of course, they weren't exactly trying to evade police. Very few raves are illegal anymore] But the rave wave in America may also be coming above ground, as its ever increasing appeal has caught the eye of licensed dance clubs, who hope to legitimize the parties into money-making ventures. [Two things: one, many current one-time raves are held in legal clubs in SF, which isn't a bad thing since the community is still there. Unfortunately, other clubs are trying to get away with playing "James Brown Is Dead" and calling it a "techno night".] To avoid further police harrassment, some promoters of underground raves are teaming up with licensed club owners to throw expensive, lavishly produced parties. But not all ravers like the idea of commercializing their illegal party scene. [Many others like the fact that the prices of legal ones are usually $5, while illegal ones can be $20. And if it's not well advertised and a good crowd still shows up, what's so "commercial" about it? If the community spirit is still there, that's all that matters...] "It sucks that more and more raves have gone legit," said Mark Herlihy, a self-confessed rave junkie. "Now, they're more expensive and not as much fun as when we dodged the cops." [It's also nice not to spend $20 for an hour of dancing until the cops break up the location at 2am or so] Also, some die-hard fans complain, some of the more commercial raves have lost the psychedelic love-in philosophy of the '60s that, along with floppy hats and hip-hugging bell bottoms, have characterized raves from early on. "Promoters making $25 a head aren't going to worry about all that love stuff," Herlihy says. [I've seen some promoters, like Tony from the Gathering, really work to promote a friendly atmosphere.] Raves have also been criticized by many people of color for not appealing to minorities, and efforts have been made to cater to people of all ethnicities and sexual orientations. [I have NEVER heard this complaint. I see people of ALL colors at raves, and never have I heard of an "all-black" rave or a Rave for the Oppressed] For example, Carefree, a predominantly gay rave, was held this past weekend in San Francisco, which coincided with gay pride month and parade. [Carefree is held every Saturday, and while most of the people there are gay, people of all persuations are welcome.] And Liberation, a rave for people of color, occurred last Sunday in Berkeley, as part of a benefit for a suicide victim. [Didn't hear about this one!! Does that mean me, a white homie, couldn't have gone? Doesn't sound anywhere near the "spirit" of a rave...] "I threw this (rave) so that anyone regardless of their race or sexuality can come dance and be themselves," said organizer Carolina Ramos, who also goes by the name of Chula Love. [Again, who?] But raves are being forced to go legitimate for another reason. The 5-0, as police are called in underground-speak, are cracking down on suspected rampant drug use by ravers. [Never heard them referred to as 5-0. Yes, the police are cracking down on raves, partly because of the drugs (which are present, but in lower levels than at the average frat party or bar), partly because of lack of permits...] Allesandra Mori, who says she frequents at least two raves per weekend, estimates that at least half, if not more, of those in attendance are on ecstasy or "X," or "Cid," the street name for acid. [Tony from the Gathering recently estimatd only 25% on a Channel 5 News story on raves. I would say 30% are on something, and another 30% THINK they're on something.] But Herlihy and Mori agree that even without police pressure, raves will soon peak. With legitimate raves having to rent human gyroscopes, virtual reality machines, velcro tumble walls and other side attractions, they may soon be pricing themselves out of most patrons' budgets just to break even. [It's not the price that will be the crushing factor if the scene goes LA- style and implodes from its own weight. It'll be that they lost the atmosphere of earlier events. And as we see happening now in the LA rave scene, the real club kiddies are reverting back to the small, legal 2am-8am clubs, and having the time of their lives. The scene may "peak" in terms of the number of people who go, but the energy of the core crowd will burn for a LONG TIME..] "Raves are the disco of the '90s, people had fun disco-ing, just like we're having fun raving. But we know it's bound to end sooner or later." [NOOO! Don't compare raves to disco. Aaargh! Disco was about coke and money and ego. Raves are about love, dancing as catharsis, and internalizing the music. It'll never "end". It'll mutate, definitely, bt it'll never stop.]