Rewriting the rave scene

I am writing to protest the flagrant misquotation and misinformation printed as supposed fact in the Mirror's excerpt from the forthcoming book by Mireille Silcott ["Ecstasy, Pedophilia, Suicide & Poo," Nov 18]. Ms. Silcott came to Toronto to interview many promoters, including myself, for her book approximately a year and a half ago. At the time, during the interview, I myself specifically stated that I wanted to see any final quotations that she used from our interview before publication of the book.

Knowing that I, too, am writing a book about this music entitled Future Jazz and am also a veteran music journalist concerned about journalistic integrity, she assured me that she would do so.

Ms. Silcott has blatantly misquoted me on a number of occasions in this brief article. At no time did I ever state that "Stevenson was a closet homosexual, tortured by his impulses." What a ridiculous line, considering that I barely knew Alan beyond dropping off tickets for our events once every three months or so, perhaps engaging in a 30-second conversation with him in the process. I certainly did not know Alan well enough to be commenting on his "impulses" or what "tortures him."

Secondly, Ms. Silcott misquotes me on the issue of Pleasure Force as well, to great misinterpretation. At no time did I ever say that "'It was a dramatic turn: one day happy-happy, the next day very edgy and frightening... At Pleasure Force raves, you knew there was weird shit going on. You would see these people doing coke lines off tables and little kiddies on crystal meth hobnobbing with people in their late twenties. It was rotten by anyone's count. It was a place where you could do anything, and there were people there doing pretty much that. I thought it was vile."

What did I say? Well, Ms. Silcott imposed two completely different parts of the interview together to make it seem that I had stated something I hadn't. The first part of the quote was taken from a conversation we had had surrounding the mysterious robbery and burning down of our Transcendance home, which made me feel a great deal of fear within "the scene." It had nothing to do with Pleasure Force at all.

During the second part of the quote, I was talking about the totally free-spirited, anything-goes attitude that the early parties like Pleasure Force possessed, and which I believed was part of their magic and allure. I never said that Pleasure Force was "rotten"--if I'd felt that, why would I have been going to those events in the first place? Secondly, I never said that I thought these parties were "vile"--I said they were "wild" as in 'wild and crazy'! A very different meaning indeed.

I feel it is despicable, misleading, sensationalist journalism for the Mirror, ECW Press and Ms. Silcott to publish such erroneous trash and mask the patchy reporting process as ethical publishing. I protest such actions and demand a public apology.

On behalf of many members of Toronto's former 'rave' scene,

--Beverly May

[Mireille Silcott replies: If Beverly May would like to hear her interview tapes, she may. She never requested a final look at the quotes. And had she, I would have declined her the privilege--as any "veteran" journalist would. I did over 30 interviews in Toronto--I, myself, do not consider that to be "patchy" reporting. As one Torontonian told me last week: "People in Toronto are gonna freak, because what you wrote about them is true, but they all wish it wasn't." I do apologize to Ms. May, however, if her quotes have lead to any discomfort for her. She really did give me a great interview.]

Activists should relax

You know what pisses me off? These freaked out activists, like Shloime Perel, who get all heated up about something and then write stupid letters to the Mirror to bitch about it ["Everyone's an insect," Dec. 2]. These types of people probably have a good message to spread, but ruin it with psycho letters. They should calm themselves down and think of better ways. At least you printed it even though he was attacking you.

--Marco Foglia

House check '99

How could you do this, oh Mirror? On your Soundcheck '99 ballot you included a wide variety of musical categories but not house! I am absolutely appalled. You surely don't expect for every house DJ or artist to settle for "electronica" in trying to sum up his or her style? Especially in this city of Montreal, good god. I am absolutely horrified. I'm going to call my mother about this one.

--Richard