Description
Excess All Areas is the outrageous, larger-than-life autobiography of Dave Beer – DJ, punk, promoter, artist, spiritual seeker, and founder of Leeds’ legendary Back To Basics, the longest-running weekly club night in the world.
Named The King of Clubs by Mixmag and “a purveyor of good times” (his actual passport job title), Dave helped launch the careers of Daft Punk and Basement Jaxx while remixing for David Bowie, The Rolling Stones, Chrissie Hynde and more.
Surviving car crashes, 14 days in a coma, the death of his closest friend and full-blown out-of-body experiences, Dave took partying to bacchanalian extremes, making Keith Richards look like Cliff Richard – all while impeccably dressed in Vivienne Westwood.
But at its heart, this is more than a tale of sex, drugs and acid house. The Chemical Genera’zen movement wasn’t just about bass – it was a spiritual awakening. For Dave, music became a divine message, a vibration that transformed his life.
Still walking on the wild side, Dave Beer has become a DJ, artist, music mogul, activist, grandfather, Honorary Son of the City of Leeds and a converted Buddhist. In 2023, he was nominated for an MBE – adding more letters after his name, just months after a late-life ADHD diagnosis.
This is a memoir of madness and magic, of punk and peace, of thoughts made real. And it proves that even on the road of excess, you can find wisdom – it just takes a little longer.
Quotes
“Back To Basics is one of the foundation stones of the UK club scene as we know it.” Pete Tong
“If you’re not living on the edge, you’re taking up far too much room. Admirably, Dave Beer takes up no room at all.” Andrew Weatherall
“There are some people who make money, and some people make history.” Tony Wilson
“It’s never going to be easy for you, Dave; easy is boring, you wouldn’t like it.” Howard Marks
“Playing at Back To Basics almost felt like we were somewhere otherworldly.” Frankie Knuckles
“Dave Beer is too flamboyant to be straight.” Boy George
“When Dave Beer told us the year before we blew up that we were going to be one of the world’s biggest bands, we didn’t believe him. Thankfully, he must be psychic.” Basement Jaxx
“Back To Basics is a very special party in my heart. The club stands for quality and the true value of house music.” Danny Tenaglia
“Oh my god, what can I say? I had far too much of a good time to remember anything. Just love, love, love, and more love.” Derrick Carter
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