The wait is finally over…
well, almost …
Stuart Reid’s new book, The Eclipse, is now available to pre-order.
A raw, absolutely no-holds-barred account of what really happened – from how the legendary club began, to how it was run, and ultimately how it all came to an end.
Pre-orders are now live, and the first 200 orders will receive an author-signed copy.
Now is your chance to find out what went on behind the doors of The Eclipse.
The Eclipse
Introduction
‘Stuart, you must know someone with a big house?’
I did.
July 1989. The big house, Fenny Drayton, Warwickshire – 600 clued up, drugged up, clubbers turn up to rave the night away 28th October 1989, at a secret location in a field in Northamptonshire.
So secret that 6–7,000 people turned up. The farmer thought it was quite a lot of people for a Halloween party, as did the police who had been in a traffic jam for 4 hours on a road that ran through the village. Police presence was noted, two CID officers arrive at 3 am and lock both doors to their car, not that unusual, except that they were still inside the car at the time.
Raving did that to some people. A raver called Catler goes steeple chasing, off his nut, over all the hedges, off into the sunset with no clothes on. Raving also did that to some people.
Money?
What money!
And the tabloids said we were killing ourselves. Die laughing, more like it!
10th August 1990, ‘It’s a fad. It will be over in three months’, Superintendent Mick Bromwich, Little Park Street Police Station, Coventry. Obviously, his crystal ball was having a bad day, because … on 13th October 1990, history was made by the opening of Britain’s first legal all night dance club, The Eclipse in Coventry.
The line up consisted of Fabio, Mickey Finn, Sasha, Tony Ross, Evil Eddie Richards and Dobbo.
From that day on, each and every Friday and Saturday from 10 pm until 8 am, The Eclipse opened its doors to Britain’s dance followers. It was not unusual for people to be still queuing at 6 am, such was the attraction of the club.
Our policy of bringing over European and American artists and combining them with the best of British worked well and such line ups could never be repeated again; Joey Beltram next to Sasha; Kevin Saunderson next to Grooverider, plus all the top PAs available, from N-Joi, Moby, K-Klass, Sub-Sub, The Prodigy and more. This high standard set was universally acknowledged with recognition from the readers of DJ Magazine voting The Eclipse as the best club in Britain in 1992, with quotes of ‘Mecca of the Midlands’ and ‘Unparalleled success’ in Mixmag.
The membership of over 74,000 people included clubbers from Italy, Germany, Japan, Ireland and America, as well as regular visitors from all over the UK.
I leave the last word to ‘anon’ – an unnamed raver who had pulled me by the shirt sleeve while I was standing on the balcony overlooking the huge dance floor, ‘ere, that bloke is wanking!’ He says.
I thought I had seen it all, couples getting to know each other intimately in toilets, dance-floors, cupboards, stairways, cars, car parks, the occasional offer of free fellatio to security to let people in on busy nights, (all girls, I should hasten to mention), offers of £80–£100 a ticket to get in, every excuse known to man to get on the guest list, from Prince’s manager to Lord whoever, to visits from Bananarama, EMF, The Farm, The Happy Mondays, Gary Clail and even Seymour Stein, Madonna’s record manager. But here was the ultimate; a 20-year-old youth furiously masturbating at the front of 1,000 people on the main dance floor, ‘E’ed off his face. As ID magazine said, ‘Beats putting your hands in the air’! Raving did this to some people.
The account you’re about to read, are my own memories from my time running The Eclipse and other promotions such as ‘Lifestyle 2000’ to The Edge from the late 80’s to the late 90’s.
I am the founder and creator of The Eclipse in Coventry.
My name is Stuart Reid. This is The Eclipse story.
10 Years a Cat A
Stuart Reid’s debut 612-page tome, 10 YEARS A CAT A, provides a gripping exploration of the UK's high-security prisons, uncovering the hidden world behind their walls. Through vivid storytelling and personal experience, Reid reveals the daily struggles, power dynamics, and psychological challenges faced by both inmates and prison officers. The book offers a rare and eye-opening glimpse into a secretive environment, raising important questions about justice, survival, and humanity in one of society’s most isolated and intense settings.
Step into the shadowy world of the UK’s high-security prisons, where the country’s most dangerous and notorious inmates are held.
This gripping memoir takes you behind the bars of a Category A prison, revealing the harsh realities and hidden truths of life inside.
Locked away in the high-security estate, life becomes a constant battle for survival.
The book delves into the day-to-day existence of a Category A, High-Risk prisoner, exploring the intense security measures, the complex social dynamics, and the unyielding routine.
From the initial shock of imprisonment to the slow passage of time, every aspect of this unique experience is laid bare.
“A harrowing yet compelling read that sheds light on the hidden corners of the UK’s prison system. A must-read for anyone interested in criminal justice”
Reid is a former nightclub boss who owned and ran The Eclipse, Coventry. The legendary club was opened in 1990 and became the UK's first legal all-night rave club. It revolutionised the rave scene and was known for its dark, dirty dance floors; it’s lasers and lights; it’s banging sound system and the electric atmosphere. The venue quickly became a hardcore ravers paradise, attracting top DJs and live PAs from across the country. It was a hub for the burgeoning electronic dance music culture, offering a space where people could dance freely until dawn. The club's success was a milestone, legitimising the rave movement and setting the stage for the explosion of the ‘super club’ culture in the UK throughout the 1990s. The Eclipse remains an iconic chapter in dance music history and invokes many fond memories in ageing ravers (and DJs) … watch this space!
Category A
High Risk
Clothing
Category A High Risk urban clothing blends street wear with elements inspired by prison culture, incorporating graphics and terminology associated with the UK's prison system. This line features bold designs, including prison service and government-inspired typography and iconography. Going forward the line will include phrases and codes familiar to those within the system, offering a raw, authentic edge. This style appeals to those who identify with, or want to express solidarity with the struggles of the incarcerated, merging fashion with a statement of resistance.
Category A:
Prisoners whose escape would be highly dangerous to the public or the police or the state and for whom the aim must be to make escape impossible.
High Risk (Altus Periculum):
A prisoner charged with a serious offence which would make them highly dangerous if at large. Intelligence received either internally or from external agencies would suggest that the individual has access to the type of resources and associates that could provide assistance in attempting to facilitate an escape and the propensity to activate them.