The fashion was colorful, the beats were potent and the vibes were contagious. DJs like Z-Trip, Pete Salaz, Markus Schulz and CL McSpadden were all frequent performers at Phoenix raves during the ‘90s and have since become a legendary part of local EDM scene lore, as have the parties.
This weekend, long-running local rave Mary Xmas, which dates back to 1999, will stage its latest edition at Club Endgame in Mesa. In honor of the occasion, we’re taking a look back at photos of the Valley rave scene of the ‘90s from the archives of local artist Ramy Hosseinie and the Phoenix New Times.
Crank up some Josh Wink, put on your JNCO jeans or some kandi and get ready to experience Phoenix’s rave new world of the 1990s.
Note: Phoenix New Times would like to thank Ramy Hosseinie and Matt Dunn for the use of their photos.
A circa-1990s photo of a local female raver from the Phoenix New Times archives.
Phoenix New Times archives
Bunny Eachon, the frontman of electronic music act Rabbit in the Moon, performs at the Discotheque rave at The Icehouse in May 1997.
The scene at the British Tecniques rave up in the Happy Valley area north of Phoenix in October 1997.
A glimpse at a 1999 all-night party at the Icehouse in downtown Phoenix, a regular host to raves of that era.
Valley residents Katie Pegler (left) and Carminda Loleng (right) dressed up a blue fairies for the Resonance party in October 1999.
Space Girl (a.k.a. “the queen of acid trance") performs during the Kaboom rave at Tucson Warehouse & Transfer Co. in July 1999.
