The Fridge was a nightclub in the Brixton area of South London, England, founded by Andrew Czezowski and Susan Carrington, who had run the Roxy during punk music's heyday in 1977. It was originally started in 1981, in a small club at 390 Brixton Rd, and in 1982 above Iceland in Brixton Road with a radical decor that included beat-up ice boxes and artificial dead cats hanging from its ceiling. Early guest DJs included Keith Barker-Main, later a lifestyle journalist and social commentator. It claims to have been the first British club to have such innovations as videoscreens and a chill out lounge. The Fridge was at the heart of the early 80s New Romantic movement, and booked such acts as Eurythmics and the Pet Shop Boys before they were well known and drew famous faces such as Boy George, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Magenta Devine, as well as Marc Almond and Grace Jones, who also performed there. In 1984, as a result of increased popularity, the club moved to its final location: a converted 1913 cinema formerly a roller-disco called the ACE on the Town Hall Parade. Joe Strummer from The Clash invested £5,000 in the new club. Andrew explains during an interview for 3:AM magazine, "what the club achieved since then -- its visuals laid the template for the rave scene, it's a look that's being copied across the world. There's been no recognition of course -- if a record is influential it's on vinyl for all to hear throughout history, but you can't really encapsulate a visual in the same way, people just take it for granted. Basically the look of modern-day clubs was started here in 1986." In July 1985, Andrew and Susan launched their own Record Company, Latex Records. located at the Fridge. Yvette the Conqueror was the first artist signed to the label. The labels first release was a single by Yvette the Conqueror titled, "The Boys Were There," produced by Iain Williams mostly dance music, trance and more recently mainly hard dance. The Fridge closed on 17 March 2010 and has no link with Electric Brixton which now occupies the building. Electric Brixton opened in September 2011.
Launched in September 1992, Love Muscle instantly became one of the major gay club nights in London, running every Saturday night for almost a decade. Famous for its uplifting music policy, raunchy stage shows and unique party atmosphere, the night soon attained international renown, regularly attracting clubbers from across the country and beyond every weekend. Love Muscle's original DJs were Marc Andrews, Mark Monroe and Gareth, who defined the night's music policy of uplifting commercial house, and created a sound that was entirely unique to Love Muscle. They remained at the helm as weekly residents at the club for nearly 7 years, and were then joined and ultimately replaced by Mark O, Dorian, Rich B, Rich P and Sean Sirrs. During the early years and again towards the end, the club played host to drag queen Yvette, a former buyer for Harrods, who gave stage shows containing strippers and live music. During the period when Yvette first hosted Love Muscle, Yvette, along with Laurence Malice were regarded as two of the most influential club hosts in London. After Yvette left the Fridge, Paul Bakalite hosted Love Muscle for a while and is remembered for his affable persona, meeting and greeting patrons in the Fridge foyer and handing out lollipops and novelties to sweaty revellers. Due to falling numbers and the occasional drugs raid, the night was temporarily closed in 1998, but was soon brought back due to public demand. It never fully recovered however, and became increasingly infrequent during the period 2000–2002. The night was finally closed in 2004. Love Muscle returned to the Fridge on 31 December 2008 with the original promoter Andrew Czezowski and the exhilarating pyrotechnics and production effects the night was renowned for. The night's name, Love Muscle, is a euphemism for the penis, reflecting its raunchy gay appeal.
Album releases
An embodiment of The Fridge's most revered night "Africa Centre" was released as a compilation album in 2003, mixed by Jazzie B of Soul II Soul. Escape from Samsara released a total of three unmixed compilation albums between 1996 and 1999. The group Zen Terrorists and solo artist SBL also both later released "Live at Escape from Samsara" albums. The second CD of the debut album by Lab 4 consisted of a live set recorded at Escape from Samsara at the Fridge, too. Return to the Source released a number of compilation albums and a few singles on their label of the same name. Otherworld released a trance compilation entitled "Dance, Trance & Magic Plants" on the Transient label in 1997.
Closure of the Fridge
The Fridge finally closed on 17 March 2010. The Love Muscle xx website was online until 2014 and played loops of the club's memorable tracks, starting with Bob Sinclar's Save Our Souls. The venue reopened in 2011 as Electric Brixton.
