New book chronicles 30 years of Brussels' Fuse nightclub

Legendary Brussels nightclub Fuse has announced the release of a book to celebrate its 30th anniversary.

Fuse - 30yrs of Making Noise is scheduled for release in November 2024, and is a collaboration between AfterClub Publishing and Fuse, written by DJ and journalist Koen Galle.

The book is set to contain a series of stories from protagonists of the club’s history, as well as an “extensive visual archive” of photos and flyers across its 30 years.

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Focusing on the DJs, staff, and clubbers of Fuse — Galle aims to present a unique photographic archive of the people who have helped to define the history of the club, documenting everything from the dancefloor to behind-the-scenes work.

The book documents the legacy of Belgium's first techno club as it became a mainstay in Brussels and began to catch global attention. Over the years, Fuse has hosted internationally acclaimed DJs such as Daft Punk, Robert Hood, Peggy Gou, Aphex Twin and Björk.

Fuse faced a slow start when it first opened in a former cinema in 1994 and was almost closed initially by club owners, but eventually found success.

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The venue quickly capitalised on this newfound success, with early artwork describing itself as 'The First Techno Club in Belgium'. Galle explains: “with techno as the always respected mother genre, the venue has been a powerhouse of electronic music culture for three decades and counting.”

During this time, “house, trip hop, ambient, drum & bass, and even trance found their way into the three rooms of the former cinema," Galle notes.

Despite this success, the club recently ran into troubles after it was ordered to close down following noise complaints from a neighbour. In February 2023, a petition to stop its closure garnered around 65,000 signatures, and the club was eventually allowed to reopen under strict conditions that it would have to close within two years.

Pre-order Fuse - 30 Years Of Making Noise here.

Jamaal Johnson is Mixmag's Digital Intern, follow him on Instagram