The Savage Garden Nightclub
is closing its doors
Jan 4th 2009

Thanks everyone for making Savage what it was for 15 years. I had no idea the last event would be that nuts. So im taking a week or twos breather, then uploading a bunch of shots covering the last few years in the life of Savage, including that farwell party of complete and utter MADNESS.

Thankyou again
Paul Samuels aka

The title says it all. After fifteen years of being the heart of Toronto's underground scene, Savage is finally closing its doors. Since its inception June 1994, Savage Garden has defined and redefined what a nightclub can be, but all good things must come to an end. I would like to extend a very special thank you to all the people who have become involved over 5460 days of party, so many I can't do this by name. So I will just say thank you to anyone who has ever lifted a paint brush, to anyone who has helped carry in a beer fridge, to every Dj/promoter who has supplied the soundtrack, to all the bands, performers, artists and designers without whom there would be no scene, and to all the staff who put up with having to work in such an awesome environment. But a special thank you goes out to everyone who has ever put on their favorite outfit, made their way to Queen Street West, opened the big steel front doors of Savage, and climbed that staircase to the little Goth club that could.

There, that's all the heartfelt part.

"But why?"

I'm going to hear that a million times over the next few weeks. There's going to be lots of rumors, and lots of people will tell you that they have spoken with me personally and know what's really going on...if what they tell you is anything other than what follows, please tell them from me, personally, they are full of shit.

Fifteen years is a very, very, very, long time in the life of a nightclub. Fifteen years ago, Toronto was a different place and so was the world. To put it in some perspective, when Savage first opened I didn't know one person who had an internet connection, in fact the World Wide Web wasn't very worldwide at all. Cell phones were the size of a small dog, and beer cost less than a dollar a bottle. Toronto had about three nightclubs serving the Goth/industrial community and (no offence to any of them) for the most part they were crap holes. I knew the scene had much more to offer to the larger world, so rather than complaining or bitching, I decided to make a difference and I opened The Savage Garden Nightclub. My goal was to bring a level of quality entertainment that would get respect from the scene, and bring attention to the fantastic music that it held, not to be marginalized in some basement.

Well, that's done. Savage has become a household word, the scene in Toronto is one of the best in the world, and I'm happy to have made Savage a driving force behind that change. But, here's the but, there are limits to any venue, and they have a lifespan, and it's time for Savage to retire. To put it simply, fifteen years is a very long time.

On a personal note, I've never been more excited about music than I am at the min; I'm enjoying Dj'ing more than I ever have, so despite the closing of Savage I will be pursuing my Dj career to new heights, because dude! I just love to Dj. I've been asked to move Saturday night's Killing Floor, but haven't decide which venue to say yes to yet.

Paul Samuels, Owner
Savage Garden Nightclub
550 Queen St West, Toronto.