Tresor Club opened its doors in Berlin's Leipziger Strasse in March 1991, and over the past 14 years has gone on to make a reputation for itself as one of the world's leading techno clubs - both through its club nights, and also through its associated record label, Tresor Records, which began in September that same year. The list of artists who have occupied the Tresor DJ booth and released through Tresor Records reads like a who's who of techno music.
Rumours of the impending closure of Berlin's famous Tresor Club have been circulating in Germany's clubbing community on and off for the past few years. Fresh impetus was given to these rumours after a major police raid in September 2003 in which 16 of the 400 people present at the club were charged with possession of illegal drugs, and which led to the club's closure by the city authorities for a brief period.
The official press release from Tresor is reproduced in full below:We hereby disclose that on 16 April 2005 Tresor Club will celebrate the last party in its Leipzigerstrasse location.
The property landlord Bauwert Development Delta GmbH & Co. has amiably allowed this last extended time limit. After that an office structure for the Volksfürsorge will be constructed on the premises.
We would like to thank everyone, all the artists, co-workers or guests that have, for over 14 years, made this utopia in the heart of Berlin possible. In order to arrange a worthy conclusion, our intention is to invite all the artists that have so clearly left a mark on the club to say loudly “goodbye and see you soon!” during the period between 01 – 16 April.
For the future we are working to resurrect the Tresor phenomena in a new home location. We welcome any dialog and co-operation with the city’s decision makers concerning the situation. Tresor would like to proceed and realise its mission to be instrumental in the further development of electronic forms of expression.
More information coming soon...
With sincere affection,
The Tresor Team
There is no word yet on a new location for Tresor; RA will bring you updates on the closing parties (see press release) and any further information as it becomes available.
-- UPDATE --
Tresor's Closing Party program which sees the club open every night from the 1st to the 16th of April has been announced. As expected, the programme is a vertitable who's who of techno:
Some of the highlights of 01st - 16th April: Tresor closing party @ Tresor -
01st - Chris Liebing / Tanith
02nd - D. Diggler / Alexander Kowalski
03rd - Der Dritte Raum
04th - Monika Kruse / The Advent live & Recyver Dogs
05th - Abe Duque / Blake Baxter
06th - Marusha / Paul van Dyk
07th - Josh Wink / Supa DJ Dmitry / Jay Denham / Dave Tarrida / Steve Bicknell
08th - Dr. Motte / Alan Oldham / Tresor Headquarter Allstars
09th - Mike Grant / Stewart Walker Live
10th - Tanith / Savvas Ysatis
11th - Wimpy / Massimo
12th - RusKin & Regis / Oliver Ho
13th - DJ Rush - 4 hr set
14th - John Acquaviva / Mitte Karaoke - Live
15th - Track Masta Lou - scan 7 / Joey Beltram / Kelli Hand / Terry Donovan (NYC)
16th - Richie Hawtin / Ricardo Villalobos / + very special guests + all residents
full listing is here. As Tresor announces on their website, starting on April 20th Tresor will be taking over club Maria am Ufer in Berlin on Wednesday nights with Bonito House Night and Tresor Headquarters events.
RA wishes it could take another fortnight off work right now and spend it in Berlin!
On a (possibly related) note, a rumour is currently circulating that Berlin's famous E-Werk club may be re-opening in summer 2005. RA wonders if it is mere coincidence that Tresor have still not announced their plans as regards a new location?