Erol Alkan to publish book on legendary club night Trash
It traces the journey “from a modest Monday night indie club into what was then regarded by some as one of the best clubs on the planet”
Erol Alkan has announced a new book chronicling his legendary London club night, Trash.
Trash: A Club, A Sound, A Home will be available to buy from 14th January 2027, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the first ever party.
Last week, Alkan dropped social media clues that something Trash-related was waiting to be announced. News of the book has now clarified those teaser posts , with the publication bringing together Alkan’s own memories and oral histories from 39 people involved in the club night and its legacy. In total, more than 70 hours of conversations have been distilled into the book.
Originally held at Plastic People on a Monday night, Trash offered an alternative to the mainstream and big-room dance events dominating London and the wider UK at the time. The night focused on indie, post-punk, no wave, garage rock and electro, and hosted early performances from artists including Hot Chip, LCD Soundsystem, and Klaxons.
Other notable bookings included Felix Da Housecat, Chilly Gonzales, Peaches , Richard X, and Tiga, alongside members of Justice ( Gaspard Augé and Xavier De Rosnay), Mystery Jets (William Rees), Yeah Yeah Yeahs (Nick Zinner), and Factory Floor (Nik Colk Void).
Trash ran for 10 years, eventually coming to an end in 2007 after moving from Plastic People to The End , another of another of London's iconic lost venues.
“This book explores how and why Trash happened, the steps leading up to it and a series of twists and turns which allowed it to go from a modest Monday night indie club into what was then regarded by some as one of the best clubs on the planet, if not the best. When Trash closed, I vowed never to do the party again, and have stayed true to that ever since,” Alkan shared in an Instagram post .
“I was 22 when I started Trash, and whilst I had dreams of playing guitar in a band, the truth is I had no idea what I was going to do in life,” he continued. “I certainly didn’t feel a DJ career was possible as it seemed alien to a kid from Archway who had barely left his own postcode. Plus, DJs from our corner of culture weren’t seen as valid, and indie clubs didn’t hold the same value as dance clubs. But I think Trash helped change that.”
You can pre-order the book here , which comes with an exclusive mix of tracks that defined Trash. Listen to a set by Alkan, recorded from the party in 2002, here .
