[coldtea]

They existed, but where they "raves" or just clubs and venues playing rave music?

Proper raves where the DIY open or underground fare, secretly organized, communicated with flyers or whisper-net, etc. And when the 1994 act banned them there was a lot of (justified) anger from the rave "community"! In any case, still a British thing.

[thom]

Still going strong.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-647769...

[geden]

Simultaneously delighted and appalled.

[thom]

You know you're old when you find yourself grumbling while using a decibel meter on your phone at 2pm in the morning, but I respect that they got away with it.

[geden]

I disagree with your definition of a “proper” rave. Not inclusive enough.

There was loud rave music & ravers having a great time, ie it was a rave.

Raves happened in secret and in the open. I went to both kinds. Pros and cons to both.