Paper Squares and Purple Stars: My Life As A Rave Outlaw

by John Vibes

The year was 2007, I had just turned 21, and I was struggling to find my place in a world that I didn’t understand. I spent most of my life as an outcast because I refused to conform with the expectations of mainstream society, but that summer, everything changed when I went to a rave and discovered an underground culture where I was finally accepted, where there were people just like me. It was like stumbling down a rabbit hole into a magical land of peace, love, and freedom. It really did feel like there was some type of magic in the air back in those days, because my life changed so quickly. In just a few months, I went from a common hustler and a nervous wallflower to a major promoter who organized and supplied some of the most notorious underground events on the east coast.I found meaning in my life, and I even found love, but I also found a dark side, which would threaten everything I gained. I ended up in a unique position to witness some of the wildest things that this underworld has to offer, experiencing some very extreme highs and lows of my own along the way. Years later, I reflected on what I saw and what I learned during those crazy times, and now I am ready to tell my story.

248 pages, Paperback

Published May 18, 2019

Reviews

[Josh Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are some grammatical errors toward the end of the book, but I still found this to be a worthwhile read. The Black Hole is the story's mainstay and was the first underground spot I ever went to. Despite being greener than Yoshi, I enjoyed myself and found the community there welcoming and kind.

While reading, I did find it cool to match the names in the book with their real-world counterparts; Silver Spoon Promo being the most obvious. This book also solidified my thoughts on the chasm between sanitized corporate events and the free-spirited underground. Both have their place, but the counter-culture aspects of the corporate events feel more than a bit plastic.

Either way, this is a decent read for anyone in the DMV scene and beyond. It's a glimpse into raving around the time the RAVE Act was trying to shut down the underground.

[J.A. Barrios · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paper Squares and Purple Stars was the most relatable story I have ever read.
Knowing so many people who have been and continue to be apart of the DMV rave scene, this book made me very nostalgic for all the fun adventures my friends would tell me after parties. Plus with the topics of philosophy and spirituality I found myself surprised of how many of my beliefs were reciprocated with the author. It definitely felt like I was listening to an old friend.

[Jaeger Spratt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great read, definitely kept me turning the pages. As someone new/ unfamiliar with much of the world John describes, I loved learning about the philosophy of this lifestyle that he fit in alongside his memoir.

[Max · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is such a good memoir of rave life in the early times. I feel like im reliving the events reading each chapter and I enjoy every second of it. I own this on paperback and it will forever be a good conversation piece when my friends recommend good book recommendations.