May 11, 1996 the Rave Shop in Bologna Italy was born!

At that time Italy was going through a period of musical change and was about to be invaded by what was at the time called the Hardcore movement.

Some say that it was already widespread, but it remained unknown to many people.

After a couple of months I joined one of the biggest groups called RND, founded by my good friend Randy, and we began the struggle for information to be accessible in our own homes..
On my own, like him, I started organizing bus services to Switzerland and slowly things started taking off.

I went from Germany to Holland and then, about two years later, I took charge of Dutch promotion in Italy.

I brought many new things to my country: merchandise, gadgets, CDs, stickers, etc., but believe me, there were plenty of hard times, times that make you want to throw in the towel.

Bringing information into Italy meant challenging the country's pre-existing norms.
People didn't understand the need to go dancing in a different country or to change their way of thinking or to have fun. But after a few attempts they were convinced and started creating groups of Partyers. All this remained underground in the Italian cities in which it was happening.

My struggle could never have succeeded without the help of my wonderful and trusted associates. One of them is the great Samu who has followed me this whole time and believed in me and everything I did while publicizing my products throughout Italy.

Traxtorm Records was created and was, in my opinion, one of the greatest contributions to Italian hardcore. Beside the wonderful relationship that it sparked, the Dutch passion for experiencing and thinking about hardcore began to be incorporated in the world of Italian music.

For various bureaucratic reasons I had to move my store three times. I always tried to offer my clients the best services and products without ever giving up.

In late 1997 I created my first clothing brand, Hell Wizard, with a considerable result. But it was nothing like my last creation (excuse me if I call it a creation, but I'm very fond of it), Gabber Mafia, which within only a few months entered the scene and was an immediate success.

The latest creation at the Rave Shop is a group that gets our Parties jumping with energetic live performances: it could only call itself Gabber Mafia Team.

October 3, 2003 - Rave Shop Closes!

After years of very hard work, our shop closed the door for a while!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Unfortunately many things didn’t go the right way… inside and outside the shop
In these long beautiful years I spent leading the shop, I was sometimes in troubles

You also must add the mess inside the hardcore italian movement, so, let me say...no way I could keep on!!!!
I can’t make a list of  the reasons that made me take this sad decision
but I can say that for the first time in my longlife career, I want to look out the window
and give a look around trying to understand what is going on here, in Italy … It would be quite a laugh!
People who really know me and followed me in all these years could shout as loud as they can
that I’m against all that shit coming out lately
I started fighting in order to improve everything, but...as one can immagine
All be myself I cannot be successful.
Luckily there were people around
when I was fighting so hard that will ever stay in my heart!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyway…. In my opinion Italy is quite a rubbish as far as movement,
artistic level and organization are concerned…………
You may wonder why I don’t mention anyone in particular… Easy answer… Privacy!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I don’t want to argue, I don’t want to be bored by people that feel like I ballshit them through the net
But above all.... I take a laugh thinking of those who may wonder:
am I one of those who contributes to the general distruction?
ehehehehe!!! So coooooool
I’m still convinced that many things could have been avoided
Good job good money.... take you everywhere
People who are not professional… but guys.. we are in Italy!!!

Reading that you may say:
You act like you’re the only one who knew everything before....
No way guys… I’m just telling the truth
I did everything I could
Now it’s up to you: you just have to admit the truth and look inside yourself

I love all my customers from the very bottom of my heart
I love all the cute babies in my life
who have grown up together with me
I love all the crazy guys coming to my rave shop in the last 8 years
who became real gabbers as one can see
But I really do love all that people who were so close to me
And who fought by my side to make all that idiots understand how they have to act in a civilised country!
Thanks to all that guys who left inscriptions and sweet goodbyes on the rave shop door!!!!!!
By the way....
Gabber Mafia (Stefano, Alessandro and myself) will always be a gabber group who doesn’t give a shit of what is not in the real hardcore european channel.
That’s the reason why people from abroad love us more than people in our country!!!!
Look at us… take a look at the situation abroad and learn...
You will feel much better inside

Kisskiss and se ya fucking gabbers!!!!!

Mzzl Chrizz ^_^
Rave Shop Staff