UNVRS explained

UNVRS
Native Name:UNVRS Nightclub
Former Names:Ku, Privilege (Until 2024)
Location:San Rafael, Ibiza, Spain
Type:Nightclub, music venue
Genre:Electronic dance music, live music, performance art
Opened:1978, reopening 2025
Renovated:1995 and 2023-2025
Expanded:1997 and 2023-2025
Closed:2019
Operator:The Night League
Capacity:10,000
Record Attendance:10,000
Website:Official website

UNVRS previously known as Ku Club (1979–95) and Privilege Ibiza (95-19)[1] is the "world's largest nightclub"[2] [3] according to the Guinness Book of Records, also defined as a superclub with a capacity of 10,000 people and encompassing 6,500 m² (69,940 ft²).[4] It is located close to the village of Sant Rafael de Sa Creu on the Spanish island of Ibiza, less than 1spell=in1spell=in from the nightclub Amnesia.

It has remained closed since the summer of 2019 and is due to reopen in 2025.

The owners of Ushuaia now own privilege and is currentlyis currently under construction. It is said to be ready in the new year. The club is set to go from 10,000 capacity, to 15,000 under the constructions

As of August 2024, The Night League, the brand behind Ushuaia and Hi announced the club will be known as [UNVRS] and will be the world's first "Hyperclub" Announcement

History

The history of Privilege began in the early 1970s when it started out as a restaurant, then expanded to include a bar and a community swimming pool. It was then known as Club San Rafael.[5] In 1979, the venue was sold to the Real Sociedad footballer José Antonio Santamaría, together with the creative team of Brasilio de Oliviera (founder of La Troya Asesina, one of Ibiza's longest running nights[6]) and Gorri. The venue then changed its name to KU, after the name of a God from Hawaiian mythology (see ). The appeal of the club was such that it commissioned a medium-length film showcasing the many wonders of Ibizan landscapes and nightlife in the mid-eighties.[7]

Throughout the 1980s,[8] KU Club earned a reputation initially as Europe's premier polysexual but predominately gay nightspot and was compared to an open-air version of the famous Studio 54 in New York. It staged spectacular parties in the main room, which was organized around a swimming pool and a statue of Ku. The place was also where the video to "Barcelona" by Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballé was filmed on 30 May 1987.[9] It was the witness to early live performances by groups such as Spandau Ballet and Kid Creole and the Coconuts.[10] The club featured in a Channel 4 documentary called A Short Film about chilling, which labelled KU as "the mirror of Ibiza".[11] A group of fashion designers called Locomía would have shows at KU.[12] After being discovered there, they went on to become a highly successful recording project. The open-air parties came to an end when legislation forced many of the greater clubs in Ibiza to cover their dancefloors in the early 1990s. Nevertheless, the sheer size of the venue gave rise to the claim of it being the size of an aircraft hangar with a 25metre high roof.

The club continued with the KU Club name until 1995 before becoming known as Privilege, after a change of ownership to Jose Maria Etxaniz.[13] In 1994, it hosted Manumission, one of the island's most famous events. In 1998, La Vaca Asesina moved to Amnesia and was renamed La Troya Asesina. After a dispute between the club owner and Manumission's organizers in 2005, the event ended in 2006. La Troya Asesina moved to Space in 2006.

Venue

According to official statistics published in the 2003 edition of Guinness World Records, Privilege is by far the world's largest nightclub covering an area of 69,968 sq ft (6,500 m2) and holding 10,000 clubbers.[14] Designated areas of the club include the Coco Loco bar area, and the La Vaca dance area (now known as the Vista Club).[15]

Resident DJs

Resident DJs include:[16]

Live performances

A number of live performances at the venue have included:[17] [18] [19] [20] [21]

Promoters

Notable promoters have included:

Celebrity patrons

The club has attracted many celebrities over the years, including Boy George, Madonna, David Bowie, Grace Jones, Jean Paul Gaultier, Joni Mitchell, Led Zeppelin, Moschino, Tina Turner, and Valentino.[25] [26] [27]

In popular culture

Events staged at Privilege

Include:[28] [29] [30]

See also

External links

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Notes and References

  1. Web site: Club History . privilegeibiza.com . Privilege Ibiza . 21 October 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161021213229/http://privilegeibiza.com/CLUB/HISTORY . 21 October 2016 . dead.
  2. Book: D'Andrea . Anthony . Global Nomads: Techno and New Age as Transnational Countercultures in Ibiza and Goa . 24 January 2007 . Routledge . 9781134110490. en.
  3. Book: Stewart . Iain . Ibiza and Formentera . 2003 . Rough Guides . 9781843530633 . 271. en.
  4. Web site: Largest nightclub . guinnessworldrecords.com . 17 May 2000 . Guinness World Records . 2 December 2022 . en-gb.
  5. Book: Stewart . Iain . Ibiza and Formentera . 2003 . Rough Guides . 9781843530633 . 271 . en.
  6. Web site: La Troya : Historia . 23 December 2016.
  7. Web site: Look De Ibiza . 23 December 2016.
  8. Web site: Spectacular Photos From KU, Ibiza During Its '80s Heyday . Sabotage Times . 22 December 2015 . 14 March 2017 . en.
  9. Web site: Freddie Mercury:Archive . freddiemercury.com . Mercury Songs Limited . 21 October 2016.
  10. Web site: A History of KU/Privilege . theibizan.com . The Ibizan . 28 August 2015 . 21 October 2016.
  11. Web site: A Short Film about Chilling . 23 December 2016.
  12. Web site: History of Loco Mia on YouTube . youtube.com.
  13. Web site: Throwback Thursday: When Ku became Privilege – 1995 . myibiza.tv . IBZ.TV . 2016 . 21 October 2016.
  14. Book: Folkard . Claire . Guinness world records 2003 . 2003 . Guinness World Records Ltd . [England] . 9781892051172 . 130 . registration .
  15. Web site: Jessop . Tara . Privilege Ibiza: The World's Biggest Nightclub . Culture Trip . 28 August 2016 . 14 March 2017.
  16. Web site: 2021-12-18 . Privilege - Ibiza Club Portrait, DJs & History . 2021-12-19 . de-DE.
  17. Web site: Farrow . Stan . A History of KU/Privilege - The Ibizan . The Ibizan . 14 March 2017 . 28 August 2015.
  18. News: Warren . Emma . The birth of rave . 14 March 2017 . The Guardian . 12 August 2007.
  19. Book: Freestone . Peter . Freddie Mercury (Paperback Edition): An Intimate Memoir by the Man who Knew Him Best . 7 January 2010 . Omnibus Press . 9780857121271 . Chapter 1 . en.
  20. News: Brasilio de Oliveira presents La Troya Ibiza Massimino . 14 March 2017 . Resident Advisor . 26 August 2009.
  21. Web site: An interview with Faruk Gandji about the Ku on Ibiza (part 2) . ibizainside.com . Ibiza Inside Webzine . 14 March 2017 . 21 June 2012.
  22. News: Brasilio de Oliveira presents La Troya Ibiza Massimino . 14 March 2017 . Resident Advisor . 26 August 2009.
  23. Web site: An interview with Faruk Gandji about the Ku on Ibiza (part 2) . ibizainside.com . Ibiza Inside Webzine . 14 March 2017 . 21 June 2012.
  24. News: Phillips . Dom . The way we live now: Ibiza covered . 14 March 2017 . The Guardian . Guardian News Group . 8 July 2000.
  25. Web site: Club History . privilegeibiza.com . Privilege Ibiza . 21 October 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161021213229/http://privilegeibiza.com/CLUB/HISTORY . 21 October 2016 . dead.
  26. Web site: Dance Music History Ku and Privilege Ibiza . theibizan.com . The Ibizan . 28 August 2015 . 21 October 2016.
  27. Book: Hunt . Geoffrey . Moloney . Molly . Evans . Kristin . Youth, Drugs, and Nightlife . 24 January 2007 . Routledge . 9781134189250 . 57 . en.
  28. Web site: Historia – La Troya IBIZA . latroyaibiza.com . La Troya Ibiza . 14 March 2017 . pt-BR.
  29. Web site: Feature Dance Music History: Ku / Privilege Ibiza Ibiza Spotlight . Ibiza Spotlight . 15 February 2011 . 14 March 2017.
  30. Web site: An interview with Faruk Gandji about the Ku on Ibiza (part 2) . ibizainside.com . Ibiza Inside . 14 March 2017 . 21 June 2012.