24 September 2026 | Photo: Jordi Perez

“Over 70 hours of conversation are combined with my own thoughts, experiences and memories of what contributed to the making of Trash, alongside dozens of previously unseen photographs”

Erol Alkan has announced a new book documenting the history of Trash, the London club night he founded at the age of 22.

Drawing on interviews with 39 people involved in its development, the book, announced by Alkan in an Instagram post, traces how a modest Monday night indie club evolved into a significant part of London's nightlife culture, exploring the people, performances and circumstances that shaped its identity.

The book combines Alkan's personal recollections with an oral history of the club, featuring contributions from resident DJs, performing artists, staff and venue managers. The interviews examine the decisions and events that shaped Trash, offering perspectives from those who contributed to its development both on and off the dancefloor.

Reflecting on Trash’s trajectory, Alkan explained that the book explores “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.”

The project brings together Alkan's personal recollections and interviews with 39 figures involved in the club's development. “Over 70 hours of conversation are combined with my own thoughts, experiences and memories of what contributed to the making of Trash, alongside dozens of previously unseen photographs,” he explained. The resulting 100,000-word manuscript marks what Alkan described as “the most challenging creative journey I have ever been on. But it has also been the most satisfying.”

Alkan devoted two years to writing the book, setting aside remixing, music production and other creative projects while continuing to DJ at weekends. Having initially kept the project private because he was uncertain whether he would be able to complete it, he established a daily writing routine that began at 5am and continued until 8am.

The book also revisits his early experiences of London's music scene and the circumstances that led him to establish Trash. At the time, he had ambitions of playing guitar in a band but had not considered DJing a viable career path.

“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,” he recalled.

Beyond documenting the club's history, Alkan reflects on the relationship between indie and dance music culture during Trash's formative years, when DJs working within the indie scene did not necessarily receive the same recognition as those associated with dance clubs.

“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,” he said.

Although the book revisits the club's history, Alkan has maintained that its closure marked the end of Trash as an event. “When Trash closed, I vowed never to do the party again, and have stayed true to that ever since,” he stated.

‘Trash: A Club, A Sound, A Home’ will be published by Faber on 14 January 2027, marking 30 years since the club's inception and 20 years since its closure. A book launch, hosted by Kate Hutchinson, will take place at Rough Trade East in London on 11 January.