|
The Vatikan, 1032 Queen St. W., will be closing it's doors for
business sometime in the early morning hours of July 3rd 2006, making Sunday
July 2nd the last night it will be open.
door into The
Vatikan
I was going back through the news archives to try and refresh my memory on
the history of the Vatikan and relevant dates so I could add some context to
this news item. And it's been kind of complicated to say the least, so I'll
just touch briefly on a few points in the clubs history.
First we heard
about the Vatikan was in 2000, as the Sanctuary was closing. The infamous
Sanctuary Vampire Sex Club closed it's doors on
June 30th 2000 and soon a Starbucks was built in the same location, which is a
whole other interesting situation.
In October of 2000, Lance, the owner
of the Sanctuary, revealed that he would be opening a new club at 1032 Queen
St. W., with new partner John. Soon we found out it would be called the
Vatikan. I believe doors were open briefly soon after that, but the official
opening of The Vatikan at 1032 Queen St. W. did not come until June
2001.
logo for The Vatikan
Over the
years, the Vatikan saw many club nights and Djs come and go. Djs have included:
Antithesis, Bolt, Damis, Darq, Dementia, Human Clone, Karnage, Morgana, NadX,
Steven, Trauma, Triple X, Vortx, XXX and many many more. The Vatikan was where
I got my start at Djing, and I know I am not alone in that regard, and I thank
them for that. Fetish nights at the Vatikan over the years have included
Cyberfetish, Altars and Egos, Scarlet Woman and more. Monthly events included
Absinthe, Distorted Circuitry, Jagermeister, Seduction, Sin and others. Many
local bands played at the Vatikan, and were made very welcome there. Popular
horror magazine Rue Morgue hosted many extremely crowded Hallowe'en parties at
the Vatikan.
During it's heyday, The Vatikan was a super hot
destination for dark/gothic/industrial clubbing along the Queen Street West
strip, and would be packed on weekends and on some weeknights as well.
But attendance eventually began dropping for the dark nights, and in
early 2005, the Vatikan switched gears and became predominantly a live music
venue, with a focus on rock, metal, with some goth and industrial mixed in
there.
The only consistently run dark DJ night at The Vatikan from late
2004 to the present has been the
Return to the Catacombs night, presented by
toronto-goth.com. Every Sunday night it is all ages with DJs and sometimes
bands and other performances as well, focusing on the older goth/industrial
music.
The last night the Vatikan will be open for business will
be Sunday July 2nd 2006. That night will be a "return to the Catacombs"
night, featuring Perdition and friends doing a Ministry tribute event.
As I write this news item, there are just over two weeks left in the
life of the Vatikan. Stop by 1032 Queen St. W. sometime (or a few times)
between now and then. It's your chance to have those few last drinks and take
in the music and unique atmosphere before yet another Toronto club closes it's
doors for good.
I wish Lance, Johnny, and the staff of the Vatikan all
the best for their future endeavors. And thanks for some very interesting
times.
Relevant links:
return to the catacombs (every Sunday at the
Vatikan)
toronto goth news
archives (scroll thru for past news)
toronto goth clubs - the
vatikan
Vatikan website (not
much info there currently)
News item
written and posted June 17 2006 by
Dem
|
