j-rock
Over the years, I’ve been fortunate enough to party at some amazing clubs around the world, but Industry will always hold a special place for me. As a young(ish) kid whose entire experience with dance/DJ culture to that point had been forged at raves, it represented my first time seeing something done really professionally. No lining up outside of a dodgy warehouse, or having to call the day of in order to find out where the venue was, no more having headliners not show up, or having the police threaten to shut it down – it represented a whole new world to me.
A very good friend of mine lived directly across the street from it during his final year at U of T, and none of us could figure out why he chose to live so far from campus in a part of the city where absolutely nothing was going on at the time (cheap rent was the answer). We still chuckle over that piece of good fortune.
It was an amazing place where I discovered so many new sounds and artists, and it’s where Toronto’s dance scene first grew up. It still blows my mind to think that Luke Fair got his start there as a busboy. I think it’s telling that even now, 13 years after it closed, people still get excited when they talk about it. Without a doubt, it stands right up there with the top clubs in any city on earth, past and present.
It existed during a great period in this city’s history, and there were other great clubs around at the same time, or slightly after (System Soundbar, Roxy Blue…), but Industry was, and forever will be, the king of them all.
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8:06 pm on June 2, 2013

Anonymous
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpuMcX9wSj0&list=PL1628D8164119C07F
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11:24 pm on February 14, 2013

Cbh
http://soundcloud.com/blucu/dc-live-industry-mp3
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11:21 pm on December 1, 2012

Michael
I sure have fond foggy memories of this place.
Does anyone remember what night was the gay night at Industry around Dec 15th 1999.
My partner and I believe we met Dec 15th but that was a wed night.
Your thoughts would be appreciated.
Michael and James
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12:55 am on August 26, 2012

taki
frankie knukles if memory serves me.
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9:56 am on October 31, 2012

Anonymous
man i cant even oput into words had much fun this place was. i think about every now and again, i have to admit i sometime shed a tear or 2.
i had some of the best times of my life at industry. i miss it
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8:43 pm on May 10, 2012

Bill Chalmers
I was fortunate enough to hit Industry a few times before it closed up. The nights that stand out in my mind were the Destiny Ascension parties that were the last Friday of the month for the longest time. I remember being one of the last ones on the dancefloor with about thirty or fourty others at 7am, rockin it to Madagascar.
Loved that place. Except for that one step that just appeared out of nowhere and tripped me up a dozen or so times….hahaha!
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9:30 am on January 21, 2012

Denise Benson
Another wicked mix forwarded my way by a reader. This one finds Derrick Carter & DJ Sneak rocking the four decks at Industry. It’s so raw, so live, so good! http://soundcloud.com/housejunkie88/derrick-carter-dj-sneak-live
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2:51 pm on December 1, 2011

Shawn Syms (@shawnsyms)
I was there that night! And many other memorable ones.
Thanks for the loving tribute.
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11:32 am on December 30, 2011

Mike Greco
Industry was the club that helped open my eyes to what was possible in terms of promotion and booking talent and building a community around the incredible atmosphere you can only get when people who genuinely love music gather together in one place. It certainly had a massive influence on me when I started Breathe. Even though I was never close on a personal level with Matt, Gavin, Kenny and the rest, I will always have a warm spot for them in my heart. May that early morning, mid-dancefloor spirit live forever.
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1:09 pm on December 1, 2011

Jesse Goldfarb
I had the honor of watching Daft Punk play a set from 4 feet away @ Industry. That would never happen today. Also watching Mat Herbert play a live p.a using only a looper, kitchen utensils and a light! I miss it all.
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11:32 am on December 1, 2011

cb
makes me miss Lorraine’s afterhours …
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6:07 pm on November 30, 2011

Robert Moses
She’s still having parties.
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1:00 am on December 7, 2012

Amy Miranda
Thank you for this Denise. I am happy to say that the old home of Industry is my neighborhood shoppers drug mart. I have some footage, it’s on VHS but I have it. I’ll try to post in the next week or so. Thanks for paying homage to what really was something special.
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5:22 pm on November 30, 2011

Denise Benson
And here’s another slice of house history, this one passed along by ‘Jack Declared’… “Derrick Carter Live From Industry (Toronto, ’97-ish’)” found for streaming or download at http://www.lettherebehouse.ca/?p=110
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5:10 pm on November 30, 2011

Denise Benson
Thanks to reader and Facebook pal Aaron Richard Campbell who noticed this mix by excellent Toronto house DJs Peter & Tyrone, recorded at Industry back in the day. Props to the folks at Toronto Rave Mixtape Archive. http://www.torontoravemixtapearchive.com/files/mixtapes/Peter%20and%20Tyrone%20-%20Live%20at%20Industry%20Night%20Club.mp3
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3:21 pm on November 30, 2011

Paul Mitchell
I had the pleasure of spending a few magic all-nighters at Industry, dancing the night away as condensation dripped off the walls, then emerging exhausted but smiling after dawn, blinking into the morning sun. Caught some great dj’s there, like Danny Tenaglia, Fatboy Slim, and Basement Jaxx. A special place at a special time in the history of electronic music. Other times in summer on an early Sunday morning bike ride I’d cruise by the building and hear the beats pumping out of the vents at the back of the building as the party raved into the morning. Good times all around!
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3:01 pm on November 30, 2011