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Remembering Ku: Ibiza’s First Superclub
As we witness the gradual dismantling of its former home this summer, we reminisce about the iconic establishment that once graced the sun-kissed heart of the White Isle. Ku, often thought of as the world’s first superclub, wasn’t just a venue; it was an era-defining phenomenon that etched itself into the cultural and nightlife fabric of Ibiza.
Originally emerging in the 1970s as Club San Rafael, the venue underwent a transformation in 1978 when three Basque friends reimagined it, creating Ku Club, a place where glamour and hedonism took center stage. Ku’s open-air design, with its dance floor under the stars and famed swimming pool, quickly set it apart from the rest. Home to one of the largest disco balls in the world, the giant display dazzled partygoers as it spun above the dance floor, casting shimmering lights on the euphoric crowd below.
“You could jump off the terrace & end up in the pool. It was as fun as it was spectacular.”
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Throughout the 1980s, Ku Club became a magnet for the fashionable and famous, hosting icons like Grace Jones and Freddie Mercury. The club’s infamous “Manumission” parties, which featured performances that blurred the lines between reality and fantasy, epitomised the club’s creativity and uninhibited freedom. These legendary nights were a melting pot of avant-garde art, wild theatrics, and boundary-pushing performances that left an indelible mark on everyone who attended.
Ku Club wasn’t just about music and dance; it was a pioneer in the island’s experiential nightlife. The club often hosted live art installations and impromptu theatrical performances, transforming the space into a living canvas. It was also a popular filming location, appearing in the 1983 film “Fotonovela” and more famously in Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballé’s “Barcelona,” further cementing its place in pop culture history.
Competitions were a regular feature, from waterfall contests to beauty pageants, to drag races. Manumission’s waterfall competitions were famous for their audacity and uninhibited spirit, with clubgoers often shedding their inhibitions along with their clothing, baring some or all as they leapt and danced in the water. Antoni Riera Campo, in charge of decor at Ku, remembers it well, “Every day the pool was open and around 5 in the morning, everyone would bathe. In the middle of the pool, there was a walkway with a fountain that would turn on from time to time and those who were dancing there would get wet. I also remember that a large slide started from one of the terraces and ended in the pool like the mouth of a dragon, so you could jump off the terrace and end up in the pool. It was as fun as it was spectacular,” Riera said.
The hedonistic spirit of Ku was palpable, with a liberal attitude towards partying that embraced the freedom and excess of the 1980s. It was a place where social norms were left at the door, and self-expression was not just encouraged but celebrated. This ethos attracted a diverse crowd, from wealthy jet-setters and celebrities to artists and bohemians, all united by their love of music and the pursuit of euphoria.
“There’s a nostalgic longing for the days when the club was the epicentre of Ibiza’s carefree and boundary-pushing spirit.”
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However, the story of Ku is also a tale of changing times. By the late 1980s, the club began to feel the pressures of increasing commercialization and the crackdown on Ibiza’s wild nightlife. The final blow came with the introduction of stricter noise regulations and the rise of new superclubs like Amnesia and Pacha, which began to dominate the island’s nightlife scene.
In 1990, Ku was renamed Privilege, and while it continued to operate and evolve, the name change marked the end of an era. Privilege remains one of Ibiza’s most iconic venues, but for those who experienced the magic of Ku, there’s a nostalgic longing for the days when the club was the epicentre of Ibiza’s carefree and boundary-pushing spirit.
Today, as Ibiza continues to be a global mecca for electronic music, the legacy of Ku lives on. The club set the template for what a superclub could be, merging music, art, and an unabashed celebration of life in a way that has inspired countless venues around the world. Remembering Ku is about acknowledging its pioneering spirit and the indelible mark it left on the cultural landscape of Ibiza and beyond.
Ku will forever maintain legendary status, up there with other icons of its time such as Studio 54 of New York. But for now, as the sun sets on this historic landmark for the final time, we remember Ku Club not just as a venue, but as a vibrant symbol of the Ibizan spirit. Its legacy of hedonism, creativity, and freedom will forever live on in the memories of those who were lucky enough to party there.
