A new, updated edition of my first book, Altered State: The Story of Ecstasy Culture and Acid House, is published today by Serpent's Tail. This is what the publishers' blurb says about it:From its first publication in 1997, Altered State established itself as the definitive text on Ecstasy and dance culture. This new edition sees Matthew Collin cast a fresh eye on the heady events of the acid house ‘Summer of Love’ and the rave scene’s euphoric escalation into commercial excess as MDMA became a mass-market narcotic.
Altered State is the best-selling book on Ecstasy culture, using a cast of memorable characters to track the origins of the scene and its drug through psychedelic subcults, underground gay discos and the Balearic paradise of Ibiza, to the point where Tony Blair was using an Ecstasy anthem as an election campaign song.
Altered State critically examines the ideologies and myths of the scene, documenting the criminal underside to the blissed-out image, shedding new light on the social history of the most spectacular youth movement of the twentieth century.
Reviews:
‘Written with such wit, verve, empathy and profound intelligence. I can't recommend this marvellous piece of work enough’ Irvine Welsh
‘Altered State is not just timely; it was crying out to be written’ Independent
1 comments:
I have not read your book, but it certainly looks interesting. I lived in SF in "the Summer of Love" and I am always interested in its history. I am living in Prague (11 years now) and have not been able to find your book yet, but I will. I see you are in and out of Tbilisi these days. That also looks like an interesting stage. The cast needs a little fleshing out, but I shall read some of your posts / blogs this weekend and will perhaps better understand the players. I wish you well.
Edmund, another old hippie, still "On the Road"
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