Era-defining arty party Duckie turns 18 this week

Since 1995, club hostess Amy Lamé has been inviting punters to turn to the person next to them and say, ‘Hello, Duckie!’. Now, the legendary London club is celebrating with a massive party. Here are five reasons why you should go.

The RVT may be Duckie’s spiritual home, but a big party calls for a bigger venue. Formerly known as The Fridge, this south London institution has housed many great gay clubs, including Love Muscle and Daisy Chain. The venue recently underwent a £1m facelift, and it shows.

The Soft Cell frontman has enjoyed a long solo career and has a new album to promote. Still, he’s not above revisiting his ’80s heyday, as shown by his performance at last year’s Meltdown, where he played the Marc and the Mambas classic ‘Torment and Toreros’ in its entirety.

Tonight’s theme is ‘Certificate 18’. Marisa Carnesky is directing six dirty sideshow performances on podiums around the venue.

Where else can you dance to David Bowie, Kate Bush, Björk, Morrissey, Motown and the artier ends of glam rock, disco, punk and Britpop? The Readers Wifes rock.

How many of us spent our eighteenth birthday still in the closet, listening to ‘How Soon Is Now?’ by The Smiths (‘There’s a club if you’d like to go’) and dreaming of escaping to London? Well you’re here now. There’s a club if you’d like to go…