
SAD GOODBYES: Subversion retires in November following sad news about Dave Playpenz, left. BANNER IMAGE, TOP: Dave Playpenz with partner Sarah (Both photos: Bobette)
Subversion retires following Playpenz terminal diagnosis
Club Subversion retires in November following the sad news that Subversion collaborator and London fetish scene lynchpin Dave Playpenz has been diagnosed with terminal cancer.
“Dave exemplifies the hard work that goes into making a fetish club happen,” says a statement today from Subversion, “regularly setting up and breaking down complete dungeons for two events on the same long night.”
Even if you don’t think you know Dave, chances are that if you’ve ever been to a London event, his distinctive hairstyle will have caught your eye, as he and his legendary Mohawk are always to be found at the heart of the mayhem.
Obviously Dave’s terminal diagnosis — he has lung cancer that has spread to his spine, shoulder, adrenal glands and upper chest — is devastating news. Messages of support for him have been pouring in from all over the world.
But having been told he has, as he says on Facebook, “between a year and 18 months to raise hell and party”, he is determined to carry on enjoying life as much as he can. Consequently he is busily compiling his ‘fuckit list’ of those very few things he hasn’t actually done yet.
A fund has been set up for those who wish to contribute to help him go out disgracefully. It can be found via the absolutebitch link below.
For the time being Dave will continue to work the events he can, and will be looking at options with regard to his kit, which people have come to know so well and rely on as part of the set-up of a fetish club.
The Fetishistas can exclusively report that the Subversion crew have made the unanimous decision that Club Subversion retires on its 15th birthday in November “for the simple reason that it wouldn’t be Subversion without him”.
Club promoter Mistress Absolute told us: “Having had Dave as a central part of Club Subversion for 12 of
BRISTLING: Dave and his famous Mohawk (photo: Bobette)

CLUBBABLE: Mistress Absolute with Dave (photo: KashR)
its nearly 15 years made it impossible for any of us to consider continuing the club without him.
“We’ve had some wonderful times together, pulling rabbits out of hats when times got tough and thankfully sharing a dark and mischievous sense of humour.
“Dave and Subversion are intrinsically linked and continuing without him would be untenable; he is after all utterly unique.”
Absolute and her partners will continue to run the London Fetish Weekend “alongside all of London’s other wonderful promoters” — but not under the Subversion banner.
When Subversion retires, it will also mean saying goodbye to SubversionNoir and Subversion Mansion. But Club Femdom and the London Femdom Weekend will continue.
Fans of Subversion and those who have always wanted to go but not yet made it have just a few events left before it swings its gates shut.
Subversion Noir will take place near London Bridge on June 15, then Club Subversion will have dates on July 27 and September 28 before the London Fetish Weekend Special in conjunction with Zara DuRose on October 6, and finally the aptly named Anything but Black Friday on November 23.
Allocation of tickets for the final event is yet to be decided but is likely to be by invitation/guestlist only.
As sad as the news is of the end of what is widely known as one of the best loved and longest running events in London, the huge capacity of the London Fetish Weekend Special and the two remaining Club Subversions open to the public should give “a good chunk of Subversion fans” a last chance to celebrate the club and the life of one of its core members before Subversion retires.
absolutebitch.com/help-dave
bobette/facebook.com
clubsubervsion.com
kash.rphotography/facebook
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