While the untimely passing of its promoter came as a shock to all, it comes as no real shock that Steve Elliott’s successor was announced as one Oliver Mohns, DM delving into the detail of this announcement, as well as plans this old hands at the promotions game has in store for this brilliant brand, along with details of the first two events Mr Mohns will be masterminding, but not before we pay our own personal yet belated  tribute to the much missed Mr Elliott.

Having had our own hands full with ongoing health issues, we have nevertheless have been very remiss in only now getting round to reporting on the untimely & premature passing of one of the true gentle giants of the global clubbing circuit, the shocking & sad news that Salvation’s prolific promoter Steve Elliott was lost, broken to us back on Friday 30^th March while we were doing what he always did best, clubbing & socialising with friends & familiar faces. And while tons of tributes poured in at the time from right around the world, we were (and to be honest still are) in such shock over his passing, that we have, until now, been unable to put proverbial pen to paper. Indeed, due to insular issues, we even missed the tribute event to Steve, which took place at Salvation London’s hallowed turf of a home, Cafe De Paris, one which (we are told) was packed the rafters with revellers in remembrance of this much revered man. And it was quite fitting that the party was titled “The Show Must Go On”, as knowing Steve as we did, that would be exactly what he would have wanted to see and we are also certain sure that he would be equally pleased that the reigns of the colossal clubbing legacy he has left behind, be passed onto his very close & dear friend Oliver Mohns, a prolific promoter in his own right, who has been inextricably linked to the brand since its early days, having represented & D.J.’d for Salvation both here in London & on the global stage that this club has played to.

But before we look to the future of Salvation in Oliver’s hands, we want to take the opportunity of sharing our own tribute to Steve through a sequence of sentences reflective of the times we spent by his side & savouring the splendour of , not just Salvation, but other ventures in his hands. Having hit the clubbing trail of a number of years, it was only in 2008 that we got to know Steve, our fledging club reviews having thrusted us into the scene spotlight, Mr Elliott being THE first promoter to not only welcome us with open arms, but treat us effectively as clubland royalty, his generosity knowing no bounds & his hospitality equally exceptional. From Salvation soiree’s here in London at The Hippodrome & Koko, we also adored every moment of the meet when we, along with Salvation tour, hit Berlin in October 2010, Steve once again proving the prolific promoter & heavenly host that we had come to know & be-friend, while we were only too pleased to offer our full support to other ventures of his, which included both “Famous” & “Scandal”. But away from his promoting duties, we were also very privileged to spent stints socialising with the enigmatic & engaging individual, Barcode Vauxhall being a regular haunt whenever he travelled up to London from his west country home and, as fond the memories of seeing this magnificent man in action at Salvation will remain in our minds, it is those handful of times we were drinking, laughing & dancing by his side at Barcode which we will treasure the most. So, it may be severely belated, but this is our brief personaltribute to Steve who is sorely missed by us & many many more people for sure.

So, with the Salvation show going on, Steve’s successor Oliver Mohns will be, this coming Sunday (8^th July) be in the promotional driving seat for his first ever event for the brand, although as we have already hinted, he is an old (and we should say a successful one at that) hand at the promotions game, having been responsible for bringing Spanish superclub Matinee to London back in 2006 & steer it through four subsequent seasons of its own success, while he has also held the helm at afterhours club A:M, brought his own brand Matador to the fore and will be the first to admit that he still adores & craves for the promotions game. However, Oliver is also an accomplished D.J./producer who, like Salvation, has played the world stage, Mr Mohns having touched on all corners of the globe from behind the decks, his recent D.J. career having added the likes of Brazil & Mexico to a long list of European, African, Australian & Asian destinations that litter his considerable C.V., the contacts he has collected & connected with during this time, pretty much unrivalled by anyone we know. So, with a set of credentials that speak considerable volumes, that and the fact that he was so close to Steve, we concur with many, that Salvation is certainly in safe hands and with the upcoming “World Pride” event, Oliver will not only be looking to continue the success story that is Salvation left to him by Steve, but to stamp his own mark on the brilliant brand.

Oliver, who cheekily calls his succession as “Salvation 2.0”,  has revealed that his plans for the brand, some which will manifest themselves this Sunday, include “…expanding and enhancing the current brand, bringing it straight up to date with modern clubbing goals & expectations while still remaining true to its roots…” that wealth of international & clubbing connections we have deluded to seeing him “…continue with the current Salvation all star D.J.’s,  like Pier Morocco, Miswhite , Paul Coals, but will now include big name international DJs to the list. Salvation will also be open to unprecedented international growth…” Oliver very much building on the sound blocks that Steve Elliot built for the brand, but propelling the Salvation party experience to an even broader global audience. In addition, he is keen to follow the direction Steve pointed Salvation here in London, not only continuing to cement the connection with Cafe De Paris, but to also to “… transform the seductive and exclusive Salvation VIP room into the ‘Boys Boudoir’ which will be a small club within in a club and hosted by some of the scenes best known club and web brands…” Gigolo sure to play its part as it did in the last two Salvation soiree’s here in the capital. Oliver is also at pains to stress that with the deployment of “…popular door hosts and the cream of London’s gay scene DJs., Salvation 2.0 is an upgrade to the original Salvation with the aim of making the club an accessible yet game changing club brand once again…” confirming that it will “… return to London as a bimonthly t’dance at its ancestral home…”.

And so this Sunday (8^th July) marks the first event on the new era of Salvation (2.0 if you like) as Oliver presents “World Pride” to the capitals clubbing circuit,  those plans of Oliver’s not only manifesting themselves in the D.J. line-up, Pier Morrocco, Paul Coals & MisWhite (our lovely Emma) fyling the regular Salvation D.J. flag, but Mr Mohns will welcome to the decks, Belgian based pint sized powerhouse Andrei Stan, who brings a clubbing repertoire that includes residency’s at the famous La Demence in Brussels, Splash in Rome  & Nation in Mexico, while London is also a familiar playing ground, Andrei have played here for Matador, Revolver & A:M on many occasions, added to which he has additional residencies back in Brussels to add to all these. And his uplifting energetic & euphoric style of sound will suit Salvation superbly, very much dovetailing in with Pier, Paul & Emma, as well as Oliver who will be taking his turn too, terrifically, while with Salvation’s own creative director Raul Gonzales & his RG couture team panning some spectacular stage showings, added to which, the Cafe de Paris VIP Area will be once again become a guest POP up club this time in the hands both Gaydar & Room Service, along with a pack of porn-stars in the newly named “Boys Boudoir” which we are told will be complete with lush double beds and, plenty more to pander to your every need, the music in the hands of our own Italian bello, Alessandro Londra. But it doesn’t stop there, oh no, as Oliver has also brought back the infamous & fabulous “PSP” (post Salvation party), which will be hosted by Lo-Profile on Soho’s Wardour Street, Pier Morrocco being joined by Milano man Alessandro Maragoni, residencies at the city’s “Hero” & “Barbarella” clubs having propelled him there, while this will be his first foray in London, but judging by what we have seen & heard, it won’t be his last!

So what of the detail of both Salvation & PSP?, Well, to recap, the former’s “World Pride” event takes place this coming Sunday (8^th July) at Cafe De Paris, doors opening at 5 p.m. and the club running through to a planned 1 a.m. finish, advance tickets on sale both online at http://gaypartix.com/parties/LONDON/SalvationN/ and via Soho outlet Prowler & venues Rupert St & Profile, priced at £15 (booking fees apply) while you will be able to pay on the door but expect to pay more. As for PSP, again to recap, it takes place at Lo-Profile, just a hop skip & jump away from Cafe De Paris, kicking off from midnight on Sunday (or as we prefer to call it, aero o’clock Monday), running through till 3 a.m. entry £10 on the door or £6 with a wristband which can be purchased either at Profile or at Salvation itself, further info on PSP available at http://facebook.com/events/109395312537433/, while a trip to Salvation’s page at http://facebook.com/salvationuk should fill in any gaps we have left. And while we may have announced our supposed summer sabbatical, there could be every chance that we make a flying visit to both events, if only to lend our support to Oliver, as we always did to Steve & in so doing, finally pay tribute to Mr Elliott’s passing by celebrating the capable & safe hands in which this brilliant brand has found itself in. (DISCO MATT)