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Fraser Clark |
G-Rave-side ceremony sends shaman ‘off to Mother Earth’
‘Godfather of Rave’ laid to rest in coffin decorated for ‘journey with no beginning or end’
THE Victorian church in Hampstead had probably never seen the like.
Shamans, Pagan high priestesses and ragamuffin travellers packed the pews of St Luke’s in Kidderpore Avenue last Wednesday for the distinctly unorthodox funeral of Fraser Clark, the so-called “Godfather of Rave” music.
Revellers came from as far as the United States to accompany Mr Clark – a pioneer of the 1980s “rave” scene who founded the legendary club nights Megatripolis and The Warp – on his, to use their words, “Soul Transformation Journey to a higher reality”.
They came to celebrate the life of an “urban shaman” and “working hippy”, a man “who wailed at dinosaurs”.
Residents in West Hampstead, unaware of his popularity or the psychedelic world he revelled in, still knew him by sight – not many other people in the neighbourhood hung out in cafés and bars dressed as a shaman.
Mr Clark, 66, died with his legs crossed in the lotus position at his home in Woodchurch Road, West Hampstead, three weeks ago after a battle with cancer.
Buddhist priest Lokabandhu told the congregation: “I knew him as a prophet – he had a vision of a whole new reality.
“Like a lot of prophets he didn’t make a lot of profit. If any of Fraser’s creditors are here, I admire your optimism.”
Guests were invited to put their memories of Fraser into a single sound – an ohm – to go on until it reached a natural conclusion. Beards, dreadlocks and tambourines were in abundance. Several dogs, including Fraser’s own, Jaunty, roamed the aisles.
As the rave record “Give Us Back Our Planet” filled the church with Fraser’s voice, the whole congregation danced and hugged.
A trained psychologist, Mr Clark had admitted his world view was altered forever by the hallucinogenic antics in the 1960s. He was the brains behind numerous flower power initiatives, such as Zippie Picnics, the Alternative Caravan Travelling Club, and the Encyclopedia Psychedelica.
He once tried to kidnap the counter-cultural figure Ken Kesey in the name of the rave revolution.
Speakers called Caress, Dr Love, Rainbow Liz and John “The Crow” Constable praised Mr Clark for his boundless enthusiasm and illuminating presence.
Greg Sams, the inventor of the veggie burger, attended.
Mr Clark’s partner, Sionaidh Craigen, said: “He had a marvellous charisma about him. He seemed to emit a happy golden light. He had a vision to change the world in some way and he forecast many things.”
Mr Clark’s coffin was decorated with coloured ribbons for the “journey that has no beginning and no end”, which saw more than 150 colourfully dressed mourners cross Finchley Road for a ritual burial and “g-RAVE-side ceremony” in Hampstead Cemetery.
There the guru was laid to rest in the same grave as his mother while high priestesses conducted the Circle Farewell and Sky Ritual to send him to “the embrace of Mother Earth”.
Rosemary was handed out for remembrance, peace dust was sprinkled on the coffin lid, and feathers and sacred water consecrated the grave. Prayers were made aloud for Mr Fraser’s spirit, with one woman repeatedly asking for sexual energy.
Martin Healer, also known as Dr Love, told those assembled: “Fraser had a marvellous way of illuminating pathways for us all. We must keep his vision going – that is the most important thing.”
Mr Clark is survived by his son Tristan and his brothers Joseph and Alistair. |
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Your comments:
NICE article. Fraser changed my life and the lives or so many others. It was a beautiful day, I'm sure he would have enjoyed his send off.
D. Randall
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