New book documents Ministry of Sound's formative years through unseen archives & oral histories

A new hardcover book tracing the history of Ministry of Sound is set for release on October 20, 2026.

Published by Rizzoli New York and written by Grammy-nominated creative director Simon Moore, Ministry of Sound: Anthology runs to 416 pages and draws on more than two years of research, hundreds of hours of interviews, and archive material much of which has never been published before.

Caitlin McAllister, Ministry of Sound's Managing Director states: "Simon has done an excellent job of capturing not just the history of Ministry of Sound, but the emotional connection so many people have with the club and the brand. Everyone has a Ministry story, so to see the very best of them brought together in one place is pretty special."

The book covers the club's origins in the early 1990s (from when founder Justin Berkmann operated it without an alcohol licence as what he described as an "underground juice bar") through its growth into a globally recognised dance music institution.

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Its roots in New York club culture, including the Paradise Garage, and the UK rave scene are examined across the book's oral histories, photography, flyers, posters, record sleeves and memorabilia sourced from private collections, photographers' archives and second-hand shops.

First-hand accounts come from founders, staff, clubbers and artists including Paul Oakenfold, David Morales, Carl Craig, Moby, Pete Tong, Honey Dijon, Princess Julia and Steve Angello.

Describing the research process, Moore explains: "Before starting this book, I believed the story of Ministry of Sound was one of the most remarkable in British music culture and deserved to be told in full for the first time. The reality proved even more extraordinary."

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He continues: "Through hundreds of hours of interviews, I heard first-hand accounts of passion, ambition, chaos, money, drugs, gangs and, above all, a deep love of music. Together they reveal how a club built inside a derelict warehouse in a forgotten corner of South London went on to transform countless lives and leave a permanent mark on British dance music culture."

Ministry of Sound: Anthology by Simon Moore is published by Rizzoli and priced at GBP55.00 (around USD73); pre-order here.

Amira Waworuntu is Mixmag Asia’s Managing Editor, follow her on Instagram.

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