Ghosts in the Machine: Stories from the British Underground

Beneath the political noise of post-Thatcher Britain, another story was unfolding — written in marker pens, DIY flyers and illegal raves. Ghosts in the Machine, published by Alias Press, explores how a generation of disenfranchised youth found identity and cohesion through graffiti and rave culture, resisting the era’s social and political divides.

Told by participant observers Christopher Stead and Nema, the book mixes imperfect histories, sharp anecdotes and subcultural insights. With 300 archival photographs and a foreword by Jonny Banger, it captures the rise of two movements that shaped global counterculture — and questions what remains of their radical energy in the age of constant communication.

This Saturday, Christopher Stead will be at Le Grand Jeu to present the book and discuss this journey across graffiti, rave culture and youth rebellion.

📖 Ghosts in the Machine — Book signing with Christopher Stead
🗓 Saturday, December 6, 2025 | 🕓 From 3:00 PM
📍 Le Grand Jeu, 15 Passage de Ménilmontant, Paris 11