If you’ve ever held onto a flyer from a rave or nightclub party, chances are it ended up forgotten in a drawer or lost over time. But for Marco Brusadelli, those little pieces of paper became the foundation of a decades-long passion that has now earned him a place in the Guinness World Records.
The Italian collector has officially set the record for the largest collection of nightclub flyers, with a staggering 113,012 pieces recognized. In reality, Brusadelli’s personal archive goes even further, totaling 119,897 flyers. The additional 5,003 pieces weren’t counted because they came from smaller events or venues that didn’t fit the official rules set by Guinness.
A Journey That Began in 1991
Brusadelli’s story started in 1991, right in the middle of Europe’s booming rave and electronic music culture. At a time when house and techno were exploding across the continent, flyers were the lifeblood of promotion. They didn’t just announce the DJ lineup — they were mini works of art, capturing the energy, colors, and creative spirit of the underground scene.
For the next 24 years, Brusadelli made it his mission to save as many as he could. He collected flyers from all the clubs, festivals, and parties he attended, and even sought out copies from friends, promoters, and other sources. Eventually, he transformed a room in his home into an archive dedicated solely to preserving this unique slice of music history.
More Than Just Paper
What makes the collection remarkable isn’t only its size but also its scope. The flyers document the rise of electronic music and its many subgenres — from house, techno, and trance to hardcore, progressive, drum & bass, EDM, and Afro/cosmic sounds.
While most of the flyers come from Italy, where Brusadelli built his reputation in the scene, his collection also includes pieces from the UK, a hub for rave and club culture, along with smaller selections from other countries around the world.
Each flyer tells its own story: the evolution of graphic design, the shifting aesthetics of nightlife, and the growth of electronic music from underground clubs to international stages.
Preserving the Spirit of the Rave
For Brusadelli, this wasn’t about money or recognition. It was about passion.
“I have worked for more than half of my life to create this collection for no [monetary] reasons,” he said. “My hope is that my passion could inspire new generations to learn more about the wonderful history of the ‘house and techno revolution.’”
By securing a Guinness World Record, Brusadelli’s archive ensures that the visual identity of rave culture — often overlooked compared to the music itself — is preserved for future generations. His flyers act as a cultural time capsule, keeping alive the memories of the DJs, clubs, and nights that shaped an entire movement.
A Legacy for Electronic Music Culture
In today’s digital age, where most event promotion happens online, the physical flyer has become almost obsolete. That makes Brusadelli’s collection even more important. His work reminds us of a time when holding a flyer in your hand felt like holding a ticket to another world — one night of escape, music, and community.
For fans of electronic music, his story highlights the importance of preservation. Beyond the beats and the dance floors, the culture also lives in its artifacts, visuals, and stories.
With nearly 120,000 flyers, Brusadelli’s record-breaking archive is more than a personal achievement — it’s a gift to the global electronic music community and a reminder that the history of the scene is worth protecting.