At IMS Ibiza 2024 Pete Tong interviewed Liberty Ross, the Co-Founder and Creative Director of Flipper’s Roller Boogie Palace, and WME Agent and Partner David Levy.

The original Flipper's was founded in LA 1979 by Liberty’s father, Ian ‘Flipper’ Ross, and during its two year existence attracted celebrities from Arnold Schwarzenneger to Nile Rodgers (it was often described as ‘Studio 54 on wheels’), hosting live performances from everyone from Prince to house band the Go-Gos.

Crucially, it was also a rare opportunity for skaters and music fans of all ages, backgrounds and persuasions to get together as one. “As one of the first places in the city where gay, straight, black and white people came together, my theory is that Flipper's was the incubator for the rave generation in LA”, David Levy says.

In the interview, Liberty describes how lockdown inspired her to get the show on the road again - beginning with building a rink in her garage as a present for her husband, legendary record exec Jimmy Iovine - and how a meeting with fellow skate fanatic, R&B superstar Usher, led to a partnership that’s since taken Flipper’s Roller Boogie Palace international.

Besides transforming spaces from Flipper’s Roller Boogie Palace at The Rink at Rockefeller Center in NYC to the Wynn / Encore Hotel in Las Vegas to a location in West London (a two story, grade II listed building in the neighbourhood Liberty grew up in) into roller discos, the team behind Flipper’s have taken the culture everywhere from the NBA Finals Half Time Performance to Half Time at the Super Bowl. The new incarnation of Flipper's has hosted performances from 50 Cent, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and Will.I.Am and DJ sets by Carl Cox, Diplo, Jamie xx, Kaytranada, Marco Carola, Moodymann and Q-Tip.

But it also retains a deep sense of mission: to bring people together again, improve upon mental health, and provide safe, creative, and uplifting spaces to unite all ages and walks of life.

@flippersrollerboogiepalace

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