RAVERS ROUNDLY DISPUTE DRUG-SOAKED ATMOSPHERE

They say they go for the music, the atmosphere, the people.

But they're not all high.

In fact, those who go to raves and the people who promote them emphatically
denied Friday the police portrayal of the all-night gatherings as nothing
more than drug-soaked parties.

"They make it look like all that happens at parties is the sex and orgies
and drugs, and it's not," said Matthew Palmer, a 19-year-old raver. "There
are people there for the music, and people, and to be happy."

The raves made news Thursday when authorities accused Salvatore "Sammy the
Bull" Gravano, the former Mafia underboss and turncoat, of heading an
Arizona crime syndicate dealing in the designer drug known as Ecstasy.

Phoenix police focused on the raves when they launched an investigation into
the use of designer drugs among high school kids in July.

Undercover officers concluded that up to 90 percent of rave participants
were on Ecstasy. One officer said he was shocked at the volume of the drug
he saw dealt "hand to hand."

"They'll tell you right up front whether they have some or they will direct
you to whoever does," Detective Jim Gibbs. But organizers of legitimate
raves say that's not possible because they pat down and frisk incoming
ravers.

"You can't walk in there with drugs in your pocket. You can't walk in there
with drugs in your socks," Alan Holcomb said. "We're basically doing the
closest thing to strip-searching to keep drugs out."

Holcomb, an attorney who represents promoters in the "electronic music
scene," said there are no more drugs at raves than at any other club or
event. "It's about the music, not about drugs," he said.

Gibbs agreed that drug use at legitimate raves may be lower, and "a
percentage of people that go in there buy into peace, love, community, that
kind of stuff."

But Gibbs said the majority of those at the more "underground" events were
high.

"All you have to do is look in their eyes . . . you won't find any pupils on
them."