Exist to Resist is a social history book by Matthew Smith born out of a love for UK's rave, sound system, and festival culture. It is a photographic celebration of community gathering and grass roots democratic activism in images made between 1989 and 1997.

YOUTH CLUB is the sole distributor for Exist To Resist and are down to the final 50 copies out of a print run of 1,100. 

In the early 1990s, the UK Government finally decided to legislate against the popularity of raves, protest, free parties and festivals after over a decade of targeting that social phenomenon for persecution. 

After over a decade and a half of Conservative government a great culture of resistance and opposition had arisen and become embedded within British society. Acid house and rave served as the musical soundtrack that united all of those disparate sub-cultural tribes in one mission; to gather, dance and celebrate together for free.

It is now 23 years since Government acted to prohibit and enclose that cultural freedom in law and it is time to tell that story from the inside. It is often said that history is written by the dominant forces in any particular situation, but with Kickstarter crowdfunding and digital social networking that is no longer the case. Exist To Resist tells the unique story of British DIY protest and rave culture.