Shaun Jackson, known only by the internet as the 'rave gurner' guy, became an online sensation after a clip of him dancing in a nightclub went viral.
Social media was starting to get increasingly popular and things went viral a lot more organically back then.
But organic isn't really the word you would use when describing Jackson being filmed in a nightclub in 2014.
So if you've never seen the 'rave gurner' video, it was basically a promotional clip for Rumes nightclub in Preston, which captured Jackson's fierce dance moves and, shall we call it, intense facial expressions.
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The Brit is there pranging out to a tune called 'Zoom' by Blastoyz and Ranji. Here it is if you've never seen it before:
What was the 'rave gurner' guy on?
Well, you don't have to be an expert to figure out that the 'rave gurner' guy was, indeed, gurning.
According to Vice, gurning is an 'inescapable part of taking MDMA or ecstasy'.
“Gurning is likely predominately a result of bruxism, which is prolonged jaw clenching,” said Harry Sumnall, Professor in Substance Use at the Centre for Public Health.
“And also trismus, which describes reduced mouth opening. This can lead to chewing motions and lateral movements of the teeth.”
During a 2019 interview on the Flexxed podcast, Jackson confirmed what substances were in his body at the time of recording.
“So I’ve gone out from there that night, three-quarters of a bottle of vodka already down my neck and then three or four drags of real good MD (MDMA),” he said.
“The rest is history,” the podcast co-hosts laughed.
Jackson added: “When I go out anyway, if there is a camera there or not, I am always doing a bit of mad stuff just to get people laughing.”
His only regret was that as things got even wilder during the evening, no one was filming.
What is he up to now?
Jackson is fairly inactive on his public social media platforms.
On Insta, his last post was in 2023, whereas on TikTok his most recent video was shared in 2024.
In 2022, however, Jackson made headlines when spotted at the Glastonbury music festival doing his signature dance moves.
That same year, he even had an action figure made in his honour.
People are still commenting on the original clip in 2025, as one person said: "This is hilarious and terrifying at the same time."
Another added: "When aliens finally invades us this man would be our last shot to impress them."
While a third wrote: "What an absolute legend."
Topics: Drugs, UK News, Social Media
Anish Vij