Rave Gurner Guy Reveals What Was Really In His System That Night in Preston

If you’ve been even marginally online in the last decade, you’ve undoubtedly come across the iconic video of a guy in trance-like dance, jaw working overtime, and eyes staring straight into the rave sphere. It’s, of course, Shaun Jackson, internet-famous as the “rave gurner” guy – and now we know exactly what he had in his system when he was immortalized in that wild 2014 video.

A Viral Legend is Born at Rumes Nightclub

The video, which was technically an advertising clip for Rumes Nightclub in Preston, ended up going viral for entirely different reasons. Shaun Jackson’s ecstatic dance moves and unforgettable facial expressions set the internet on fire – and he did it all while going full throttle to the psytrance track Zoom by Blastoyz and Ranji.

It was a time when things went viral in true old-school fashion: Shares, memes, and “check this out” messages on Facebook. And in the midst of it all was a Brit, partying as if life – and jaw muscles – depended on it.

“Three Quarters Vodka and Some Good Hits of MD”

During an appearance on the Flexxed podcast in 2019, Shaun himself lifted the veil on the night’s cocktail. And it was anything but mild. According to him, he’d already “three-quarters of a bottle of vodka down” before heading to the club – and on top of that, he took “three to four hits of some really good MD (MDMA).”

And then it was off to the races. Camera or not, Shaun says he always does “mad stuff” to make people laugh – and this night just happened to be caught on video. His only real regret? That no one filmed when it got even wilder later on.

Gurnology 101: When the Jaw Takes a Techno Trip

For the uninitiated: “Gurning” is not a dance style, but rather a side effect. According to Professor Harry Sumnall from the Centre for Public Health, it’s about bruxism (tooth grinding and jaw clenching) and trismus (reduced ability to open the mouth). When MDMA hits the body, the jaw often starts working on its own – something many have probably seen but might not have been able to name.

What Is He Doing Today?

Shaun Jackson isn’t exactly hyperactive on social media. His latest Instagram post is from 2023, and his last TikTok activity was seen in 2024. But in 2022, he popped up at the Glastonbury Festival, where he once again threw himself into his legendary dance – and, as the crowning achievement, he even got an action figure made of himself.

Even here in 2025, people still comment on the original clip. Someone wrote: “This is both hilarious and deeply disturbing.” Another dryly noted: “When aliens invade, this is the man we need to send to impress them.” And as a third simply concluded: “An absolute legend.”

Internet Icons with Jaws of Steel

Shaun Jackson proves that you don’t need to be an influencer or reality star to become internet famous. Sometimes, you just need to be in exactly the right place, at the entirely wrong time – with your jaw flailing and techno in your veins. It is truly the wild west of viral moments, and the “rave gurner” guy will forever be part of the digital dance floor.

Our team may have used AI to assist in the creation of this content, which has been reviewed by our editors.