About Us

The Cacophony Society is “a randomly gathered network of free spirits united in the pursuit of experiences beyond the pale of mainstream society.” It was started in 1986 by surviving members of the now defunct Suicide Club of San Francisco. According to self-designated members of the Society, “you may already be a member.”

Particularly well known amongst its members is the novelist Chuck Palahniuk, who has mentioned the Society in both his writings and interviews. He used the Cacophony Society as the basis for the organization Project Mayhem in his novel turned movie, Fight Club, in which the unknowlingly psychotic, unnamed main character starts a "fight club" which grows into an anarchy group called Project Mayhem which represents the real life Cacophony Society.

The anarchic nature of the Society means that membership is left open-ended and anyone may sponsor an event, though not every idea pitched garners attendance by members. Cacophony events often involve costumes and pranks in public places and sometimes going into places that are generally off limits to the public. Cacophonists have been known to dress as Santa Claus and drink all weekend (SantaCon), or dress in animal suits and go bowling. Usually the events and participation criteria are such that it is easy to identify others who are participating, but perhaps difficult to identify them later in ordinary circumstances.