Ling Wei (凌威) has built an empire within 10 city blocks. The owner of 99, Roxy Jr. and Roxy Vibe has opened his new flagship club, Roxy Wave, and hopes to continue the success of the brand name he's built over the past 22 years.
If anyone has a formula for success, it's Ling, who opened the first of his rock houses, AC/DC, in 1982, spurred on by fans of the popular radio rock music show he jockeyed.
"People would call me at the station saying they wished there were a place in Taipei where they could hear the Doors and the Beatles and Van Morrison," Ling said. "So I opened AC/DC and I sold the records I played there. In the beginning we didn't even sell beer."
How times have changed. Beer has become such an integral part of the Roxy pubs that it's part of the floor plan at Wave. Designed in the shape of a woman with curvy neon lights outlining the dance floor, Wave has its DJ booth situated on the breasts and a circular bar where the womb would be. In the middle of the circle is a large tub filled with assorted bottles of brew. "Beer is our baby," Ling says with a laugh.
For the teetotal Ling, however, Roxy isn't so much about beer as about the music. And it's here where he separates his club (all his clubs) from a host of lounge bars that have settled into the Taipei area.
Ling plays the best of rock music throughout the week, often DJing himself, with an emphasis on what he refers to as "party music" on weekends. "Lounges are fine and light house music is fine, too. But after a while it' s boring," he said.
What Ling is ultimately striving for in having opened his fourth bar is to get back to where he started.
"I feel lost," he said. "I miss the original Roxy, the music that we played there and the people that came to listen to it. It was a great! I hope people come here wanting to hear great rock music with their friends. It's something this city needs more of."
On Wednesdays, men over 30 get in free and receive a free single malt Scotch. Ladies also get in free and receive a complimentary glass of wine. Coming early is recommended as Roxy Wave's menu is greatly expanded from the menu of 99 to include lamb chops with mint sauce, smoked salmon with capers, sirloin steak in a black pepper sauce and more.
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