He is opening two additional bars: Roxy Roots, on July 8 in the Neo 19 building next to Vie Show in the Xinyi District, is dedicated to reggae lovers and is the only venue in Taipei, Wei said, with a performance stage “for live ska bands, 2-tone, African beats ... and some rock and roll.” Near the end of next month, The Other Side will open, with more alternative rock, ranging from Jimi Hendrix to Linkin Park, that “will blow your mind” said Ling. “Rock and roll is the best dance music.” This bar will also be located in the Xinyi District. Roxy 99, meanwhile, will continue to play “more popular music and hip-hop.”
Of his love for rock, Ling said: “I grew up with The Beatles in the ’60s, with Santana, Led Zeppelin.” When asked what he thinks of more modern rock like The Killers he scoffs, “Modern? That’s over five years old. I was the first one to play it in Taiwan. After a while it became a hit.”
Ling was a radio DJ for 20 years at the Broadcasting Corporation of China (BCC,中廣), and “got a lot of listeners calling me and writing letters asking many questions,” so he decided to open his first club in 1982, which was called AC/DC. “I had a place to share music with them,” he said.
Now he has that again, with Rocker. Just “don’t come here and ask me to play some dance track, please,” he said. “But if you are into real rock and roll you’ll be satisfied.”
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