After 9 Years of "Romanesque Debauchery," Temple Bar Officially Shuts Its Doors

Temple opened the same year I started LiveBeijingMusic. I can still vividly recall my first night there in late December 2011, after wandering aimlessly on the streets of Gulou, stumbling in to catch Jurat T.T perform. Temple Bar was like a godsend, a sanctuary for no-frills rock and roll kicks that wasn't afraid to dive into the deep end of delirium. A blackhole of disorder, musical mayhem, unchecked temptation, and the most uproarious late-evenings best left out of the history books. My blood, sweat, and tears have been ingrained in the wood there, coffee shots still haunt me, and some of my favorite musical discoveries were unearthed within those hallowed halls. Simply put, there is no substitute for Temple Bar – which makes me sad to say that it is one of 2021’s first causalities. 

Rumors of Temple closing have been going on for well over a year now, with the hardened venue just managing to stay afloat through the worst of the pandemic alongside lease disputes, police-sanctioned shutdowns, and the perpetually reshaping music scene. But earlier this week, WeChat moments were flooded with sudden and heartbroken farewells. As frequent Temple visitor and music gadabout Xiaoxiao declared, “I never thought that one day Temple will be closed….it is the most fxxking friendly, magical, drunken place – a legendary part of the underground scene in Beijing and even the rest of China, specifically for the young punk and hardcore bands.”  

Daniel Vuillermin – aka Boss Cuts – said: “Amidst the Romanesque debauchery, Temple created a space for musicians to freely express and experiment. And if there is such a thing as a “Beijing sound” it is undoubtedly shaped by the decrepit Wangs PA system, the clang and thud of the steel and concrete, the stench of stale Beijing beer, and the heart palpitations from the rounds of coffee shots.”

Michael Marshall, who was a fixture at Temple, both as manager and performer, between the years of 2015 and 2020 went on at length about how important Temple was to aspiring musicians and bands in Beijing. “While I certainly enjoyed bringing in bands from out of town or spending months finally locking down some big band to pack out Temple, one of my greatest joys remains watching fledgling bands find their own voices on Fresh Blood nights or Rock Against Jam events. I am so proud of some of the bands who I watched go from barely being able to hold their instruments to packing out a Saturday night. I feel very lucky and inspired to have watched so many of you grow not into talented musicians, but passionate, community-oriented people.“

Personally, I feel like I’ve lived multiple lifetimes within the confines of Temple – so many memories shine bright through the haze of debris. From hosting the Gulou Double Decker parties with Josh Feola of pangbianr to late-night conversations that spilled over into dawn; from performances that knocked my socks off to dance parties that never came to an end  – and of course watching the arm wrestling champ herself, Pink, take down one opponent after another. 

And while I’m certain Temple will raise from the ashes within the next year (with a license to boot!), it’s key to focus on the achievements Temple left us with. As Marshall wisely puts it, “It’s okay to feel bummed, but don’t give in to that feeling that this is somehow the end or the death of anything. The communities that (we) found in places like DDC or Temple are always changing, can begin anywhere and be carried anywhere. Remember that communities truly thrive when their members strive to elevate each other, not themselves…I hope some of you managed to walk away with a special memory of performing, or have a fond memory of a special show, or discovered a new style of music or a new band there. I hope some of you are, in the end, slightly better, or more confident, or empowered, or a bit more colorful for having spent some time exploring your creative selves there.”

We’ll be keeping our eyes peeled for the next incarnation of Temple  – but until then, we pour one out for you tonight Temple Bar.

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Images: LiveChinaMusic