Dirty Roger

By David May

The first Dirty Roger’s Superbar opened in 1987, just as the Marshal Law era in Taiwan ended.

“There was nothing here! Nothing!” exclaimed Roger.

Dirty Roger’s SuperBar is now a Tainan landmark. It’s a gritty place, tattered like an old book, but it feels familiar. Roger’s smells of history like an old basement. Stacks of records line the walls. Warm lights beam through light dust, bringing a placid, relaxing ambiance that is only affected by the wide-range of music you’ll hear.

Keyboards and flat screen monitors sit on the bar and loose wires lay strewn about. These bits of electronics sit amidst the screaming faces of Roger’s art, and a wall of CDs.

 

Upstairs, Vespa-scooter bar stools face a bare brick wall. An Italian racing bike (the only one of its kind in Taiwan), hints of Roger’s love of speed.

Prior to becoming a legendary bar owner, Roger had lived in north Taiwan, mainly in Taipei studying law. He also worked in a record company; as a DJ in a disco; running a business, selling movie posters, and of course doing his 2 year bit in the military.

A long time ago Roger explained to me that there are three important things in his life: music, motorcycles, and women

  

Music:

Roger first got into music working in a record store and later in a record company. He also self-published a free weekly music ‘zine called Page, which he used to distribute through record stores.
One long wall of Dirty Roger’s Superbar is covered by Roger’s 12,474 vinyl LP record collection, while behind the bar he stores 8,000 CDs. Roger told me he spends on average NT$40,000 a month on music.

Roger is adamant about not downloading.

“I buy music, you know, honestly. This is a personal habit I think you know. I love music. I disagree. I don’t like it. You know what I mean. It is very convenient. We have a computer here. But, not me. I have a lot of good people good friends who let me listen to their music and let me burn.


When I am listening to that new music, I will enjoy that moment. That is so awesome man.”

When I asked Roger if he sells any, he quickly replied with a bit of surprise. “No man!” Roger went on to explain his love of all music and that he cannot choose any favourites. He loves all music and this is just luck.

“I am lucky the Gods gave me a good chance to know music. I enjoy that.”

Dirty Roger’s has a passion for music and relishes in sharing it. Outside of the bar, Roger often gives talks on music for various groups in Tainan. If you’re an audiophile do drop by, he’ll appreciate it.

  
Motorcycles:

At age 14, Roger’s Uncle taught him how to drive a motorcycle. Roger described the experience as “charming” and said from that moment on he was hooked. At 18 he bought his first bike; a Honda CV100. Since then his passion for motorcycles has turned into a true love affair. Roger currently owns 4 motorcycles. Displayed in his bar is the only 1100 Moto Guzzi of its kind in Taiwan. Roger races motorcycles and shares his affection for motorcycles with others by teaching others about motorcycles.

A man of little or no regret, Roger told me if he could turn back time he would put all his energy in becoming a motorcycle racer.

Earlier this year Roger surprisingly had some bad luck while riding. While quenching his thirst for speed on highway 182 (Roger holds the record from Guanmiao to Neimen) driving towards Neimen in Kaohsiung County he met a section of road that had been washed away by the heavy rains. He leaped off his bike while travelling 152 km/h and suffered a broken collarbone. Roger still maintains that he was lucky because his bike did not follow him when he jumped off. It fell in the hole.

Women:

Despite women being one of Roger’s three loves, he, alas, is single. Roger explained it like this;

“Different flower, different tree. Some people are good for the family life. Man you know. If I am married maybe I will say goodbye to my rock ‘n roll, I will say goodbye to my machines. No way man! I don’t wanna in the meantime lose too many parts of my life.”

Do you have any plans to settle down?

“No, because life keeps moving on right? Sometimes I will think: ‘Where is my destination?’ I just enjoy any one moment. It’s brilliant. I am just lucky I meet a lot of really great people.”

Danger:

I asked Roger if he had any bad experiences while running the bar. Roger proceeded to show me the scar on one of his fingers and then told me another story that he chalked up to luck.

“I have one terrible thing. One day in the morning some, gangster, criminal opened the door and came in my bar to steal some small money. He came to the second floor and woke me up. He took me downstairs and locked the door, showed the gun. But I am very lucky. That day I had one customer come in very late and say he ‘couldn’t sleep or something.’ He said ‘Roger I am very thirsty and I couldn’t sleep. Sell me one beer.’ I told him, ‘I am very tired and you must finish quickly.’ He finished quickly and left the glass on the table.

“I told the robber I have 20,000. How about? I can show you the money. I did not cheating you. How about you look there. Then he said, ‘Show me.’ When I tried to pick up the money he came close and I just took the glass and hit him on the head. The glass, it was a heavy one, broke and he said, ‘Ouch man that hurt.’ He tried to use the gun to shoot me. I know that was a gun and I put my hand on the trigger and stopped his finger and then took his gun and hit his head. Beat him until he lay down on the floor. I controlled the conditions and then yell my girlfriend to call the cops to come. There was a lot of blood on the floor. But I am not a hero. I am just trying to survive. That was my very special experience.”