The Three Discoteers

Biography

The story of The Three Discoteers begins with Metro Tokyo, the firebrand of the DJ trio. It was not so long ago that Metro Tokyo schemed in isolation among the stacks of dusty LPs in his dingy hutong hole. With no one to share his disco passions, he set out to educate the masses with a series of parties called Dance Dangereux. Little did he know, however, that there were already others like him lurking unknown in the cracks of the Beijing underground.

One evening, somewhere in one of Beijing’s little-known dive bars, Metro Tokyo was in the middle of one of his scorching disco sets with his small, but loyal group of followers drenched in sweat, when, from out of the crowd, stumbled a muttering drunkard into the DJ booth. With a record in one hand and the index-finger of his other hand wagging in Metro Tokyo’s face, the drunkard yelled, “Let me play one!…Just one!” Although he was reluctant to hand over the dance floor, Metro Tokyo was also intrigued by the unmarked record in the stranger’s hand. “Ok. Just one,” said Tokyo. Thinking he might have to sweep in and save the party from something terrible, Tokyo stayed close by and watched the needle drop. Crack! Snap! Pop! The funkiest bass-line Metro Tokyo had ever heard started thumping through the system. It was so fat and thunderous that Tokyo actually lost his balance, tumbled out of booth and busted his head on the floor. When he regained consciousness, the music had stopped and the stranger was sitting next to him sipping a beer. Tokyo sat up, “Whaa, what…Who are you?” “The name’s Tobias Patrick. Wanna grab a beer?” They immediately became friends, and Tobias, the drunken disco samurai, joined Metro Tokyo on his crusade to create his own Paradise Garage in Beijing.

And that brings us to the story of the third and final discoteer, Boflex. A former Wall Street investment banker, he lost it all in the summer of 2008. With nothing to tie him down to his homeland, he decided to head to more abundant pastures. He’d heard stories of the far East, specifically of China, and how many had re-invented themselves and risen to the top. In a matter of days, he was on a plane to Beijing with a new suit, his passport and $1000 in his pocket. He knew nothing of the language and culture, and his idealistic visions soon crumbled. His money ran out and he was forced to teach English lessons to pay his rent. He sunk into depression, and it wasn’t long before he dove into a lifestyle of excess. Hedonism became his religion, and he scoured Beijing looking for ever greater pleasures. Like a moth to a flame, it was not long before he landed straight in front of Metro Tokyo and Tobias Patrick at one of their epic Dance Dangereux parties. Immediately, Boflex knew that this was to become his new path, and after meeting the two disco pioneers he became their protege. They taught him everything they knew, and before long it was unclear who was the teacher and who was the student.

These days The Three Discoteers aren’t quite as far underground as they used to be. Thanks to many people and venues around the capital, but the Migas family especially, they’ve managed to climb up to great heights in the Beijing music scene (at least as high as the rooftop of Nali Patio). Futhermore, they’ve even met some friends along the way, including the Funk Fever team, the Haze crew, Feiand Bye Bye Disco. You can find them at parties around the city as they continue to push forward with their disco agenda, living by the slogan, “All for disco and disco for all.”