End of an era for Fu / Zen

News Repost - End of an Era

We have some news that will no doubt surprise and even shock some of you- after 12 years we’ve decided its time for a change, time to seize new opportunities, and set our sights on new ventures and challenges. Both Fu Bar & Zen will celebrate their final week ending October 23rd.

The team behind Fu and Zen will instead be focusing on FuZen Entertainment on a full time basis ...– a new direction which sees us moving away from a fixed home and instead concentrate on providing New Zealand with a range of quality club nights, concerts, shows and outdoor events at various sized venues. In our 13th year its time to spread our wings and leave the nest.

We have enjoyed these years immensely, seeing so many enthusiastic and incredible people coming through our doors and witnessing so many nights of incredible performances by the finest DJs and Producers the world has to offer. We have seen new musical forms born in this time and seen many transform. It’s been an ever-changing landscape of musical expression.

We thank you all for being part of the Fu family in this first part of our journey. But this is not an end it’s a transformation. FuZen will continue to bring you the finest nights, the finest music, the finest selections of music from here and across the globe, the only change is we will not be fixed in one geographical location.

Thank you all for being part of the Fu story. We look forward to seeing you all in the future at our various parties, concerts and events.

Now we hope to see you all out at Fu Bar and Zen in its final two months so we can send both clubs off in proper style, and then see you on New Years Eve in the Bay Of Islands for Northern Bass…

never was the same for me after Queen St - the new venue lacked the underground atmosphere

I wish them all success in their new venture

Yeah, I'd agree re old Fu and Zen, though I've definitely had a bunch of stompers at the new one. Didn't miss the toilet stench from the old place (though the used rubbers and vomit vibe the bigger loos came with wasn't too flash either ), but agree totally that the 'underground' vibe was just never quite recaptured at their new spot

Was never the biggest fan of the new venue either but still got to give huge respect to those involved for providing a much-loved musical sanctuary for thousands of Aucklanders.

Fu for a lot of people at a certain stage of life probably meant more than family/work/education combined !!!

Loved old Fu.. there's nothing like a underground club ..

Longest running club in Auckland?
Consistently top notch internationals?
All the other great things?

No? OK, lets jump straight onto ragging on the joint. Classy.


End of an era indeed.

^ Agreed. This isn't the place to talk about which incarnation of Fu was better or worse...have some respect!

All the best G & D; thanks for making such a massive contribution to Auckland club-life - definitely a huge void left for someone to fill!

Will try post more later.

"Ragging"? Bit precious isn't it? Loved the old one, liked the new one, and had great times at both - not much more to be said really ^_^

I always viewed Fu as the club that picked up the ball once the Box's days were over. The premiere nightclub in Auckland for solid electronic music. With the true underground feel and approach which is hard create or find out there. Obviously they had a diff take on the music to the Box but a real music policy unlike many other venues.

Well done to the team there for such an awesome run and for creating some amazing memories for many and for fostering the various genres.

I am sure the events the boys have planned are going to be very successful.

Yeah, this is very true I guess

Favourite Fu memories?

I have two, one as a Dj and one as a punter.

Firstly: My first ever international support for Kid Kenobi back in 2004. Played a great set I was really proud of, to a packed club of all up for it excited punters. I played as my second to last song Timmy Schu's Whipped Cream which the whole place went mental to. A great moment for me and the first time I really felt like I had "made it" as a local Dj.

Secondly I had been really into the Datsuns debut album, thrashing the shit out of it hard. Went to a Beat Freaks gig and Timmy Schu (again that man!) was playing and he dropped Harmonic Generator into his set. Utterly blew my mind and I was jumping around and dancing and grinning like a mad man. Awesome experience.

I have many more great memories of the venue(s) but those are my favourites.

I'll just drop things in as I remember them.

-first time seeing Andy C - nothing, and I mean NOTHING, beats the spine chilling feeling when GQ steps up and asks the crowd to "make some noise for my DJ Andy C". The roar that followed was without a doubt louder than ANYTHING the old Fu mainroom rig ever belted out. It actually hurt my ears.
- Breakers Delight Phil K - awesome support from Timmy, Page and ASpark, but Phil K's utter mastery of the shiny new Pioneer boxes of tricks was off the charts.
- Breakers Delight Infusion - just wow. One Day live - needs no words. Entire crowd singing along in harmony.
- Teh Wedding Afterparty
- Numerous wasted nights at some regular monthly in the bar - FUCK that bar rig could crank.
- N00bs/wasters vs "The Step"

Siiiiigh

Michael Mayer and Patiffe for me

Sad news this, I've spent a lot of good times at fu bar.

Mayer definitely the number one memory though, best house/techno international gig I've been to in auckland. Wasn't too long after his fabric cd came out, and the height of my kompakt fanboyism, amazing atmosphere and a huge night of tunes that night.

Some other highlights
Dj Marky (the first time he came) - crazy atmosphere. He played again the following night for free from memory.
Klute - Killed it everytime I saw him.
Derrick May - Playing disco tracks
Ed Rush - the first dnb gig I went to
Aril Brikha, amazing techno set.
Fun breaks parties with Page3/timmy schu etc
A few rough xmas mornings after techno bells/jungle bells.
The enter the dragon/welcome to the machine parties. Great sets of house and techno from locals Silverbeat, Chaye D, Mr King, Simon Flower, Matt Drake, Miles Kuen, Halogen Girl, tech house from Snitch, Beesting, Greg Spencer.
Getting to mangle some records at the old fu a few times, it was fun!

Yes.
Years down the line that night still goes down as musically one of the best I have ever had.

First Phat, now Fu too.
what is this world coming to...

Two of my best nights out have been at Fu/Zen.

1 - First time seeing Pendulum at the old Fu (and my first visit there) massive night, and met the dragon on the wall in the second room. Awesome picture!

2 - Andy C and MC GQ. it was so hot there was sweat/condensation dripping from the roof and even from under the peak of my cap. had to completely change clothes upon exiting, and even lost a toe nail cos my feet were so soaked from the gig. Gross, but epic!

going to miss this place... I've had more memories in this venue than all the other clubs in Auckland combined. Ever since my first sneaky underage entry to the 2004 Concord Dawn vs Pendulum gig I've been hooked : D

A few highlights that come to mind
- High Contrast @ Fu Bar on a Sunday night in 2004. Dynamite MC randomly turning up and stepping up on the mic for half the set. Such a great set, especially considering HC wasn't to return to our shores until 2010..
- Andy C @ Fu - every fucking year, but especially 2005 and 2006. First time was amazing, though 2006 even better because of all my mates being first timers and seeing there minds get blown was awesome. I'll never forget Tarantula being dropped in 05 though before it became massive.
- Patife & Cleveland Watkiss @ Fu in 06? Dare I say it? Better than Marky...
- London Elek @ Zen in 09 and 10. - maybe Fu/Zen Entertainment can put on an NZ Hospitality gig? One can dream...
- Shy FX in 05.
- Brookes Brothers this year

^^ Andy C at Fu in 2005. Apologies for the tinass sound, was taken on a primitive digital cam. But still you get a sense for the atmosphere!

I think one of the things that made Fu so successful was that it was never a 'popular' club - its always been about the music. Continually bringing big acts, where people came for because they knew the artist, not some 'event name'.
One of the more recent gigs I enjoyed (there have been many) was the last rennie pilgrem gig, not a huge turnout but everyone there was right into it. Won't be able to make next weekends birthday as heading to mountain but will look to get in before it closes.

<< and 2006. CAN YOU MAKE SOME NOISE FOR MR AN-DY C!

I miss the old FU, being able to get that close to the DJ is fucking awesome. New Fu is great too but Andy C has always played at Zen so it's never quite the same.

thanks for all the music

good luck for the future

Sad times for bass culture, pretty much the last forward thinking club in Auckland, real shame, though it does signal the move back to smaller more intimate venues and nights which seems to be the way of other main centres around the world. The underground may now truly return! Sensible option for the FuZen crew though, good luck with the future events!

Good times as a punter:
Deekline and Wizard, Rennie Pilgrem, the many Fu Birthdays, the Pages wedding after party, and watching dubstep explode.

as a DJ:
Best ever gig for me there was setting it up for Skool of Thought. The place was warming up nicely, then i dropped Crazy Love and it just went mental, and remained that way for the entire evening.
The Dub Wars gigs always owned, packed by 11
Warming up for DJ Pinch in Zen, 700 kids cranking it by 12

Thanks Fu, was a pleasure and an honour.

Deekline & Wizard was a great night!
All the Antiform release parties were off the hook, had many a good night at those

Best and biggest nights were always at Fu!
I remember Dillinja & Lemon D in 2004 was particularly kickass heh. And still miss the awesome club nights in the old Fu Bar like Glide. Ah Glide... <3

This is just stupid. Why close it?

Its like living in a house for 10 years and then deciding you want a change so you burn it down instead of selling it.

Why not sell FU/ZEN....

Maybe the brand is bigger than any physical space could be

And let someone else fuck up the brand you've spent 12 years building up? Fuck that.

I'm sure the space will now be up for lease / sale, opportunity for someone.. I'm with Kris though, ain't no way
I'd sell my brand after 12 years!

Negative attitude.

Theres always a percentage of the population that are like you and are negative. You will respond to this post trying to defend yourself but we dont care.
Come on Krib, Think of something witty so its makes you look clever or correct.

oooooook.

sam_o_wn3d imo ^_^

Woah. Check out the scary 'self-help' brainwashing!

Sam-o you really need to seek some tender, loving help (that is, not from somebody who is exploiting your for all they can).

Really? How many personalities have you got all up in that bitch?