This week on CLUB ZOOM IN we are covering the most important club of French dance culture and a driving force of the Parisian scene – Rex Club.
Started by Laurent Garnier in 1992, Paris’ Rex Club is one of the city’s oldest and longest-running spots for techno and house parties. With a fully lit stage, walls lined with booths and seating, and a dance floor that stretches all the way to the bar, Rex Club offers plenty of options for clubbers.
The iconic building known as the Grand Rex originally opened its doors as a cinema in 1932, and 40 years later, the downstairs area that was once home to the orchestra became a new home for dancers. Since its opening 30 years ago, Rex club has emerged as one of the driving forces of the Parisian scene. Located on the famous Grands Boulevards, next to the homonymous movie theatre, Rex Club is one of the clubs in Paris that has been able to truly manage and keep its authentic soul throughout the ages.
Since the 90s, Rex was the refuge of electronic music lovers, counter-balancing with the mainstream Parisian scene. Laurent Garnier in particular, with his evenings Wake Up, was one of the craftsmen of the success of this mythical club.
Key club nights include Club Téton, DELIGHTED, Mézigue and Folamour’s resident club nights, and D’julz’s long-standing Bass Culture parties. Other residents include Molly, Chloé, Traumer, DJ Deep, Leo Pol, and some new artists joining the line-up this year, including Marina Trench, Raphael Top Secret and Miley Serious.
The club boasts an impressive d&b audiotechnik soundsystem, and now that it’s set for re-opening this September, it’ll be all systems go for France’s go-to clubbing destination.
Rex club has also hosted all the greatest DJs, from Carl Cox to Jeff Mills to Kerri Chandler, Lil ’Louis, the Daft Punk, Justice and the entire French Touch movement led by Ed Banger and Pedro Winter. More recently, artists such as Daniel Avery, Oscar Mulero, Derrick May, Paul Ritch, Chez Damier, Anja Schneider and DJ Tennis have gone behind the decks of Rex.
