Twenty years ago, Tang Dynasty was a band ahead of its time brave, bold, innovative and different. Today, in an era when Chinese rock has its arms outstretched to new fans, the legendary group is making a comeback.
When today's art world is obsessed with getting closer to the general public, so too is the rock world determined to reach out to more audiences.
This weekend, the "Chinese Rock Power" live series will take place at Daning International Commercial Plaza in northern Zhabei District, home to many edgy events.
The concert series will feature four outdoor rock shows commencing with Tang Dynasty and ending with Cui Jian, both legends in Chinese rock music history. Young singer Wang Xiaokun, champion of last year's "My Show" reality show, is also one of the performers.
While Cui is commonly regarded as the "Father of Chinese Rock," Tang Dynasty remains the first major Chinese rock band in the hearts of many fans.
The band released just two albums in the glorious period of Chinese rock music between the late 1980s and the early 1990s, but they remain legendary for truly embracing Chinese cultural elements in the Western rock style.
The albums even found their way to Japan, a mission impossible back then.
When they first appeared in 1988, the image of the five members - all with long hair and over 180 centimeters tall - was so striking it is a look still copied by many Chinese rock singers today.
Lightning-fast lead guitarist Liu Yijun (nicknamed Laowu) was considered the best guitarist in China and even in the top three in Asia.
The band's former bassist Zhang Ju passed away shortly after the huge success of their first album "Dream Back to Tang Dynasty," which was an inestimable loss.
Their second album did not receive good reviews from either critics or fans and soon after they disappeared from the spotlight. Occasionally news of changing band members, spin-offs, disbanding and getting together again would surface.
Fans are excited about the band's comeback, especially because the group finally released their third album "Romantic Knight" in June after a nine-year gap.
More than 400 rock fans gathered in a storm for the first live performance of the songs from their new album in Beijing while the album was the best selling album for weeks online and in Beijing CD stores.
"I bought two copies of their album and I'm really excited about their new songs," says 29-year-old designer Felix Wang, who has already visited Daning to check the best spots to view the Shanghai show.
Wang and his friends are also determined to go to the concert three hours early to ensure the spots.
"Everyone's talking about bridging the East and West, but Tang Dynasty did it 20 years ago. It's not just quoting a famous line from a Chinese poem or using a traditional Chinese instrument in the background, they really did it. Their songs are definitely rock songs but are also authentic Chinese inside out."
Just as the band's name suggests, their music reminds many of the cultural peak in Chinese history - the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), a period that produced most and best literati, poems, music, dances and dramas.
"Follow the destiny into a dream, back to Tang Dynasty, tonight's drink reflects the heroism that used to light up the nation" ?? their lyrics are sophisticated and often follow the rules of Chinese poetry, which matches with the atmospheric melodies and contrasts with thrilling guitar solos.
The band has kept and upgraded those same elements in "Romantic Knight," which has so far received mixed reviews from critics. Some praise the band's continuing experimental spirit while others say they are just copying themselves.
"After so many years, we don't really care what the critics say anymore, especially because most critics comment without listening to our music," says the band's songwriter and vocalist Ding Wu.
"They didn't like our first album either until three years later. We have spent so much time and energy on this new album and it's definitely not just a copy of the classics. We wanted to experiment with new elements, but we also wanted to keep features of Tang Dynasty," he says.
Ding also wants the media and critics to be more open-minded regarding Chinese rock singers because "many rock bands are just surviving in small pubs. It's a difficult and long road and we all need some support."
Ding says "Romantic Knight" was inspired his father's generation who "has been through a lot, but has still kept their passion alive today. It's just like us, who have been struggling for so long in the music industry."
Many admire and respect romanticism especially in today's world, which is why rock bands like Tang Dynasty remain important.
Date: October 24-26, 7:30pm
Address: 1978 Gonghexin Rd, Shanghai
(Shanghai Daily October 23, 2008)
