Chinese rock music rose in popularity in Mainland from the Northwest Wind music movement (such music drew heavily on the folk song traditions of northern Shaanxi Province in the northwest) in the mid-1980s, and underwent varying periods of ups and downs in 1990s. In recent years, Chinese rock has begunn to recover, and people can see it at many performances...

Faint Murmurs

1980: Wan Xing, Li Shichao, Ma Xiaoyi and Wang Xinbo set up the first rock band, "Wan Li Ma Wang," performing classical Western rock, at Beijing Second Foreign Language Institute (now named Beijing International Studies University).

1981: Lili, Wang Yang and other musicians form "Alisi," a band mainly performing Japanese songs.

1982: Adi and some foreign musicians organize " Mainland" bank, which was considered as an activator for Chinese rock music.

1984: "Seven-piece Puzzle" and " Self Righting Doll" form, the second is the first band to play electronic instruments in China.
　　
1985: In May Cui Jian, godfather of Chinese rock, released his first record, "Libertine Back Home."

1986: at a Beijing concert commemorating the Year of World Peace, Cui Jian climbs onto the stage in peasant clothing and belts out his latest composition, "Nothing To My Name," which soon becomes one of the most popular songs in Chinese modern music history.

1987: "Black Leopard" is set up. Members include Guo Chuanlin, Li Tong Ding Wu and others.

In October, "Audiovisual World," the first magazine covering western pop music, begins to publish.

1988: "Tang Dynasty" set up.

1989: Cui Jian participates in the first Asian Popular Music Awards in London, as well as the "Printemps de Bourges" Festival in Paris. Then he released his first special album, " Rock on the Road of New Long March," which was the first album in the history on Chinese rock music.

Flourishing Scene

Cobra Band

1990: On January 28, Cui Jian holds his first no benefit performance for the Beijing Asian Games at Beijing Worker Stadium.

On February 17, and 18, " 90's Modern Music Concert" is held at the Capital Stadium. Six famous bands, such as "Tang Dynasty," " Breath," "Cobra," "1989," participate in the performance. This concert is called "China's first rock music festival."

In May, Guo Chuanlin , manager of "Black Leopard," lead "1989," "Cobra," "Baby Brother," and "Black Leopard," go to Shenzhen to participate in a performance. This is the first time Beijing's rock bands have performed at another place in-group.
　　
In the same year, Cui Jian's album "Nothing To My Name" is released in Taiwan , and receives great media attention.

1991: " Black Leopard" releases its debut album in Hong Kong, and the song "Don't Break My Heart" hits the top of Hong Kong music charts.

Cui Jian releases his second album, "Solution."

Many new bands, such as " Dreaming," " Again," set up.

1992: "Music Heaven" magazine is founded, and influences the music scene with its content and free tapes of Western pop music.

In October, Tang Dynasty's debut album, " Dreaming Back to Tang Dynasty," the first heavy metal album in China, releases and causes panic purchasing.

"Chinese Fire I" releases, which includes many excellent works y mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwanese bands.
　　
"Black Leopard" first release an album on the mainland.

1993: On March 1, the first mainland rock music school holds an opening ceremony. Cui Jian, He Yong, "Tang Dynasty," and "Black Leopard " attend and make a speech.

Soon, Beijing Music Radio launches a Rock Magazine program, establishing the first rock documentary in China.

On July 18, and 19, "Breath," " Cobra," Dou Wei, Zhang Chu, Wang Di and many bands as well music players hold "Olympic Games - China''s dream" --- large-scale rock concert at Capital stadium. It is the first time a new generation of Beijing's rock circle appear in group.
　　
In the same year, many artists perform abroad. Zheng Jun releases his debut, "Naked."

1994: He Yong's "Refuse Dump," Dou Wei's "Black Dream," the first post-punk album in China and Zhang Chu's, " Lonely People Are Shameful," separately release, which effectively establishes the legitimacy of the new movement in Chinese music.

Cui Jian releases his third album, "Balls Under The Red Flag," featuring exceptional performances from saxophonist, Liu Yuan, and guitarist, Eddie Randriamampionona.
　　
1995: Dou Wei releases his second album, "Sunny Days."
　　
On May 11, Tang Dynasty's bassist Zhang Jun dies in a car accident.

1996: " Overload" releases its eponymous debut album, which is a milestone in Chinese heavy metal.
　　
In December, "Mangfeng Bar" opens in Beijing, as a venue for Beijing's new bands to perform.

Divergent Paths

Flowers

1997: In March, underground rock band " Pan Gu" releases its dirty punk debut "What to Do," which melds underground music with punk trends.
　　
Pop and folk rock artist Xu Wei releases his debut,"In Other Places."
　　
In November, "Sober" release their Britpop debut, "Too Good" .

Modern Sky, the earliest indie music company is found in China, initiating a storm of do-it-yourself music productions.
　　
Several influential albums release, including, Zi Yue's Chinese folk opera rock debut, "The First Album," and Fly's, "The Fly".

1998: It is a year of punk.

In January, a famous punk bar "Scream" opened in Beijing, which displays an entrance sign reading "metal and old rockers get no entrance."
　　
In August, "Punk Era" breaks ground. The publication coincides with the nation-wide punk craze.
　　
Pop punk outfit "New Pants" release their debut "New Pants,"; Pan Gu releases, " Burning with Lewd Desire," and Dou Wei releases his, " Mountain, River and Water," an experimental album of techno and Chinese traditional music.

1999: In January Post-pubescent pop punk band "Flowers" release their debut, "Beside Happiness." The singer of the band is only 15 in that year, which is a mark of the arrival of " Children Era" for Chinese rock.

In the same month, pop rocker Pu Shu's debut, "I Go to 2000," wins the devotion of college students.

Free Music magazine is published under the statement "Music is the means, freedom is the aim."

Three rock magazines, Modern Sky, Xmusic and So Rock soar in popularity.

2000: Modern Sky signs more and more bands, and the proliferation of music labels continue.

2004: In August a three-day rock festival dubbed, "China's Woodstock, " is held on Helanshan Mountain.

Author:Ivana