China Rock Manual

Author: Li Hongjie
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-05-01
Features: The Dictionary of Chinese Rock Music – A bible for rock enthusiasts; The Complete Record of Chinese Rock Records – The best guide for album collectors. The book comes with a rock CD, a treasure for "Grade 5" fans and a nostalgia for "Grade 6" fans. Ten classic rock songs take you into the world of Chinese rock filled with passion, fantasy, and euphoria. Unknowingly, rock has been wandering in China for twenty years. Starting from the day this music began, twenty years seem short, but when you think that this music has only a history of over fifty years, twenty years is actually a long journey.
Facing twenty years of Chinese rock, everyone has a different stance—inspiration, praise, disdain, or harsh criticism. Each has its own reasons, and no one can convince the other. But when asked how these stances are based on observations, most people can only name Cui Jian, the "Three Magicians of the Magic Rock," and Black Panther. Those who can list Zheng Jun, Xu Wei, and Wang Feng are still paying attention. Those who can talk about Zu Xiaozhu or "Wooden Horse" are already veterans. And those who can mention that they just saw Xie Tianxiao of the reborn generation or Subs of the new generation are considered hardcore observers. However, even a hardcore observer may not be able to truly count how many young people in China have poured sweat and tears for ideals they either understood or didn’t fully grasp.
Even today, Chinese rock has not received the recognition it deserves. These past efforts have begun to feel like ancient legends. With little tunes constantly drifting from phones, you might even doubt whether those fiery, chaotic, and exhilarating rock scenes were just a dream. Fortunately, even if it’s just a simple dream, it’s now backed by the China Rock Handbook. Moreover, this concise and easy-to-use handbook collects the complete information of all bands and musicians in the history of Chinese rock, making people realize clearly that this is no mere fantasy.
There are many ways to trace history and preserve it. Personal memories may be intimate but not necessarily reliable; oral history may be interesting but always varied; archival records may seem dull, but ultimately, they may become the custodians of an objective historical image, like a hard stone that is not easily eroded by sand and wind.