Xu Wei Guitar & Vocal Classics

Author: Liu Tianli
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2007-01-01
Features: Xu Wei began practicing the guitar at the age of sixteen, when he had just started high school. Two years later, in April 1986, he participated in the Guitar and Singing Competition in Xi'an and won the first prize for duet. After that, he wrote songs in his life. Driven by his passion for music, Xu Wei gave up the college entrance examination that year and changed his path of studying in a conventional way, starting to perform with various artistic groups. To become a guitar student, he did all kinds of odd jobs and endured hardships. 1987–1990
In late 1987, Xu Wei joined the army and served as an artistic soldier in the Shaanxi Military Region. In the army, he continued to practice the guitar diligently, practicing for 8–10 hours a day, and once violated regulations due to his obsession with practicing. In 1988, Xu Wei was exposed to rock music and was deeply impacted, which led him to resolve to become a musician. In 1989, he was recruited into the Propaganda Department of the Fourth Military Medical University to manage the band, and once again rejected the opportunity to study at university. During his three years in the army, he self-studied music theory, composition, and harmony, and attempted to write some pop songs. 1990–1993
In late 1990, Xu Wei was demobilized from the army and assigned to a high school as a music teacher, though he never went to work there, instead beginning his career as a professional guitarist. At that time, his guitar skills had become highly refined, making him one of the most outstanding guitarists in Xi'an's music circle. In 1991, Xu Wei bought an expensive electric guitar by borrowing money, and had to go to Fujian to earn money by playing in bars. However, he could not tolerate the mechanical and uninspired performances that lacked individuality and creativity, so he returned to Xi'an after only two months. At that time, Xu Wei had no income and faced significant financial pressure, and many people did not understand his choice of life. But he remained true to himself, spending his days listening to music and practicing the guitar. With the support of his parents and friends, he endured three years of poverty but refused to compromise, and created songs such as "Don't Cry Baby," "Kua Fu," "Wandering," and "Fairy Tale Era," which were filled with his dreams and pursuit of music in the face of life and social pressures. 1993–1994
In June 1993, Xu Wei gathered all the outstanding musicians in Xi'an, including guitarist Gao Song, bassist Tong Tong, keyboardist Ba Jin, and drummer Zhang Laosan, to form the band "Fei." He served as the lead singer and rhythm guitarist and was responsible for writing the lyrics and music. The band had no financial resources at the beginning and could only rehearse in a dilapidated house, facing extreme hardships. On December 5, 1993, "Fei" performed its first show since forming at Xi'an Foreign Languages University, with a theater filled with three thousand spectators for a thousand-person audience. "Fei" performed five of Xu Wei's songs and received unanimous praise. In February 1994, "Fei" went to Chengdu for promotional performances, which were a great success. After the performance, the band was interviewed by Chengdu radio stations and major newspapers and magazines. In May 1994, "Fei" was featured in an interview with Japan's Voice magazine. In July 1994, the band went to Yinchuan to participate in the "Northwest Rock Festival," performing with three other bands from Lanzhou, Ningxia, and Inner Mongolia at the Yinchuan Gymnasium. "Fei's" encore performance was outstanding, drawing the attention of local media. After the performance, the band was interviewed by multiple media outlets, and the live recording of the performance and an interview with the band were broadcast on Yinchuan radio. Upon returning to Xi'an, the band was invited for a live interview on Shaanxi Art Radio, and their song demos were played on the radio multiple times, receiving strong. Meanwhile, Xu Wei began hosting a segment on the radio introducing Western rock music. In August 1994, "Fei" disbanded due to various reasons. After the band broke up, Xu Wei fell into confusion and depression. In a state of extreme helplessness and near despair, he created two introspective and melancholic works, "Blue Bird" and "Two Days." In October 1994, Xu Wei brought his works to Beijing and contacted Hongxing Production, which was committed to promoting original music. His works were highly praised by all members of the company. In November 1994, Hongxing invited top musicians in Beijing—guitarist Cao Jun, bassist Liu Junli, and drummer Zhao Muyang—to record "Two Days" and "Blue Bird" for Xu Wei. In April 1995, Xu Wei signed with Hongxing Production. In November 1995, his work "Two Days" was included in the compilation album Hongxing No. 1. In April 1997, his first solo album Somewhere Else was officially released. In January 1998, at the 1997 annual best album listener poll hosted by Beijing Music Radio's program "New Music Magazine," Xu Wei's first solo album Somewhere Else won the best album award, once again proving his extraordinary talent in China's original music scene. In March 1999, the "Xu Wei version" of "Persistence," rearranged and performed by Xu Wei, was included in Hongxing No. 6.