Xu Wei Guitar and Singing Selections

Author: Liu Tianli. Sun Peng
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2007-01-01
Features: At the age of sixteen, Xu Wei began practicing the guitar when he 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 in 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 art groups. To become a guitar student, he did all kinds of odd jobs and went through hardships. 1987–1990 In late 1987, Xu Wei joined the army and became a cultural 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, from then on, he was determined to become a musician. In 1989, he was recruited into the publicity 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 tried to create 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, but he never went to work, instead, he began his career as a professional guitarist, and at that time, his guitar skills had become perfect and he was one of the most outstanding guitarists known in the Xi'an 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 karaoke bars. But he couldn't stand the mechanical performance that lacked individuality and creativity, and returned to Xi'an after only two months. At that time, Xu Wei had no income and faced great financial pressure, and many people didn't understand his choice of life, but he remained stubborn, spending his days listening to music and practicing the guitar. With the support of his parents and friends, he went through three years of poverty but never compromised, and created songs such as "Don't Cry Baby," "Kua Fu," "Wandering," and "Fairy Tale Era," filled with the dream and pursuit of music in the face of life and social pressure. 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, rhythm guitarist, and responsible for lyrics and composition. The band had no financial resources at the beginning and had to practice in a dilapidated house, which was extremely hard. On December 5, 1993, "Fei" performed its first show with three other Xi'an bands at Xi'an Foreign Language College, and the theater, which could hold 1,000 people, was packed with 3,000 spectators. "Fei" performed five of Xu Wei's works and received unanimous praise. In February 1994, "Fei" went to Chengdu for promotional performances and created a sensation. After the performance, the band was interviewed by Chengdu radio station and major newspapers and magazines. In May 1994, "Fei" was interviewed by 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 and attracted the attention of local media. After the performance, the band was interviewed by multiple media, and the live recording of the performance and an interview with the band were played on Yinchuan radio. Upon returning to Xi'an, the band was invited for a live interview on Shaanxi Art TV, and the demo of the band's songs was played on the radio multiple times, creating a strong response. At the same time, Xu Wei began to host a program on the art station, introducing Western rock music. In August 1994, "Fei" band disbanded due to various reasons. After the dream of forming a band was shattered, Xu Wei fell into confusion and frustration. In a state of extreme helplessness and near despair, two low-key and melancholic works, "Blue Bird" and "Two Days," were born. In October 1994, Xu Wei brought his works to Beijing and contacted Hongxing Production Company, which always adhered to promoting original music. His works were highly appreciated by all members of Hongxing. 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 Company. In November 1995, his work "Two Days" was included in the compilation album "Hongxing No. 1." In April 1997, his first solo album "Elsewhere" was officially released. In January 1998, at the 1997 annual best album listener selection event of the Beijing Music Radio program hosted by host Zhang Daiyu, Xu Wei's first solo album "Elsewhere" won the annual best album award, once again proving his extraordinary talent in the Chinese original music circle. In March 1999, the "Xu Wei version" of "Persistence," rearranged and performed by Xu Wei, was included in "Hongxing No. 6."