Brain Failure: rocking out in. . .Beijing?

[Rob_Hugo@PortNW]

Wow. . .reading this article made me realize how disconnected I am from China's music scene. Brain Failure is a punk-rock band that is a product of a punk movement in Beijing in the 1990s. I didn't realize that punk-rock even existed in Asia in any other form than what MTV has streamed into the homes of teens internationally. My impression of the Chinese music industry was that of non-existence and if anything cheesy, middle-aged, off key pop artists. I think it's great that there are China-based rock bands making the move from the East to the West and having a reciprocal impact on the American scene rather than just a one way infiltration of American music into the lives of Chinese teens. In fact I am excitied that there could possibly be Chinese music artists that I could personally enjoy; I would love to be able to support Chinese artists in the music industry without compromising my own musical tastes. Brain Failure, straight out of Beijing, recently performed in April at a venue in Pomona. I assume that the majority of the audience came from Pomona College. I hope that sometime soon UCLA will also take on Asian artists in Westwood Plaza.

[Anonymous]

If you want to hear some good old school japan american punk check out "the plastics" and "pearl harbor and the explosions". They are both form the late 70's, but they really rock. It is good to hear thet rebellion and the disaffection associated with punk rock is alive and well in China. I will keep an ear out for brain failure.

[Anonymous]

I was just wondering about the chinese punk bands that you mentioned. Do they sing in Chinese,English, or both. I imagine that Chinese would fit into the punk mode very well. The short syllables and words seem a perfect mix with the raw high energy sounds of punk music. Thanks for the info on new bands. I'm always on the look out for new sounds.
dsenteno

[clay dube]

David -- Here's an Asia Pacific Arts article about BRAIN FAILURE:

http://www.asiaarts.ucla.edu/article.asp?parentid=23360 -- Larry Kao caught their act.

Here's an earlier APA article that included photos of the group:

http://www.asiaarts.ucla.edu/041103/music_chinapunk.html

They've also been written up for a Japanese site (the link is to the English version):
http://www.sister.co.jp/china/BrainFailure/bf_band.html

http://www.badnews.co.jp/main/en/public/cgi-bin/artist_main.cgi?id=bncp86 (notes they sing in English and Mandarin).

http://www.aversion.com/bands/reviews.cfm?f_id=1986[Edit by="Clay Dube on Oct 15, 10:08:22 PM"][/Edit]

[Anonymous]

Clay, thanks for the links on Brain Failure. I read in one ot the articles that there is a generation that is re-embracing the ideals associated with the Cultural Revolution of Mao Ze Dong in the 60's and 70's. thus, the emergence of punk rock in China. I am wondering what is the Chinese perspective of the Cultural Revolution? From a historical western viewpoint we see it as a purge similar to what Stalin did with his progroms in the 30's. In both cases millions of people lost there lives because of political ideology and economic failure. However, from the perspective of a chinese youth one may see the cultural revolution as the empowerment of youth and the re-emergence of revolutionary ideals. How is Mao seen by China's youth today? How is Mao perceived by the establishment in China? [Edit by="dsenteno on Oct 18, 6:09:16 PM"][/Edit]

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