Rebellious, individualistic, and explosive, rock and roll seems incongruent with modern Chinese society. However, as the music has evolved from a Western import into something uniquely Chinese, it has been shaped by the nation’s unique system and its relationship with the outside world. As it tracks the music's long journey from the Mao years to present day, this account considers the people and the events that have created Chinese rock's identity. Including interviews with musicians, journalists, and industry experts, this book demonstrates that Chinese rock may be ready to smash its guitars on the global stage.
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Editorial Reviews
Review
"A rollicking account of how a global genre was transformed as it sank down roots in a very special setting." —Jeffrey Wasserstrom, author, China in the 21st Century: What Everyone Needs to Know
"In-depth, thoughtful, and well-written. . . . An especially welcome addition to world music collections." —Library Journal (October 15, 2011)
"The ancient rhythms of East meets West have rarely been played out so intensely or at such a raucous volume." —Jonathan Watts, author, When a Billion Chinese Jump
"No dusty research required, no distant Q&A's necessary, as performer, promoter, writer and pure fan, Campbell was part of the Beijing rock scene when the needle hit the mainline . . . [An] insider's guide to the otherwise impenetrable world of what will become known as the golden period of Chinese rock music . . . pulsing with the energy of the country itself." —Steve Barker, DJ, BBC Radio
"Jonathan Campbell’s Red Rock has the narrative power of a fine novel, and is at the same time a cogent work of historical analysis . . . the benchmark against which all future accounts of the phenomenon will be measured." —Teng Jimeng, author, Music-Made America: Popular Music Since 1960s
"A vivid and faithful description of Chinese rock, Jon Campbell has achieved a significant feat with this book." —Hao Fang, former editor Rolling Stone (China)
"Musician, journalist, tour manager, van driver, guanxi master, barstool philosopher, old-school Beijinger – Jon Campbell is the insider's insider, and the perfect person to chronicle the rollicking rise of rock in China." —Adam Pillsbury, author, Insider’s Guide to Beijing
"The West has largely forgotten the power of rock 'n' roll. . . . In China, the music never has seemed more vital or necessary, and as an astute listener, sharp journalist, and excellent writer, Campbell does an outstanding job explaining why." —Jim Derogatis, rock critic, co-host of Sound Opinions
About the Author
Jonathan Campbell immersed himself in China's rock scene as a drummer, writer, and promoter. He has brought Chinese acts to the world stage, and brought overseas bands to China. His writing has appeared in the Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, and the South China Morning Post. He lives in Toronto, Ontario.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Jonathan Campbell was born in Montreal, raised in Toronto, graduated from Mount Allison University, Sackville, New Brunswick, and received a Master's in International Studies from the Jackson School for International Studies at the University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA. He moved to Beijing in 2000 to study Chinese and figure out what to do with his Master's degree. Within weeks he began his descent into the local rock world, first, as drummer in several bands and later as chronicler, booster, promoter, agent and then some.
His writing appeared in a range of local, national and international media outlets including The Globe and Mail, The Toronto Star, The Wire, Paste Magazine, PopMatters.com and the South China Morning Post. Over the years, he's taken and sent rock, folk, punk, classical and metal groups to somewhere in the neighbourhood of two dozen cities across China as well as helping a few Chinese bands get overseas. He has worked on and with several Chinese music festivals and produced a Jazz Series at Peking in theatres across the country. He has appeared in many documentaries, reports, books, articles and theses, and attended many international music conferences as part of China delegations.
He has been called many things:
- "An astute listener, sharp journalist, and excellent writer" (Jim DeRogatis, author, rock critic, co-host of "Sound Opinions")
- "The ultimate Beijing insider" (Jan Wong, Red China Blues, Jan Wong's China, Beijing Confidential)
- A "stalwart of the Chinese music scene" (China Music Radar);
- An "instrumental behind-the-scene (figure)" (Beijing Daze);
- "Hutong guru" (Rockinchina.com);
- The "busiest man in Beijing showbiz" (CLUAS.com)
- "The Dr. [Norman] Bethune of China's rock scene" (Tian Jianhua, of punk band Reflector);
- Kang Mao, vocalist for garage-punk band Subs, said, in the documentary about her band, Rock Heart Beijing, "He's a good guy. He's smart, and knows how to drive a car. He is able to bear hardship."
After ten and a half years, he left Beijing in late 2010 and currently lives in Toronto with his wife, and dog.
His writing appeared in a range of local, national and international media outlets including The Globe and Mail, The Toronto Star, The Wire, Paste Magazine, PopMatters.com and the South China Morning Post. Over the years, he's taken and sent rock, folk, punk, classical and metal groups to somewhere in the neighbourhood of two dozen cities across China as well as helping a few Chinese bands get overseas. He has worked on and with several Chinese music festivals and produced a Jazz Series at Peking in theatres across the country. He has appeared in many documentaries, reports, books, articles and theses, and attended many international music conferences as part of China delegations.
He has been called many things:
- "An astute listener, sharp journalist, and excellent writer" (Jim DeRogatis, author, rock critic, co-host of "Sound Opinions")
- "The ultimate Beijing insider" (Jan Wong, Red China Blues, Jan Wong's China, Beijing Confidential)
- A "stalwart of the Chinese music scene" (China Music Radar);
- An "instrumental behind-the-scene (figure)" (Beijing Daze);
- "Hutong guru" (Rockinchina.com);
- The "busiest man in Beijing showbiz" (CLUAS.com)
- "The Dr. [Norman] Bethune of China's rock scene" (Tian Jianhua, of punk band Reflector);
- Kang Mao, vocalist for garage-punk band Subs, said, in the documentary about her band, Rock Heart Beijing, "He's a good guy. He's smart, and knows how to drive a car. He is able to bear hardship."
After ten and a half years, he left Beijing in late 2010 and currently lives in Toronto with his wife, and dog.
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent history of the Rock scene in China,
By kexj "kexj" (Beijing China) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Red Rock: The Long, Strange March of Chinese Rock & Roll (Paperback)
Red Rock captures modern China, how social changes happen and the impact of music. I was in Taiwan in the late 1980's and remember how when Cui Jian's "Nothing to Lose" would play everything froze. Never have I known a song to have such a strong impact on a entire society, especially after the events of June 4. Red Rock does an excellent job of covering the beginnings of this song/singer and other bands heavy metal, punk and pop as they awkwardly and haphazardly grew into the voice of post-Cultural Revolution China.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
Inside This Book
(learn more)
Suggested Tags from Similar Products(What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product).
|
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
