Brain Failure (腦濁; pinyin: Nǎozhuó) is a punk rock band that is based in Beijing, China. The band's music is influenced by bands such as The Clash and Rancid. Their lyrical subject matter covers politics and personal politics. They have toured with Dropkick Murphys, The Business, and The Unseen from Boston, Massachusetts. The band has also released a split EP with another Boston band, Big D And The Kids Table, on February 20, 2007 called Beijing to Boston. The band has also done recent work with Chuck D. from Public Enemy.
Brain Failure was originally started by Xiao Rong and Mike Tu Qiang in Beijing sometime around 1997. Xiao Rong is the only original member still in the band and he is now the most influential punk rock musician in China. Many consider a Brain Failure concert to be the best show they've ever seen in China because of Xiao Rong's endless amount of energy. The original lineup was Mike singing in English and Chinese while playing bass guitar, Xiao Rong was lead guitar and backing vocals. Brain Failure's original songs were co-written by Mike and Xiao Rong, some of those songs still exist in their repertoire, "Nuofu" and "Bu Shi Wo" are just two examples that carried into their second incarnation as Brain Failure II. The original band broke up in late 1998 and 1999 when the punks made a mass exodus to South China for various festivals and ended up staying there for nearly half a year.
In year 2000 the band was resurrected by Xiao Rong and David O'Dell with the goal of bringing back the true grit of Beijing punk rock. Xiao Rong found two struggling musicians, a guitarist and drummer who were interested in staying in Beijing and trying out for the new lineup. Xu Lin (drummer) and Wang Jian (guitarist) were originally in a small band called "Azriel" (A zi mao). They were warmly welcomed into the band due to their talent and compatible personalities, they are still in the band. Brain Failure's bassists have over the years from Gao Yang (original Underbaby drummer), David O'Dell, Shi Xudong (original in Shitdog from Wuhan, currently the bassist for P.K. 14), now with Ma Jiliang. Otherwise there have been no other lineup changes to present.
The second generation of punk bands came about in 1997, as if the hands of the first generation had reached into the mosh pit and pulled out the second generation, the new musicians sprang into action with later influences of the mid 80's and early 90's (Fugazi, Operation Ivy, NOFX, Misfits, Bad Brains, etc.). The second generation had created a gap between the first generation. The new kids were younger, a lot younger, most were only 16 or 17 years old while the first generation started music much later after their 20's. This new group found comfort in the slacker ethos, found shelter in hardcore punk-ska, and found disdain in their earlier local Chinese influences.
The second generation brought about bands like "Brain Failure (I)", "69", "Reflector", "Anarchy Boys". These 4 bands were eventually signed to Jing Wen records to release a one time, double-CD album. This rare gem was raped by pirate sales, eventual profits buckled underneath the weight of initial overhead. Nothing beyond a few haphazard organized concerts ever grew out of the release. (a year and a half later the record label finally got enough money to do a $500 music video for Brain Failure). 1997 to 1998 brought about the mohawk, the most pit, stage diving and the foreign press. Prior to these years, Chinese punk rock was basically nonexistent to the outside world.
So far Brain Failure has racked up nearly 10 years of concerts and have toured almost all the continents (Xiao Rong actually has been to South Africa for a Levi's Jeans commercial). They've been interviewed and published in over 20 different languages spanning 20 different countries (the Congo as well). As of this writing, they've been involved and filmed in 15 separate documentaries from the following countries: France, Australia, Germany, England, USA, Sweden, Italy, Newsweek, Time Magazine, ABC, CNN, MTV, Channel V.
Contents |
Members
- Xiao Rong (肖容) - Vocals, Electric guitar
- Wang Jian - Electric guitar, Chorus
- Ma Jiliang - Electric bass guitar
- Xu Lin - Drums
Past members
- Dave O'Dell - Bass Guitar
- Shi Xudong - Bass Guitar
Discography
- Turn On The Distortion (2003)
- American Dreamer (2004)
- Beijing to Boston (Split with Big D And The Kids Table, 2007)
External links
- Brain Failure official site (English)
- Brain Failure page from Rock in China site
- Bad News Records website
- Brain Failure at Sister Benten Online
- Early Chinese Punk Rock Videos from Dave
See also
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