Veteran rocks online audience

40 million tune into the beat as music legend enthralls viewers, Chen Nan reports.

More than 40 million people spent Friday night online for the first virtual concert by Chinese rock legend Cui Jian and his band.

Even an hour before the concert started, about 8 million people waited online watching interviews of Cui's band members and rehearsal footage.

During the two-hour concert, the 60-year-old Cui, wearing his trademark white baseball cap with a red star, performed about 20 songs, from his classics to his new works, including Solution, Frozen Light and B-Side of Time. He also invited Liang Bo, a young Chinese singer-songwriter, and Zhao Muyang, a veteran drummer and rock musician, to be his guest performers.

"Now, we are facing the same difficult time and I hope that music can help you regain your strength," said Cui.

Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic forced clubs, bars and outdoor music festivals to shut down, music fans have been dreaming of the day that they can once again visit a crowded and energetic space to enjoy a gig with friends.

"The last time I watched Cui Jian's live performance was in 2018 in an outdoor music festival. It was a very long time ago. I can feel the power of his music even across the screen," commented a fan.

"I am giving him and his band a big applause though they cannot see it. I also sing along with them. The atmosphere is surprisingly good and it almost feels like a real concert with 40 million people rocking together," said another fan.

Cui's celebrity friends also expressed their excitement for the online concert.

"I've listened to his music since his first album, Rock 'n' Roll on the New Long March, was released in 1989. I can still remember the overwhelming experience I had when I watched Cui's concert for the first time in 1990 in Xi'an," said Xu Wei, 54, one of the country's most popular rock singer-songwriters. "Now I write and perform songs just like him. He still inspires me."