Author talk
Red Rock: The Long, Strange March of Chinese Rock & Roll
Jonathan Campbell
Asia Bookroom, Canberra, Australia 6pm Tuesday 23 October

Rebellious, individualistic, and explosive, rock and roll seems incongruent with modern Chinese society. Beginning from 1986, the music has evolved from a Western import into something uniquely Chinese, reshaped by the nation’s unique system and its relationship with the outside world. After a decade-long immersion in the Chinese rock and roll (yaogun) scene as a performer, writer, manager, promoter and more, Jonathan Campbell wrote Red Rock – The Long, Strange March of Chinese Rock & Roll as an attempt to give a comprehensive overview of the Chinese rock identity. What has yaogun taught him, and what can it teach the world – about China, and about rock and roll? Author Jonathan Campbell will look back on his China time as well as shed light on yaogun’s path and its future.

About the author: Jonathan Campbell lived in Beijing from 2000-2010, spending much of that time in the local rock scene as drummer, chronicler, booster, agent and more. His writing has appeared in a range of international publications, he’s put together China tours for dozens of bands from around the world, arranged European tours for Chinese bands, attended international music conferences as part of China delegations and participated in literary festivals around the world. He has been called a “stalwart of the Chinese music scene”; “an instrumental behind-the-scene (figure)”; “the busiest man in Beijing showbiz” and “the Dr. [Norman] Bethune of China’s rock scene.” He lives in Toronto with his wife and dog. Red Rock: The Long, Strange March of Chinese Rock & Roll is his first book.

When: 6pm Tuesday 23 October 2012

Where: Asia Bookroom, Unit 2, 1 – 3 Lawry Place, Macquarie, ACT, Australia