Underbaby
Beijing, Beijing, China | Established. Jan 01, 1991 | INDIE
Music
Press
Chinese language interview of Underbaby - Toudo.com
Chinese language interview with Underbaby in Beijing - 56.com
This month, the Beijing power-trio credited with starting Chinese punk are releasing their first official record in more than ten years. In preparation for their comeback, here’s all you need to know about Underground Baby, aka Underbaby. - Timeout Beijing - Liz Tung
A timeline of music history regarding punk rock in China - Music China
PIL and John Lydon's (Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols) visit to Beijing in 2013 interview featuring Gao Xing from Underbaby discussing the earliest history of Chinese punk rock. - Crane TV Video magazine
These days if you hit a punk show in Beijing, you’re more likely than not to see a bunch of stocky guys in combat boots and suspenders barking out anthemic Beijing pride songs. But this is a far cry from the original incarnations of Chinese punk, a motley crew of ’90s bands that includes everyone from the genre’s spiritual forebear Dou Wei, to the infamous “Wuliao Contingent” (wúliáo junduì), comprising legendary bands Brain Failure, 69, Reflector and Anarchy Jerks. But before all these boys were strapping dog collars around their necks and slicking their hair into bright-green spikes, there was another band that started it all, widely recognized as China’s very first punk band: Underground Baby. - The world of Chinese - Liz Tung
Discography
Records
1996 - 'All the Same (Dou Yiyang)' released on China Fire I, this song considered to be the first punk rock anthem in mainland China, their breakout song.
1997 "Awakening", "seed" included in the "Chinese Fire 3"
1998 recorded and released the album "The Awakening"
1998 "Sweet Revenge" included in "Summer poetry compilation"
1999 recorded the single "Metamorphosis"
2001 record 13 DEMO
2012 recorded and released EP album "Metamorphosis"
LIVE PERFORMANCE HISTORY:
2013.01.25 @ Beijing MOMA Art Space Mountain after starting a new EP - 800
2013 - 2012 Recording and writing for upcoming album, playing smaller shows in and around Beijing.
2011.10.23 @ Nanchang West Bank Music Festival - 20,000
2009.05.29 @ Xi'an - mistaken Music Festival - 8000
2009.05.02 @ Chengdu - people hit music festival - 100,000
2008.10.02 @ Beijing Modern Sky Music Festival 50,000
2008.04 @ Shanghai Session - 400
2008.03.07 @ Beijing Star Live Concert - 1000
2007.12.25 @ Beijing Star Live "Beijing New Life" Decade Review show - 1000
2003.11.28 @ National Self-driven tour began
11-29 - Yantai: Shandong Institute of Business - 2000
12-4 - Nanjing: rookie Bar - 500
12-6 - Nanjing: Castle Bar - 500
12-7 - Hangzhou: Regent Bar - 300
12-10 - Nanchang: Rock Band training ground - 200
12-12 - Shenzhen: Base Bar - 800
12-13 - Zhuhai: Live Bar - 500
12 -14 - Guangzhou: Solo Bar - 600
12 - 18 - Xiangtan: - 300
12 - 19 - Wuhan: 77 Bar - 400
12 - 24 - Chongqing: wooden Live House - 400
12 - 25 - Chengdu: Bistro - 200
12 - 31 - Tianjin: Old ninety-nine Bar - 700
2002.01 @ Beijing CD CAF Session - 500
2001.12. @ Beijing LOFT Beijing Music Radio "Hearing Plan" - 1200
2001.08. @ Beijing Crab Island Music Festival - 3000
March 27, 1999 Beijing liaison (Keep in touch) Bar - 300
January 1, 1999 Beijing NASA club "Beijing new" Rock Night - 1000
December 26, 1998 in Hangzhou, "China Fire" concert - 20,000
December 12, 1998 Beijing Foreign Economic and Trade University Hall signings show - 2500
November 7, 1998 Beijing liaison (keep in touch) Bar
September 26, 1998 Beijing howling Club - 300
September 12, 1998 Beijing liaison (keep in touch) Bar
June 20, 1998 Beijing Sunflower Club - 800
1997
December 31 Beijing Atlantic Club - 1500
December 20 Beijing Chang'an Grand Theater - 1500
November 22 Beijing Atlantic Club
November 9th Beijing International Convention Center, "China Fire Melody Miller Concert" - 5000
November 8th Beijing International Convention Center, "China Fire Melody Miller Concert"
November 7th Beijing International Convention Center, "China Fire Melody Miller Concert"
October 3 Beijing Atlantic Club
September 26 Beijing time bar - 200
September 20 Beijing Atlantic Club
September 19 Beijing time bar
September 13 Beijing Sunflower Club
September 12 Beijing Atlantic Club
September 6th Beijing Love Bar - 200
September 5th Beijing Busy Bee Bar - 300
July 12 Beijing storm Bar punk concert performances - 400 people
June 21 Beijing time bar
20 June Beijing Atlantic Club
June 20 Beijing time bar
June 4 Beijing Love Bar
May 10 Beijing Sunflower Club
May 9th Beijing Busy Bee Bar
3 May Beijing Atlantic Club
April 26 Beijing Sunflower Club
April 25 Beijing Atlantic Club
April 19 Beijing Love Bar
March 29 Beijing Love Bar
March 22 Beijing Busy Bee Bar
December 31, 1996 Beijing Atlantic Club
December 25, 1996 Beijing Atlantic Club
December 24, 1996 Beijing Atlantic Club
October 31, 1996 Beijing Atlantic Club
September 21, 1996 Beijing Atlantic Club
July 4, 1996 Beijing Rhine Bar - 400
June 15, 1996 Beijing Atlantic Club
May 31, 1996 Beijing Atlantic Club
April 9, 1996 Beijing solve Bar - 200
April 5, 1996 Beijing Asian Dream Club - 300
March 30, 1996 Beijing Scitech International Club - 500
March 15, 1996 Beijing Scitech International Club
March 9, 1996 Dutch television documentary about Chinese rock music series of performances Beijing Asian Dream Club - 300
December 31, 1995 Beijing Asian Dream Club
August 7, 1993 Beijing Ditan Music Festival - 8000
Photos
Bio
Long considered to be China's first punk rock band, Underbaby was formed by Gao Xing and his brother Gao Yang in 1991. Their earlier band names didnt express the thoughts of young underground musicians standing up and questioning authority. The bands name changed to Di Xia Ying Er, literally Underground Baby and then shortened to UnderBaby. The band came from a heavy rock background watching their peers in metal bands. Underbaby redefined their musical style in 1995 adhering to their love of Western punk rock bands such as the Sex Pistols, the Clash, the Ramones and early Nirvana. Although there had been other bands that dabbled in the punk genre, Underbaby were considered to be the whole package. After releasing three singles in 1996 and 1997, the band truly rose to fame. The album Awake, full of metaphor, irony and resentment against current affairs, was released in 1999 and viewed as a classic punk album in mainland China.
After the breakout album, several members of the band went on to pursue other genres of music with side bands and solo acts. The band dissolved for two years and reformed with influences in gritty electronica and ambient. Since 2001, Underbaby's musical style has evolved into a hybrid of old school Chinese punk rock and electronic chill out. At the end of 2007, UnderBaby was invited to attend a Tenth Anniversary Performance which returned the band to the forefront of modern rock in China. Recently the band has had ongoing performances in various music festivals held in Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu and Xian. Underbaby has been recording a new album with an expected release date in 2013.
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