CHECK OUT: 1 hour interview with China’s godfathers of punk rock SMZB

SMZB is considered China’s very first punk rock band…the band was started by the highly respected and admired Wu Wei who is the only original member left in the band. To the world at large, bands like SMZB are completely unknown…but for ANYONE and EVERYONE involved with music in China (you know – the country with a billion people in it) SMZB is synonymous with legit and authentic Chinese punk rock. The band steers to the street punk/oi style of punk rock coupled with immensely socio-political lyrics of growing up in China. So much so that they have been banned from playing major festivals and many festival organizers don’t even bother inviting them to not bring any negative attention to the event (King Ly Chee has the same issue).

If that is not enough to garner your support then I don’t know what will…

Below you can check out an almost 1 hour podcast interview Billboard China did with Wu Wei conducted in English about SMZB’s history including him being so poor that he couldn’t afford a guitar so he had to steal one, while on tour in Europe he had to eat out of trash cans to stay alive, meeting Cui Jian (Chinese rock godfather) and getting his support but then losing it after Cui Jian found out that Wu Wei had never heard of him, not being able to sell their records in Chinese record stores because of lyrical conduct…

Wu Wei is the best…SMZB is the most amazing punk rock band this world NEEDS to know more about. For people who know King Ly Chee we often play a song called Scream for Life – the song is SMZB’s.

Enjoy the interview below…and find out more this historic and legendary Chinese punk rock band…

http://www.billboardradiochina.com/bb2/china-calling-20-years-a-punk-SMZB-Special