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Since Hang on the Box was formed by two school girls in 1998, not only their style has changed from raw punk rock to what they call themselves future rock, but they also have four members now and released 2 CDs in China, Taiwan and Japan, 1 Best of compilation in Uk and another EP in China. A little while ago I had the pleasure interview them:
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Georg:
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Tell us a little how you got to music, about your the styles and bands that inspire you and how HOTB was born.
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hangonthebox:
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Wang Yue and Yilina’re high school classmates and they had listened to rock music during that time. Everyday after school,they would go to a CD store to do a part time job–selling rock cds,coz it’s the best way to get to listen to all kinds of rock music for free. So one day at store, they met the ex-guitarist yangfa. After some chatting,they found they have quite the same taste in music,so they planed to form an all girls band. In July 1998, they first had a gig in the legendary punk club in BJ–the scream club. In 1999, the new drumer ShenJing joined the band. Yangfan changed from drums to playing guitar,the band changed to be 4 girls. 2003 June,after the band’s first US tour,Yangfan left the band,the new guitarist Xiao Gan immediately replaced her to play till now. 2000,we recorded the band’s first album”yellow banana” and met our japanese label BENTEN. In 2001 we made the first Japanese tour. In spring 2003 we made our 2nd album “dididi” and then went to America to hold our first US tour. Since “yellow banana” came out in 2000,each album has been released in Japan, China (HongKong), TaiWan and Europe in many different version. In October 2003 the band went to American again to play the west coast tour. In June 2004 June we just finished a new EP “Foxy Lady” and coz some reasons we separate with our japanese company, so right now we’re searching for a new company. Forem the very beginning our band was always called punk rock, but we don’t appreciate that. We feel our sound mixes many styles but not only one feeling. Especially after the second album,we started to use more and more new materials continually. Right now, the band has been improved to be indie, post punk,no wave. There’s an authoritative music magazine, that has reviewed the HOTB sound as “the newest wave” hahaha, we love that title, but “title” is no big deal at all though. Our inspiration comes from different stuff in different times.
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Wang Yue:
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I can’t think of which is the biggest influence for me,coz we love different music during different times,right now my favorite bands are “paradise boys”,”outcast”,”belle and sebastian”
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Shenggy:
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The velet underground was my first clew to make me want to play in a rock band when i was young. Basically i love most of the bands from 60s to 80s. Recently i’m listening to some bands with no wave,post punk,electronic rock……like:rapture, wolf eyes & black dice,blondie redhead,Jazz….
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Yilina:
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Early time i was influenced by The Breeders, right now i love Paradise Boys, Bob Dylan and more, also some folk music.
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Xiao Gan:
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Different time has different taste. I listen to rock from Nirvana,then now i love: Int’l niose conspiracy, bliedside, the format…
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Georg:
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What is the reason for you to play music? Do you have any goals or special motivations?
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Wang Yue:
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Since i first listen to rock music, i felt only listen to it is not enough,so i want to play in a band.
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Shenggy:
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Because my life was too normal without rock music at that times,and i was too puniness,i thought rock music can help me to change that all. Right now,my life is still normal,but i have become a most tough and brave person, that’s what i most got from music,and i know it will go on and never stop. we have the same goals: the band can find a good company and we still doing most great sound continually,have more tours in the world,to let the world when they mention China, also mention HOTB! hopefully we can attract more eyes from anywhere of world to China. We have handed ourself to music.
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Yilina:
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Music is colorful on my life, with music, my life can really change to be simple and that’s what I like.
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Xiao Gan:
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No reason, I love music.
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Georg:
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I read that once, when you wanted to play on a festival abroad, the chinese government denied you a visa, so how is the situation for you now?
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hangonthebox:
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That’s not true, totally, it’s such fake news and a big canard, that tour was cancelled, the reasons are from company ,nothing from chinese Gov.
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Georg:
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Where did you play besides China and how are the chances to see you in Europe in the near future?
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hangonthebox:
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Japan, America. We’re sure we will get chance to play in Europe soon, that’s our forever dream, we’ve found a company in Europe now,and are ready to release the 3rd album by them.
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Georg:
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Is there much difference between chinese and foreign fans and concerts?
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Wang Yue:
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Foreign audiences are much more than chinese. Right now i don’t think of this kind of question.
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Shenggy:
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It’s quite different! Actually the people who really appreciate us are all foreign people. Even in BJ, on each of our gigs the loyal fans who come everytime to see us, are all foreigners. They’re more crazy and passionate. They can sing with us together in front of the stage. These 6 years, we’re still be repellent in China, some chinese people and medias have changed their attitude a lil, but that’s just because they saw we can play abroad and promote very fast, but what we are they still don’t know. But i never care about that, i think rock&roll is not important, the most important is ourself. Those stupid people, they got that shit minds. The only reason is they only see rock&roll but they don’t know theirself. If one day we found playing music had became a kind of preassure, then it’s better we stop it to do other things.
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Xiao Gan:
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Foreign audiences are passionate, chinese are introverted.
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Georg:
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Tell us a little bit about the chinese punk rock scene.
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Wang Yue:
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Rock music frist appeared in China in the 80s. From 1996 to 2000, was the most flourishing time for chinese punk rock and a new culture was growing up. I think China should thank those young people for they’re the most driving power for culture for China’s developement. There’s a club which is named “scream club” which is the the CBGB in Beijing. Most of bands like: HOTB, Brain Failure, 69…..are from there.It had gig at every night.I guess at that time all the foreign people moved there. Right now, most of the bands from that time have broken up, but new bands come out continually. Playing in a band has become a kind of fashion in China. Now bands are anywhere in China, but the most awesome band is only hangonthebox. Most of the old bands who have been quite famous and they can play any kind of big concert,so for them they have any compete. I think for HOTB there is never a way to become a popular or very famous band in China. For most chinese their concept of rock music has been misconstructed by some stupid bands. In China, a taxi driver who would rather listen to CuiJian but not HOTB.
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Georg:
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What are the future plans for HOTB, is there a concept, or already date for a new CD Release?
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hangonthebox:
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To find a new company and tour through Europe. We don’t have an exact date for new CD release, but our new EP will be released in China this month and after our website update, we will use mail post to sell our CD via internet, so pls visit our website more often.Thank you.
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Georg:
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How is it to be one of the first all-famale rock bands from China?
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Shenggy:
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Oh it’s quite difficult and sad. Chinese men are quite macho and conservative, you may see them acting are very kool when they’re in front of the crowd, but after they are back home, they will change to be a donkey. It’s just we’re the first one, so we shoulder many danger.If one day more and more chinese female musicians who would be smooth go along,we will be more than happy. Basically they can’t accept to see that some girls play crazy on the stage or that they have the same hard behavior as them. That’s why our fame is fading from their heads.I think a man who doesnt know how to appreciate female’s art, must be failure.
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Yilina:
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Only one word: “FUCK!”
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Georg:
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What was the craziest thing you have ever done on a concert?
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Wang Yue:
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Nothing,I can’t think of it right now, coz we don’t want to use the word”crazy” to express music. When i ‘m standing on the stage, i’m not extremely crazy but also not no crazy behavior.
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Shenggy:
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One time my foot was fractured, I couldn’t even walk,but I went to that gig, using one leg to play drums, that night was rock.
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Georg:
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When was the last time you got drunk and why?
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Wang Yue:
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I don’t drink alcohol often. I never drunk much, i don’t like the feeling of being drunk, it’s scaring for me.
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Shenggy:
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Some months ago, at friend’s party, coz I couldn’t bear those stupid people there, but coz of some reasons there’s no way to leave there soon, so i drunk, never stopped, and eventually got drunk.
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Yilina:
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Last week, with my brother and boyfriend, we just had a fine time.
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Xiao Gan:
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I never got drunk.
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Georg:
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When was the last time you were in a fight and why?
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Wang Yue:
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One time, we had a drink party with friend, there’s a french guy who wanted to talk to me, but i didn’t want to. then he always kicked my foot, then I got angry and…..
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Shenggy:
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Fighting with a stupid audience, because he didn’t respect the band
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Xiao Gan:
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Haven’t got it as so far.
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Yilina:
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Fighting with a stupid band’s girlfriend, coz she cussed us”bitch”.
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Georg:
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What are the top 3 Best & Worst memories of HOTB for you?
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Wang Yue:
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The best 3 ones: first gig of band,no any practise then 3 girls crash to the stage to make some noise/first been to Japan for tour/play with Shonen Knife and Lolita No.18/shopping in San Francisco the bad memories I needn’t think of again, I don’t recall, only looking forward tp go along.
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Shenggy:
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Best 3 ones: doing TOUR/everytime drinks with band and talking shit/everytime on the way to the practise. I don’t have any bad memories with HOTB, every moment with band is all my fortune !
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Xiao Gan:
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3 good ones: tour the USA/eating BBQ/met my favorite band during the tour, bad 3 ones: no money pay the studio./one time at gig coz i caught a cold at that day,so when i was playing on the stage my nose was running but i didnt’t have a 3rd hand to rub it, that’s too bad.
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Yilina:
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good 3 ones:drinking with band/get money from band then buy some beer/get free beer from fans. the bad 3 ones: no beer during the gig/get money from gig but can’t use all to buy beer/the beer is more expensive than in China when we’re touring abroad.
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Georg:
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What comes first to your mind when you think read that words:
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FRIENDS?
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Wang Yue:
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Shenggy, Yilina
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Shenggy:
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Let’s take some drinks together!
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Xiao Gan:
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Some of friends’s image.
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Yilina:
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Talking shit.
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FAMILY?
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Wang Yue:
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MaMa.
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Shenggy:
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Father, I love you! If no one loves me in this world, pls take me away from this world with you together.
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Xiao Gan:
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My parents.
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Yilina:
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My cat.
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SEX?
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Wang Yue:
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I didn’t have sex recently.
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Shenggy:
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Japanese pornos and their algolagnia, “Ea Dey Ea Dey”,”Ku Li Wa sthui sthui Naa Bai Daa Yi Gaa?”,”Wa Daa qi Waaa Han Tai Deess”
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Xiao Gan:
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My girlfriend.
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Yilina:
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My japanese friend told me,in Japan, when people fill in the passport application form,on the item “sex”they will fill in: 20 times, 5 times, many times…….
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CHINA?
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Wang Yue:
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Stupid cunt.
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Shenggy:
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Welcome to BeiJing.
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Xiao Gan:
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Chairman Mao.
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Yilina:
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BeiJing duck.
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1989?
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Wang Yue:
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It’s none of my bussiness.
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Shenggy:
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The student movement on TianAnMen square, blood, tank.
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Xiao Gan:
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Student movement.
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Yilina:
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A chinese band which is named 1989.
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1997?
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Wang Yue:
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HK returns to China, and I was just in high school.
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Shenggy:
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Just finished my mid-school.
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Xiao Gan:
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HongKong.
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Yilina:
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Nothing.
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IDOLS?
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Wang Yue:
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Kubozuwa Yousuke.
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Shenggy:
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My father.
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Xiao Gan:
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Nobody.
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Yilina:
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Noone.
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POLITICS?
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Wang Yue:
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Crippledom (chinese cops).
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Shenggy:
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The ugly side of face.
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Xiao Gan:
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BeiJing cops.
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Yilina:
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Kill them.
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RELIGION?
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Wang Yue:
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Scaring.
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Shenggy:
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Buddhism.
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Xiao Gan:
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Buddhism.
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Yilina:
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Nothing.
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Georg:
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Thank you very much for the interview!
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hangonthebox:
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Thank you, it’s very interesting!
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Georg:
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Any Last words for your readers here?
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hangonthebox:
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Pls listen to hangonthebox, buy our cds,it’s very exciting and wait for us, we will come to see you soon, welcome
to BeiJing! |
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| © 2007 singalongtogether.com Originally published at Asian Cinema Empire.com in 2004. |
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Check out the MV to the title track of Beijing’s rock legends Hang on the Box first album!
More About:Beijing Chinese Punk Hang on the Box music video