1961: Born on August 2 into an ethnically Korean family, his father was a professional trumpet player and his mother a member of a Korean minority dance troupe.

1975: Begins learning trumpet.

1981: Lands a job as a classical trumpet player with Beijing Philharmonic Orchestra and becomes fascinated by rock music.

1984: Forms Seven-Ply Board band with six other musicians and records his first album, Langzigui ().

1985: Attracts attention at a singing contest in Beijing.

1986: Performs his latest composition, Nothing to My Name (), at a Beijing concert commemorating the Year of World Peace that instantly distinguished Cui as a new star.

1987: Officially leaves Beijing Philharmonic Orchestra and releases his first real album, Rock'n'Roll on The New Long March.

1988: Won international recognition after performing Nothing to My Name in a special live worldwide broadcast for the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul.

1989: Participates in the first Asian Popular Music Awards in London as well as the Printemps de Bourges festival in Paris.

1990: Embarks on his Rock'n'Roll on The New Long March tour concert across the country but cancels midway.

1991: Releases his second album, Solution().

1992: One track from Solution entitled Wild in The Snow becomes

an instant hit throughout Asia after being made an MTV video that receives an MTV International Viewers' Choice Award. Cui also gives his first performance in Tokyo.

1993: Plays the role of an underground Beijing rock musician in sixth generation director Zhang Yuan's experimental film Beijing Bastards.

1994: Releases his third album, Balls under The Red Flag ().

1995: Invited to perform at Budokan Theatre in Tokyo and begins his first tour to the United States performing at Fort Mason Centre in San Francisco, The Orpheum Theatre in Boston, as well as The Palladium, The Bottom Line, and The Knitting Factory in New York City.

1996: Cui Jian and his band participate in Denmark's Roskilde Music Festival and play over a dozen concerts in China including Hong Kong.

1997: Releases hit single Get Over That Day as well as anthology of greatest hits from the last decade.

1998: Releases his fourth album, The Power of The Powerless().

1999: Conducts his second tour to the United States and re-launches his first album, Rock'n'Roll on The New Long March.

2000: Writes music for Jiang Wen's controversial movie Devils at The Doorstep. Receives Prince Claus Award from Dutch ambassador to China for artistic endeavours in the developing world.

March 2005: Releases his fifth album, Show Your Colours ().

Sep 24, 2005: Holds a concert in the Beijing Capital Stadium, his first in Beijing for 12 years.

April 8th, 2006: Invited to be the guest singer at the Rolling Stones's concert in Shanghai.

BJW

(China Daily 04/20/2006 page4)