AND THE BAND PLAYED ON

What happens when a rock band changes its frontman? That was the issue facing Black Panther, one of China's most established and influential groups.

In February, the band announced a recruitment drive for a new frontman on social media, which soon made headlines. With no requirement on age, gender or musical background, the drive attracted hundreds of people from around the country.

Working with streaming website Tencent Video, the band has revealed the audition process through a three-episode program.

After surviving three audition rounds, Xiang Yahong stood out from his competitors and was selected to become the new singer.

It's an unlikely union, four senior rockers — drummer Zhao Mingyi, guitarist Li Tong, bassist Wang Wenjie and keyboardist Hui Peng — joining forces with 32-year-old Xiang, a former reality TV show contestant.

With his memorable hard rock voice, Xiang made his stage debut as the lead vocalist of Black Panther on May 1, at an outdoor music festival in Tangshan, North China's Hebei province.

Black Panther has always been the collective effort of all its members, not just its frontman. Since its birth in 1987, the band has had six lead vocalists, including Dou Wei, Luan Shu and Qin Yong. The last frontman, Zhang Qi, performed with Black Panther from 2013 to 2022.

"It was the first time that Black Panther had recruited a frontman publicly, which allowed more people to try out," says guitarist Li, joking that finding a new frontman was harder than finding a girlfriend.

"They sent us videos of their singing. Some people produced serious videos while others just recorded themselves on a cellphone in pajamas. For the old members, it was a fresh experience. And there were some very impressive contestants.

"We started rehearsals right after Xiang joined. Everything has been going smoothly and he is totally the man we were looking for," adds Li.

Li, one of the founding members of Black Panther, says that he didn't know Xiang until he participated in the auditions, but the young man brings the band new energy. Li predicts that the partnership "will usher in a new chapter for Black Panther".

Drummer Zhao says in the online program: "When we announced the recruitment drive, many friends mentioned Xiang to me. He writes his own songs, plays guitar and has performed with other bands.

"Though he is a man of few words, he works hard to keep up with the band and transition into the role of frontman for Black Panther."

When asked about the reason why former frontman Zhang decided to launch a solo career, Li declined to comment, saying only that "changing the frontman is a serious issue for any rock band and it is a tough decision to make".

Zhang has gained a large fan base since appearing in several reality TV shows like Call Me by Fire.

"We are grateful for the contributions made by all the former lead vocalists of Black Panther. The band is 36 years old and it's never about just one member, but all five. We play together to produce the band's sound and every member is essential," Li says.

Sitting in the office of Rock Forward, the band's Beijing-based record label, Xiang is a quiet presence, though in the online program, he sang Black Panther's classics and his own original works while exuding confidence and power.

"I have known about Black Panther for a long time like many other people. They are famous and established. When I first started to play music, I learned to sing and play their songs," said Xiang in the program.

Comparison is inevitable and Xiang is aware of that. He feels the pressure when reading the divisive comments on social media, but he is not worried.

"Becoming the frontman of Black Panther has been the most critical moment of my career so far. I am lucky and feel honored. We have done lots of rehearsals already, helping me to fit into the band as soon as possible," says Xiang.

According to Li, Xiang's entrance has put the band back on track again. They plan for new songs to be released soon and a national tour is scheduled this year.

When Black Panther was founded, the country's rock music scene was still in its infancy. With the country's reform and opening-up starting in 1978, Western rock music arrived and started making an impact on homegrown musicians. Beijing became home to China's highest-profile rock scene.

Black Panther rose to fame with their self-titled debut album, released in 1991, and has enjoyed mainstream popularity for decades. Some of their original hits, such as Don't Break My Heart, Kaojin Wo (stay close to me) and Wudizirong (no place to hide from shame), have been adapted and performed by many young Chinese pop and rock musicians.

"From the very beginning, we have been questioned. Some didn't consider our songs to be rock music. But we have a clear idea about what we do and what we want to do. We don't really care what people say about us," says Li.

Things are easier now than in the past. Streaming platforms like QQ Music and Douyin are boosting the profiles of indie rock bands around the country. Cities such as Wuhan, Hubei province, and Chengdu, Sichuan province, boast fertile rock music scenes. Reality shows also help propel young rock bands to fame.

"The music scene has changed dramatically compared to the days when we first launched Black Panther. We are also trying new things, such as livestreaming. What really matters to us is that we keep playing music," says Li.