Joyside

From Rock in China Wiki

In March of 2001, the band was formed in a dark basement north of Beijing. After 3 years, the four lazy guys got their debut album released, it was called "Drunk is Beautiful". Then came Joyside's first nationwide tour of China. The singer Bian Yuan called it a "rock'n'roll nightmare" in the film Wasted Orient. The tour was amazing, full of passion and chaos, fuddle and shout. The entire tour was filmed by an American director named Kevin Fritz. He was the first and only filmmaker to tour with Joyside around China and thus the only one to get a true assessment of what life was like as a member of Joyside. He documented the whole tour with the band and later made it became a wonderful and cuttin-edge documentary about Joyside entitled, "Wasted Orient". After years of struggle and vomiting, Joyside started to climb out of their beer barrels. They dig pure rock'n'roll, give great big kisses to devil, and run wild on the burning side. So far Joyside has down 5 albums and this film since 2001 which are: "Everything sucks", "Drunk is beautiful", "Bitches of Rock'N'Roll-DEMO", "Bitches of Rock'N'Roll" and the film "Wasted Orient". They are bitches of rock'n'roll, who are addicted to Dead Boys, New York Dolls, Sex Pistols and the Stooges. They are surviving young dudes from the old century. They are your modern human beings' nightmare makers. JOYSIDE.

taken from their MySpace page

Contents 1 History 1.1 2001: The forming of Joyside 1.2 2002: Their concerts at Get Lucky Bar 1.3 2003: Spreading the word 1.4 2004: Drunk is beautiful 1.5 2005 1.6 2006 1.7 2007: Europe Tour 1.8 2008 1.9 2009: The Breakup 1.10 Photos 1.11 Participated Festivals 1.12 Appearances in Press/Books 2 Discography 2.1 Major releases 2.2 Compilations 2.3 Movies 2.4 Appearances in Podcasts 3 Further Information 3.1 Official pages 3.2 Other pages 3.3 Interviews & Articles 3.4 Photos & Videos 3.5 References

History

2001: The forming of Joyside

March 2001 the band was formed in a dark basement north of Beijing by Bian Yuan (Vocals & Guitars), Liu Hao (Bass) and Xin Shuang (Drums). September 28th, they performed at the People's Record party at the Ger Lucky Bar. December 14th, they performed at the Get Lucky Bar.

2002: Their concerts at Get Lucky Bar

Spring 2002, Xin Shuang leaves the band and Li Jin joins behind the drumkit. March 15th, they perform at the Get Lucky Bar during a People's Record party together with Japanese TOMATO JELLY and no-table. April 6th, they participate in a People's Record party at the Get Lucky Bar together with Japanese GARIKKUBOIZU Lolita No. 18 and Korean NONSTOP BODY. April 28th and April 30th they perform at the Get Lucky Bar. June 7th, they joined another People's Record party at the Get Lucky Bar, same as on June 23rd, on which they performed together with the 5678's. July 6th, they performed at the Get Lucky Bar. July 11th, they performed in Xi'an nearby the Great Wild Goose Pagoda. July 2002, they recorded their first demo. October 11th, they performed at the 聚点酒 bar. October 20th, they performed at the 什麼酒 bar. Later that month Li Jin leaves the band. November 15th, they performed at another People's Record party with Japanese ONE SHOT SKULLMENZ and ASK at the Get Lucky Bar. Eventually Liu Hao leaves the band and Yang Yang joins in on the bass. However (somehow) Liu Hao returns within a short time and Yang Yang thereafter leaves the band. November 30th they performed at the 什麼酒 bar. December 14th they performed in 廊坊.

2003: Spreading the word

In January 2003, 范博 of the band Empty Prison joins as drummer. January 25th and February 12th they performed at the 廊坊沙堡酒 bar. February 15th they performed at the 聚点酒 bar. March 8th, they performed at the 什麼酒 bar. March 14th they performed at the 聚点 bar. March 29th, they performed at the 栗正酒 bar. April 11th, they performed at the CD CAFE together with Reflector. April 16th, they performed at the Get Lucky Bar. In May Yang Yang joins as guitarist and Bian Yuan focusses on vocals. June 16th, they performed during the Beijing Trash in the 路尚 Cafe and from there on every Monday at the same place. July 2nd, they produce their 2nd demo record Everything Sucks. July 7th they performed at the Get Lucky Bar. July 26th, they performed at the event 外国人在北京 (Foreigners in Beijing) in the Get Lucky Bar. August 23rd they performed at the Get Lucky Bar. September 6th, they performed at the 塞克塞思倶楽部 club. The same month one of their songs was included in the magazine-accompanying CD for 'Tongsu Gequ no. 253. October 1st, they performed during the Midi Music Festival 2003. October 11th they performed in the Nameless Highland. October 25th they performed in Tianjin's 自由輪渡酒 bar. November 7th and 14th they performed at the Nameless Highland. November 29th they performed together with Recycle in Qingdao. December 20th, they performed at the B52 bar. Later in December they signed with Badhead Music, a subsidiary of Modern Sky. December 26th they were the support band for a Taiwanese act in the Nameless Highland. December 27th they performed during the 朋克青年聯合倶楽部建站両周年慶祝演出 event at the Nameless Highland. December 31st, they performed in the B52 bar.

2004: Drunk is beautiful

2004, Yang Yang leaves the band and Xin Shuang (Guitars) joins the band. February 28th, they performed at the What bar. March 6th they performed at the 路尚珈琲 bar. March 20th and 26th, they performed at the Nameless Highland. April 9th and 10th, they performed at the New Get Lucky Bar. May 1st, they rocked in the 路尚珈琲 bar. May 22nd they performed at the Nameless Highland. May 23rd they rocked the New Get Lucky Bar. June 12th, they performed at the 路尚珈琲 bar. June 25th, they performed at the Yun Meng bar. July 9th, they rocked the Nameless Highland. July 10th they rocked the Yun Meng bar. July 17th, they performed at the What bar. August 13th, they performed at the Nameless Highland. August 14th, they performed in 廊坊市. August 21st they performed at the Yun Meng bar together with Japanese punk bands KATTU and DOKURO PIECE. August 28th, they performed during the 2004北京首届露天朋克音楽節 event. September 17th they performed at the Nameless Highland presenting their first official album Drunk is Beautiful. September 25th, they rocked in 済南市 at the 盒子 bar. November 27th, they rocked in Shenyang. Then Xin Shuang leaves the band and Yang Yang rejoins as guitar player. December 3rd, they performed at Nanjing's 112 bar. December 4th they performed also in Nanjing at the 莱鳥 bar. December 12th they performed at the 13倶楽部 bar.

2005

2005, January 1st, they performed at the Nameless Highland in Beijing. January 7th, they rocked Hangzhou's 31 Bar. January 9th and 10th, they performed at Guangzhou's Solo Bar. January 12th, they performed at Kunming in the Shuo Bar. January 13th, they rocked in Dalian. January 15th, they performed at Wuhan's West Bar. January 21st, they rock in Chongqing and January 23rd, they performed at Xi'an's 8 1/2 Bar. January 29th, they performed at the 13 Club in Beijing. Eventually, Xin Shuang, returns to the band and on April 9th, they perform during the Kurt Cobain Memorial Concert at the 13 Club. April 23rd, they performed at the 13 Club. May 4th, they rocked the Nameless Highland during the 中華朋克網五周年記念 event. May 28th, they performed at the Nameless Highland during the 向JOY DIVISION致敬 event. June 18th, they performed at Nanjing's 82 Bar. July 2nd, they performed at the 2 Kolegas. July 23rd, they rocked in the 13 Club. August 12th they performed at the Nameless Highland during the 第十届世界青年日 event together with Taiwanese BB BOMB and Hongkong's HARD CANDY. September 17th they performed at Wuhan's West bar. October their 1st EP Bitches of Rock'n'roll is produced. October 2nd, they performed during the Midi Music Festival 2005. October 8th, they performed as support gig in the Nameless Highland for Canadian band Hot Little Rocket. October 15th, they performed in the 2 Kolegas. October 21st, they rocked the Nameless Highland. November 11th, they performed in the Nameless Highland together with Japanese band THE SAVAS. December 16th, they performed at the What bar. December 23rd, they performed at the Nameless Highland. December 31st, they performed at the 13 Club, once again as support gig for Canadian band Hot Little Rocket. Further in 2005, they were nominated by the 5th Pepsi Music Chart for the "Best rock newcomer" in 2005. They also appeared in the Film Wasted Orient.

2006

January 1st 2006, they performed at the What bar. February 25th, they rocked the 13 Club. March 11th, they performed at the Nameless Highland. March 17th, they performed at the What bar. April 1st, they performed at the Nameless Highland. April 7th, they performed at the 13 Club as support gig for Norway's Jef. April 22nd, they performed at the 13 Club. In May Xin Shuang and Fan Bo leave the band, also their song My eyes piss again is included in the magazine Tuan Jie no. 2. May 4th, they performed at the Nameless Highland. May 20th, they rocked the 向JOY DIVISION致敬 event at the Nameless Highland. June 10th, they performed at Dalian. At that time, Yang Yang was playing as support in the band. June 13th, they performed at the Nameless Highland together with Germany's No Opinion. Later that month their first EP Bitches of Rock'n'roll is officially released. June 24th, they performed at the 2008-98 bar in Xi'an. July 7th the movie Wasted Orient was screened at the cherry lane in Beijing. July 8th, they performed at the 2 Kolegas. July 14th, they performed at the Nameless Highland. In August, Guanzheng joins as drummer and Xiao Hong as guitarist. Thereafter the band consisted of Bian Yuan on vocals, Xiao Hong on guitars, Liu Hao on bass and Guanzheng on drums. September 9th, they performed during the 2006 西部力量戸外揺滾音楽節 event in Chengdu. September 17th, they performed in Shnahgia during the 1234 Beach Rock 2006. September 20th, they rocked the Club Bonbon in Shanghai. September 23rd they performed for the first time in the D-22. September 28th, they performed at the 2 Kolegas. October 3rd, they rocked the D-22. October 7th, they performed at the Nameless Highland together with Korean suck stuff. October 13th, they rocked the D-22. Further in October their song MY EYES PISSED AGAIN was included in the magazine 音楽時空 2006.10. October 27th, they performed at the D-22. November 3rd, they rocked the Nameless Highland. November 11th, they performed as guests for SMZB in the D-22. November 24th, they performed at the Nameless Highland as support gig for Norway's Haggis band. December 23rd they rocked the D-22. December 30th they performed at the Nameless Highland.

2007: Europe Tour

January 1st, they performed at the 酷楽唱片店. January 6th, they performed in the Nameless Highland during the event 拯救革命同志全国連合義演（肥狼のためのチャリティーライブ）. Further in January they signed a contract with German record label Fly Fast Records and their branch lieblingslied. On February 2nd 2007, online music mag The Fader (New York, USA) featured them in their issue no. 44. (info). February 3rd, they rocked the D-22 during the event 英倫入侵. February 6th, they performed at the Starlive. March 2nd, Joyside holds an interview with Rock in China. March 16th, they performed live at the MAO Live House. March 17th, they rocked the D-22. March 23rd, they performed in Nanjing's 極地77 bar during the release party of Angry Jerks's record Nanjing Alarm. March 24th, they performed at Shanghai's eno bar. Later the same day they rocked also at Yuyintang. March 29th, they performed at Changsha's 肆陸 bar. On March 30th, they performed in Guangzhou's 喜窩 bar. April 13th, their record Booze at Neptune's Dawn is released in Europe. From April to June 2007, Joyside toured Western Europe (tour dates). April 20th, Berlin (GER), Roter Salon. April 21st, Jena (GER), Kassablanca. April 22nd, Augsburg (GER), Junges Theater. April 24th, Dresden (GER), KIF-Kino in der Fabrik. April 25th, Stuttgart (GER), Club Schocken. April 26th, Wien (A), Gartenbaukino. April 27th, Leipzig (GER), Moritzbastei. April 28th, München (GER), Muffathalle Cafè. April 30th, Frankfurt/M (GER), Tanz in den Mai/Tanzhalle. May 1st, Hannover (GER), 1. Mai Open Air. May 4th, Hamburg (GER), Nachtasyl. May 5th, Freiburg (Ger), Jazzhaus. May 6th, Düdingen (CH), Club Bad Bonn. May 7th, Zürich (CH), Mascotte. May 8th, Köln (GER), Studio 672. May 9th, Mainz (GER), KUZ (Kulturzentrum Mainz). May 11th, Dornbirn (A), Spielboden. May 26th, Annaberg-Buchholz (GER), Alte Brauerei. May 27th, Passau (GER), Pfingst OA. June 1st, Berlin (GER), HAU. At the same time the movie Beijing Bubbles was shown in Germany, Swiss and Austrian cinemas. June 6th, they performed in the club Fleche Dor in Paris, France. June 8th, they performed in the Dirty Water Club in London, UK. Further in June, UK label Suyin Records releases the split single Beijing Volume One 7" (Joyside/The Scoff), on which Joyside is featured together with The Scoff. June 16th, they rocked the D-22. June 30th, they performed during the Dino Beach Rock Festival in Shanghai. July 7th, they rocked the D-22. July 8th, they performed at the 2 Kolegas. July 11th, they performed unplugged at the D-22. July 14th, they performed during the BE BRIT NOW 全体集合2周年英式揺滾翻唱記念会 event in the MAO Live house. Later (in October 2007) this event was released as DVD. July 21st, they performed in the 2 Kolegas. July 28th, they rocked the D-22. August 3rd, they rocked the MAO Live House during the Tribute to Ramones event. Also in August they signed with the record label Maybe Mars Records. August 11th, they performed at the D-22. In September their record Booze at Neptune's Dawn is released in China. September 8th, they rocked the Chaoyang Park in Beijing during the Beijing Pop Festival 2007. September 9th, they performed at the D-22, kicking off a nation-wide tour. September 15th, they performed in Xi'an, September 20th in Guiyang, September 22nd in Chengdu, September 23rd in Chongqing. On September 25th the film Wasted Orient was released on DVD with worldwide distribution by former members of the Criterion Collection and their film company Plexifilm. September 26th they rocked Nanchang, September 28th, they performed in Changsha, September 29th they rocked the VOX bar in Wuhan, officially ending their nation-wide tour. October 3rd, they performed in the D-22. October 4th, they performed during the Modern Sky Festival 2007 in the Haidian Park. October 6th, they performed in the MAO. October 13th, they hold a release party for their record Booze at Neptune's Dawn at the Yugong Yishan. November 18th, they performed at the Mao. November 24th they rocked the D-22. December 14th they performed at the Live Bar in Shanghai, December 15th at the 4Live in Shanghai. December 31st, they performed in the D-22. Further in December 2007, their song dong dong dong appeared in the X-Music Magazine no. 355.

2008

In January their song Dong Dong Dong is included in Pocket Music 16. On March 7th, they rocked the Yugong Yishan. On March 22nd, they performed in the D-22. On April 12th, they performed at the D-22. On April 26th, they performed during the Jet Li was Born party at the 2 Kolegas. May 1st saw them taking the stage at D-22. May 3rd, they performed in Chengdu's Jah Bar. The same day they also appeared on the 2008橘子音楽節 music festival held in Chengdu's 国色天郷楽園鷺営地. May 9th, they performed in the Starlive in Beijing. May 10th, they rocked the D-22. May 30th, they performed at the Yugong Yishan. June 7th 2008, they performed at the Windows Underground in Shanghai during the Get in the van event (Bands: Joyside, The Rogue Transmission and Boys Climbing Ropes), featuring a three band bill then a free minibus over to another bar for dancing and DJs. This was the second van event, both organised by Dan Shapiro who fronts the band, Rogue Transmission. According to Andy Best This one was door at 9 then start at 10, but they waited until 10.45 presumably until it filled up more. [...] the sound was awful, I couldn't hear the lead vocals or the guitar, and Joyside were wasted and all over the place. Let down. Not to mention that half the people there were from the 'party crowd' who looked ready to hit the bund clubs after the show. Joyside are huge, like I said, and their real fans still loved every minute of the show.^[1] July 4th they performed at the Mao Live House and are interviewed at that day by Jens Mühling.^[2] On August 4th, their interview with Olaf Neumann of Swiss newspaper Tagblatt gets published in which China and its punk scene is discussed. (see Articles & Interviews below) On August 23rd they took part in the presentation party of the movie Beijing Bubbles. September 20th they performed in the D-22. Later that month, their demo record Other Songs is released. October 2nd, they performed during the Modern Sky Festival 2008. October 9th, they performed at Guangzhou's 喜窩. October 10th, they rocked Hongkong's 芸穂会. October 12th, they performed at Shenzhen's 根拠地 bar. October 17th, they performed at Wuhan's Vox bar. October 18th, they rocked Changsha's 肆陸 bar. After the concerned the band announced a stop in the band's activities.

2009: The Breakup

In March 2009, the band decided to restart their activities. The former band members came back together and included Yang Yang as a fifth member. April 24th, Joyside hold their DVD release party for the Fly Fast Records movie The Joyside of Europe at the Yugong Yishan.^[3] The movie is a road movie of Joyside's recent 2-months Europe tour for the promotion of the Beijing Bubbles cinema release. On the same day, Maybe Mars Records releases their record Maybe Tonight. In May, Joyside's singer Bian Yuan is voted the no. 1 coolest rock star in Beijing by Timeout Beijing Magazine. Some say he’s China’s answer to Jim Morrison, and the great thing about Bian is that he almost lives up to the hype. He has a walk that’s somewhere between rambling and floating, dresses like a ’70s rock cowboy and peers imperiously from under a gloriously thick mop, normally topped by a trademark hat.^[4] Further in May, their song Maybe Tonight is included in the X-Music Magazine no. 389. June 20th, they rocked Shanghai's Yuyintang. July 19th they performed at the Yugong Yishan. August 8th 2009, they performed during the InMusic Festival 2009 on the Zhangbei Grasslands on the Main Stage.

In September 2009, the band decided to break up and hold a special farewell gig at Mao in Beijing on September 12th and in Shanghai, Yuyintang dedicated a film night to the band, showing a video of their 2008 China tour as part of a "Remember Joyside" night on Tuesday (September 15th). Joyside stated about their breakup: the break up of Joyside was something that no one wanted to see and it's the same for us. But the fact is that it's happened now and so we all have to accept this reality.^[5] Liu Hao asked by the Beijinger Magazine stated on the breakup: We just don’t like all the bullshit that has been going on, I mean, we just want to make music without anything else to distract us from it. We’ve seen too many ugly things within Beijing’s rock industry, and the sad part is we’ve been put in a position of having to deal with them. We are just tired, both physically and mentally. We won’t change ourselves for someone else, and I’m proud to say that Joyside has been purely sincere to music without changing its qualities - not many bands can do that nowadays. All we care about is leaving the world with our music - that’s it^[6]

November 2009, despite their breakup, Joyside posts several new songs on their douban page and also release a MV to their song Sunday Morning.^[7]

Photos

Joyside in 2004

Joyside's Bian Yuan in Wasted Orient

Participated Festivals

InMusic Festival 2009 - 2009, August	Modern Sky Festival 2008	Modern Sky Festival 2007 - 2007, October	Beijing Pop Festival 2007 - 2007, September
Dino Beach Rock Festival - June/July 2007	Midi Music Festival 2005, October 2005

• 1234 Beach Rock 2006, Shanghai, Sep 2006

Appearances in Press/Books

• Mentioned as one of "Beijing's hottest bands" in the Insider's Guide to Beijing 2008.

Discography

Major releases

Maybe Tonight - 2009, April	Other Songs (2008 Demo) - 2008, September	Booze at Neptune's Dawn (China Release) - 2007	Beijing Volume One 7" (Joyside/The Scoff) - 2007
Booze at Neptune's Dawn - 2007	Bitches of Rock'n'Roll - 2006	Drunk is Beautiful - 2004	Everything Sucks - 2003, July

Compilations

Poptastic Conversation China (VA) - 2008

Be Brit Now (VA) - 2007, October

Look Directly Into The Sun: China Pop 2007 (VA) - 2007, August

Beijing Bubbles OST (VA) - 2007, April

Movies

The Joyside of Europe - 2009

Featured in Wasted Orient - 2005

1 of 5 bands in Beijing Bubbles - 2005

Appearances in Podcasts

Pissing On The Bamboo Curtain - 2008, April

Further Information

Official pages

• ModernSky InfoPage
• MySpace Page
• Douban page

Other pages

• Punxzone Page
• Yaogun.com page

Interviews & Articles

• Interview with Joyside, March 2nd 2007 with Rockinchina.com
• Rebellen für die Apokalypse , Interview by the Berliner Zeitung, April 20th 2007, by Jens Balzer
• «Politik interessiert uns nicht» , Interview by the Tagblatt, August 4th 2008, by Olaf Neumann
• Brief interview with Liu Hao on Joyside'sbreakup
• Ist das hier wirklich China?, Interview with Jens Mühling (Tagesspiegel.de), July 2008

Photos & Videos

• Joyside - Spy (Music Video)
• Joyside and Parkinsons (Live at Dirty Water Club London)
• Joyside Unplugged at Resonanz Record Store Munich
• Joyside live at Roter Salon, Berlin
• Joyside Beijing Bubbles Clip
• Joyside at D-22 in Beijing
• MV for Sunday Morning

References

1. ↑ Andy Best (Kungfuology) (2008-06-08). "Joyside live @ Windows Underground". Retrieved on 2009-04-30.
2. ↑ Jens Mühling (Tagesspiegel.de) (2008-07-26). "Ist das hier wirklich China?". Retrieved on 2009-07-12.
3. ↑ Blake Stone-Banks (2009-04-29). "Joyside DVD Release Party at Yugong Yishan, Friday, April 24". Retrieved on 2009-05-02.
4. ↑ Timeout Beijing Magazine (May 2009). "Class of '09". Retrieved on 2009-05-07.
5. ↑ Jake Newby (2009-09-08). "Remembering Joyside". Retrieved on 2009-09-10.
6. ↑ Wang Ge (The Beijinger) (2009-09-09). "Joyside RIP: "Too Much Bullsh*t" leads to band's demise". Retrieved on 2009-09-12.
7. ↑ Andy Best (2009-11-09). "Youtube Youku: Joyside "Sunday Morning"". Retrieved on 2009-11-11.

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