P.K.14

The Public Kingdom for teens, aka P.K. 14 are ready to blitz the stage Rock n Roll style at the Beijing Explosion in HK on the 29th July.  Whilst we countdown the hours, let's get to know this post punk group that much better...

Hey there P.K.14, please introducing yourselves? (name/instrument)
Vocals - Yang Haisong
Guitars - Xu Bo
Bass - Shi Xudong
Drums - Jonathan

How did you lads get together as a band?
P.K.14 formed in 1999 in Nanjing.  We found ourselves having similar music tastes – Post Punk.  6 months later, we played our first gig.

Yang is the only remaining band member from the original crew.  So Yang, what was it like for you to go through so many changes?
I formed P.K.14 with my friends and ex-girlfriend in Nanjing.  Later on we moved to Beijing, other members wanted another way of life and left the band.  It’s not a big deal actually because a lot of bands have also gone through this phase.  I have been playing with Xu Bo and Jonathan for 6 years now.

Nice.  Where does the name P.K.14 come from?
It’s a word game – Public Kingdom for teens.

Horrible question, though what type of music do you play?
It’s hard to define our music, maybe Post Punk and Rock N’ Roll.

How about your influences?
Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie, Joy Division, Patti Smith, Sonic Youth and New York Punk bands in the 70s.

Tell me, what is the best thing about being in P.K.14?
We meet a lot of people and come across many experiences through our music.  I learnt about the World through these invaluable experiences.  If I weren't playing music, I don’t think I would have seen and learnt so much.

Do you guys get recognised a lot? And if so, what is the most drastic thing a fan has ever done for you?
We played at a gig on the first day of our album release and some fans already knew the words to our new songs.  Also we see a few similar faces at every gig. They never talk to us but they just come to our gigs every time.

Tell us about Beijing Explosion – what does the event mean to you?
We are serious about every gig we play, including this one of course.  The only difference is that we are playing in front of an audience whom we have never met before.  We also hope to bring Beijing rock music to HK to “explode” it in front of the audience.

I'm sure it will be a true blast!  If you were to compare your music to another group, who would it be and why?
Personally it would be Bob Dylan.  His music and lyrics are incredible.  From the bands’ view, it would be Fugazi.   They are a real D.I.Y band.  We don't just appreciate the wonderful music they make but also their attitude.

What kind of message are you trying to convey to your audience? Is there anything you want them to be aware of and why?
We want them to share our points of view on life, the World, the things that happen to us and the people we meet through our audience.  It’s like the music that the Beatles made, showing their audience the lives they were living in the past 10 years.

Apart from music, what else do you guys like to do during your free time?
Reading and watching films.  We are not the sort of people who live colourful lives.  Our lives are mostly related to music.

If you could share the stage with any band in the world – who would it be and why?
Fugazi.  We hope to play the songs in “End Hits” with them.  That album is fantastic.

Imagine you were stuck backstage at Beijing Explosion in a locked room for 2 hours – who would you most like to be back there with and why?
We are all good mates.  Anyone would be fine.

What’s coming up next for you guys (Beijing Explosion.)  Tell us your plans:
We will stay for the Cure’s concert in HK.  Then we will continue practicing, plan for the next album and get back to the studio at the end of this year.

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Posted by AMP Ed on July 24, 2007 10:46:24 AM HKT #