Cui Jian er angiveligt udsat for censur og må ikke spille sin slagsang fra studenteroprøret på Den Himmelske Freds Plads i 1989 – 25-året for den betændte begivenhed i nyere kinesisk historie nærmer sig og myndighederne er nervøse.
He had been due to play at China’s Spring Festival Gala on state TV, which draws a TV audience of hundreds of millions. He withdrew after organisers tried to censor his performance, BBC online reports Saturday.
In 1989, he had performed to protesting students in Tiananmen Square, who took up his song “Nothing to My Name”.
Cui Jian. known as China’s “father of rock”, had wanted to sing the song during the gala, but the organisers said he would have to choose another.
The Chinese New Year TV gala show is one of the most watched programmes anywhere on the planet and is best known for its patriotic songs, comedy sketches, and dance routines.
Cui Jian has said he was “on the students’ side” in 1989. With the 25th anniversary of Tiananmen Square just a few months away, Cui Jian had appeared to be a risky, political choice for such a primetime performance.
During the protests, he performed in the square to thousands of students. But on 4 June 1989, China’s Communist party ordered the military to end the demonstrations – hundreds, if not, thousands were killed.
In recent years the musician – who has sold millions of records – has once again been playing in front of big crowds, BBC notes.
