Rebel yell

As David O’Dell admits, Chinese punk rock would have developed with or without him. However, its story would not be complete without his contribution.

O’Dell, one of the few foreigners who got involved in the early punk rock scene in Beijing in the mid-1990s and early 2000s, tells his story in his book Inseparable: The Memoirs of an American and The Story of Chinese Punk Rock.

采访：Jerry Chan Interview

Word had gotten around that we were starting up a band of sorts and Jerry Chan was interested in joining us. Jerry was a freelance writer who had come to Beijing when the Beijing Scene newspaper was just getting shut down… Jerry’s intense front-man looks and lyrics were perfect for the edge that we were pumping out… Our [first live] set opened with a powerful song we titled “Down to the River” and in seconds Jerry Chan became the dream front man of any band out there. He exploded with an energy that was unseen in our rehearsals.

Inseperable: A History of Beijing Punk

Xiao Zhong meets David O’Dell, one of the earliest supporters of the Beijing punk rock scene of the mid-90s. Inseparable is a history of his very personal involvement with the scene and ‘the near suicides, the drugs, the sex and the great rock and roll’ that went with it. If all this has you inspired to stick a safety pin through your nose, crack out the Doc Martens and start pogoing, the Shanghai Punk Festival is just around the corner.

2012.8.11 @ 2Kolegas 两个好朋友：
Chinese Punk Rock Memorabilia Auction

Big shindig on Saturday, August 11 at 2Kolegas: Banbian Pengke, an all-day celebration of Beijing punk’s roots. The reason for the event is a visit from Dave O’Dell, o.g. Beijing punk instigator and author of Inseparable, a memoir of his immersion in the BJ punk scene from 1995-2003. Banbian Pengke will feature a bunch of bands and DJs, and for the collectors out there, a charity auction of extremely rare and out-of-print (some of these things were never actually printed) vinyl, cassettes and CDs from the old days. Check the full item list with descriptions/personal anecdotes from Dave below and get your pre-sale ticket here.

TALKING TO CHINESE PUNK’S FIRST FAN

Among a recent flurry of books and documentaries, ranging from the academic to theSinosplitative, bent on capturing the emergence of Chinese rock, has emerged a memoir that puts a face to a movement: “Inseparable: The Memoirs Of An American And The Story Of Chinese Punk Rock.” The author, a Texas native named David O’Dell, was instrumental in helping to form China’s first punk scene in the ’90s, setting up shows, promoting events and even playing in such influential early bands as Underbaby and Brain Failure. Though O’Dell left Beijing a decade ago, he’s back this summer to promote his new book and celebrate the old scene with a charity show on August 11 that will include bands from the old scene, including Underbaby vocalist Gao Wei, Catcher in the Rye, Anarchy Boys and more. The event will also include an auction of old punk rock memorabilia, with all proceeds going to a charity for orphans called “Half the Sky.” I interviewed O’Dell via email about the early days of Beijing’s punk scene, his experience writing the book and the craziest show he’s ever been to.

[Book Review] Dave O’Dell’s Inseparable: the Birth of Punk Anarchy in the old P.R.C

I generally consider myself pretty lucky to be here in Beijing at this moment in time, being witness, chronicler and sometime participant to the ever growing underground Rock n Roll scene. These are amazing times and I’d never thought in a million years that i’d somehow be part of it. And While I’m pretty knowledgeable about the current scene, I love getting more information about its past and compare it to what we have now. Good friend Jon Campbell wrote his Red Rock with was nothing short of amazing: a beautifully constructed dissection of Yao Gun and its roots! It’s probably my favorite history book so far.

Inseparable

“…a rich and uniquely personal collection of stories, over one hundred rare photos and translated song lyrics from the earliest Chinese punk bands and the dizzying development of the scene.”