“The Chinese are less a nation than a fusion of peoples united by a common culture, and the history of China is the record of an expanding culture.”
— , China: A Short Cultural History (1965).
“The Chinese are industrious, courageous, honest, and intelligent. They created the splendid ancient Chinese civilization, and today, they're firmly committed to the path of peaceful development and are making continuous progress in the modernization drive by carrying out the reform and opening up program.”
“The typical Westerner wishes to be the cause of as many changes as possible in his environment; the typical Chinaman wishes to enjoy as much and as delicately as possible.”
— Bertrand Russell, The Problem of China (1922), Ch. XII: The Chinese Character.
“The Chinese people have only family and clan solidarity; they do not have national spirit...they are just a heap of loose sand...Other men are the carving knife and serving dish; we are the fish and the meat.”
— Sun Yat-sen, China as a Heap of Loose Sand (1924)
“People who try to commit suicide — don't attempt to save them! . . . China is such a populous nation, it is not as if we cannot do without a few people.”
— Attributed to Mao Zedong by Wang Li, “历史将宣告我无罪” (History Will Pronounce Me Innocent), manuscript, Beijing, 1993, p. 7. This source is a privately printed collection of letters and documents concerning Wang Li's expulsion from the CCP. Cited in (2006) by and .
Quotes via Wikiquote (CC BY-SA), each with its original source.
China is a hard rock band from Winterthur, Switzerland, founded in 1985. In 1988 they signed with Phonogram, releasing their debut album the same year. They are best known for their 1989 single "In the Middle of the Night", which peaked at No. 11 in Switzerland. As of 2013, all of the band's studio albums have entered the Top 40 album charts in Switzerland.
Contents
Biography
Formed in 1985, the original line-up consisted of vocalist Math Shiverow, guitarists Claudio Matteo (formerly of Bloody Six and Danger) and Freddy Laurence, bassist Marc Lynn (formerly of Stormbringer), and drummer John Dommen. By 1988, China had signed a record contract with the German branch of Phonogram Records, resulting in the band's eponymous debut album, which reached No. 6 on the Swiss albums chart.
Before their 1989 sophomore effort, Sign In The Sky, former Crown vocalist/guitarist Patrick Mason (who had also briefly with Krokus and Fast Forward) replaced Shiverow on lead vocals, and Brian Kofmehl (formerly of Killer) took over bass duties from Lynn, who re-surfaced with Gotthard a couple of years later. Sign In The Sky, produced by Stephan Galfas and recorded in New York, would become China's most successful album. It reached No. 2 on the Swiss albums chart, eventually achieving gold status, and cracked the Top 50 in Germany, peaking at 45. The band supported the album with an extensive European tour as opening act for Yngwie Malmsteen.
Mason's tenure would be short lived due to health problems, and the band's 1991 Live album, recorded at the Marlboro Music Rock on September 29, 1990 in Locarno, Switzerland, featured yet another vocalist, Eric St. Michaels, formerly of Big Trouble. St. Michaels would make his studio debut on Go All The Way, released in 1991. Upon St. Michaels' exit and return to the U.S. in 1992, China teamed with vocalist Marc Storace of Krokus for several shows in 1993, including a concert broadcast live on Swiss national radio DRS3, issued in 2000 as the Alive album.
Newly signed to the EMI label and featuring yet another vocalist, Douglas McCowan, as well as Johnny Giorgi replacing Dommen on drums, 1995's Natural Groove saw the band explore markedly different musical territory. Struggling with the changing musical climate and financial difficulties, China announced their breakup shortly after the album's release.
Matteo and Kofmehl would reunite with Storace for the Acoustical Mountain unplugged project, performing covers as well as various China and Krokus songs. The trio played across Switzerland for several years.
The 'China Revisited' tour in 2000 had a line-up of Matteo, Laurence, Kofmehl, Giorgi, Shiverow, St. Michaels, and Storace. Laurence would also join former China bandmate Marc Lynn in Gotthard in May 2004, replacing the departing Mandy Meyer.
In the spring of 2007, Matteo received a call from Swiss concert promoters Free & Virgin, asking if China would be interested in reuniting for an appearance at the Spirit of Rock festival to play alongside Heaven & Hell, Mötley Crüe, Motörhead, U.D.O. and Saxon. This performance sparked a full-fledged reunion and the November 2009 'Rock Never Dies' tour in support of The Very Best of China album. China also made an appearance at Z Rock 2007 in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England.
On 25 March 2010, the band released Light Up The Dark, their first new studio album in 15 years, through Universal Music in Switzerland and the German label Metal Heaven in the rest of Europe. The line-up featured long-time members Matteo, St. Michaels and Kofmehl alongside newcomers Billy La Pietra (drums) and Mack Schildknecht (guitar) who had been joined the band in 2008 and 2009, respectively. They would support Krokus on a number of dates on their 2010 Hoodoo tour.
Dan Grossenbacher replaced Kofmehl on bass before the release of We Are The Stars in November 2013 via K-tel subsidiary Blue Martin. The album was produced by Tommy Henriksen, guitarist for Alice Cooper and old friend of St. Michaels. It was accompanied by a video for the single "Everywhere You Are".
Band members
Current
Hardy Hartmeier – lead vocals (1985-1986, 2019–present)
Freddy Scherer – rhythm guitar, lead guitar (1985–present)
Claudio Matteo – rhythm guitar (1985–present)
Marc Lynn – bass (1985-1989, 2019–present)
Ralph "Tosi" Tosoni - Drums (2020-present)
Former
Math Shiverow – lead vocals (1985–1989; died 2025)
Patrick Mason – lead vocals (1989–1990)
Eric St. Michaels – lead vocals (1990–1992)
Marc Storace – lead vocals (1992–1993, 2005-2015; Live)
Douglas McCowan – lead vocals (1995; died 2026)
Mack Schildknecht – guitar (2009-2010)
John Dommen – drums (1985–1995)
Johnny Giorgi – drums (1995–2000, 2007)
Billy La Pietra – drums (2007–2010)
Discography
Article from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0), where it is maintained by volunteer editors.
China is a hard rock band from Winterthur, Switzerland, founded in 1985. In 1988 they signed with Phonogram, releasing their debut album the same year. They are best known for their 1989 single "In the Middle of the Night", which peaked at No. 11 in Switzerland. As of 2013, all of the band's studio albums have entered the Top 40 album charts in Switzerland.
