Too Many Chefs Spoiling the Plot

A rising glut of under- qualified business con- sultants is worrying for- eign investors seeking assistance in establish- ing wholly foreign-owned enterprises or joint ventures in China, according to an established Beijing-based consultant. Mediocre consultants in China must be weeded out by government regulations, says Chris Devonshire Ellis, managing partner of Dezan Shira & Associates,. , , which claims to be China's largest inde- pendent business consultancy. "A num- ber of regulatory …     

Rock Chic in Chengdu

The dynamo behind the Little Bar in Chengdu talks about expansion plans, Cui Jian and making independent rock records in China's southwest.     

On Fire？

MEN want to take us home,” says Han Tian. “They also like our mu- sic.” Being a gay icon is an unlikely privilege of playing bass in heavy metal combo AK47, whose sound has been compared to Rage Against the Machine and Metallica. But seeming alternative seems good enough for some. And in their leather jackets, torn T-shirts and assortment of jewelry,AK47 looks alternative in China. poster boys maybe, but just don’t call them punks. “There’s no power in punk,” says Han. Yet they m…     

Breaking China？

Tag Teams boss Matt Kagler rather exports Chinese bands to the US IF,as visits by Brian Eno and Sonic Youth to the citywould suggest,Beijing has a real scene now,why isn'tTag Team Records signing more bands?"Because     

Muma＇s World

Written o for dead, art rockers Muma have a new album in the works.In spring time Teachers are all dead Muma arrives in revelry Smilingly In darkness Continuous dancing steps Give out decadent looks In the whole festival The subsequent thing is up to you …     

King of Rock and Roll

The brains behind the Beijing Pop Festival, Ja- son Magnus talks about getting Sebastian Bach and Placebo to play China's only international rock festival. W E had a thousand security offi cers last year and 600 this year.” That’s progress for Jason Magnus. It’s also a sign of how far government relations can take a rock promoter who has managed to bring some of the biggest names in popular music to a park in the most raref ied district of the Chinese capital for the Beijing Pop Festi…     

Post-Punk for the People

Swedish-Chinese collaboration PK 14 are taking time out to learn photography, write their fourth album, and set a date with the recording studio by the end of year.     

Big as The Beatles,in China

British rockers The Crimea see China,not America,as the place to crack on the road to global domination.