Music Matchup: Olympic Kick-Off Musicians Chat It Up

The 2012 Summer Olympics get started on Friday night in London but in Beijing they are kicking off on Saturday afternoon at 2 Kolegas. There’ll be lots of national colors and pride as well as some UK tracks from the Beijing Beatles and Ricky Sixx. We thought it would be fun to have the musicians chat before the performance, so the Beijing Beatles’ Jorge Arrowsmith asked Ricky Sixx about touring London, the 2008 Beijing Games and what to expect this weekend.

Jorge Arrowsmith: What type of British music will you be performing to coincide with the spirit of Beijing’s London Olympic party this Saturday night at 2 Kolegas?
Ricky Sixx: I‘d like to play music from the UK '70s this Saturday night.

JA: If you had to choose any Olympic athlete to form a rock band with for one night only, who would it be and why?
RS: This is a funny question because I don't really know a lot of athletes. Maybe some basketball players from the NBA like Nash from Canada, Kobe or James from the USA. I think they would look cool when playing in a rock band ... the band would be called something like "Big Guys Rock!"

JA: When did you and your former band Rustic tour the UK and what were the highlights of your trip?
RS: We've been to the UK twice, in April of 2010 and October of 2011. We visited a lot of cities. I love London. However, the most unforgettable memory was during our trip to Newcastle. I have never seen a city so wild ... violence everywhere. People from Newcastle also seemed so much bigger and stronger than any other place I've ever seen. Plenty of bar fights! I couldn't even figure out what they were all fighting about. It seems people in Newcastle love to fight and I'd like to be equally as big and strong as they are!

JA: How do audiences in the UK compare to the audiences you perform for in China?
RS: It's quite different. I think people in the UK enjoy the music more and have more of an understanding about music ... and really good taste in music. They know what is real music and appreciate a good quality and entertaining show. In the UK, if they don't like the music, they will shout at you to get off the stage! My former band Rustic knew how to put on an entertaining show so the audiences in the UK were quite appreciative. Chinese people, on the other hand, are super-innocent. They like to be more part of one huge collective crowd. Generally speaking, in China most of the audiences don't really know much about the music they are listening to. They just want to feel something special by attending a concert.

JA: The Olympics have gone through an evolution over the past few decades and the Beijing Olympic Games' rocking effort was second to none. How do you think the Games hosted by London will compare with Beijing’s efforts in 2008?
RS: I think the UK has a strong economy and plenty of wealth. In the UK, I think they can easily resolve problems; any problems that arise can be easily ironed out. In China, when we were hosting the Games, however, I think our leaders were under a lot of pressure. As a result, the general population wasn't happy about how they responded to this pressure. Injecting more money into poorer places in China rather than Olympic spending should have been more of a priority.

JA: Do you enjoy watching Olympic sports? Which is your favorite sport and why?
RS: I like to watch the sprinting and basketball. I used to be a athlete, a long-distance runner, which is why I like to watch sports associated with running.

JA: If you could win an Olympic gold medal in any hobby, what would it be and why?
RS: Anyone that is rich can become famous worldwide and can feel like a gold medalist, especially in China! So I want to make lots of money. This is my hobby of choice!

JA: You guys seem to be fashion icons in the China music world. Tell us a bit about the outfits you will be rocking out in at the party this Saturday night?
RS: I cant speak for other members of the band. I think I might dress as a punk with make-up for this Saturday's party. I have not yet made my final decision.

JA: If you had to write the next soundtrack for an Olympic Games, what would be the title and why?
RS: "Good Morning London" this time around or perhaps "Goodbye loser"? Any title that I consider to be fun and lighthearted.

JA: Finally, tell us something unique about the other four band members who will perform alongside you at the London Olympics Kick-Off party this Saturday night!
RS: I've got an '80s rocker named Xiaoyang on bass. Banx will play guitar, Yaoyao is on drums. Banx is the coolest guitarist I have ever met in China. He plays much like Jimmy Page or Joe Perry. He is a cool guy but looks can be deceiving. Off-stage, he would seem more like a student. But don't be fooled! When he plays axe on stage, he is totally explosive.

The Olympics Kick-Off Party takes place Saturday, July 28 at 2 Kolegas from 8.30pm-late. Tickets are RMB 150 and include two Olympic drinks.

To purchase tickets in advance, visit www.beijing-party.com or drop by Crepanini at Sanlitun's Nali Patio.