We get back to the hotel in the early hours of the morning. Today marks the first break in our schedule. We are sitting together and many of us have only just grasped what is actually happening here. We are really travelling to Peking and so are at the greatest event in Asia.

The last few days have been a bit much for us all. Apart from this great opportunity here in Chongqing the doors of Peking have opened to us. So slowly the last of us grasps that we have in fact written history here in China and played a leading role.

Our entire team sits together a little longer and we review the last few hours again. Sasha no doubt has a great deal to do to organise the event in Beijing at such short notice … Everyone looks at this moment and we simply know – WE WANT TO GO TO PEKING. Every one of us is hot .

In the past few hours we have enjoyed an unbelievable success and that is just the start of it here … Now we’ll show the rest of China – we are THE ROCKBAND here!!

We travel together with the band in a shuttle bus to the venue. Through a side entrance we are taken backstage, where we can get ready. The band and I are styled and some Chinese come to let us know we still have 5 minutes.

Slowly we get under way. In the course of these few metres the last few months pass through everyone’s mind. From the idea itself to the present moment many months have passed – now we are really there.

We step onto the stage. Unlike in Europe it is absolutely silent. No applause, not a single sound is to be heard. Our heads are spinning. The concert is different from the original plan now it is only indoors for invited Chinese guests, including Qin Bailan.

After one of the first numbers Qin Bailan comes on stage. She takes the microphone and the room quickly falls quiet again. After a seemingly endless minute’s silence she continues and tells us she is very grateful for our presence here today. She enjoys this great music and is grateful that China has, through us, the opportunity to get to know this music. She believes we have been substantially involved in building a bridge between China, Europe and the USA. The crowd stands and applauds …

Then she continues and looks me straight in the eye. She takes my hand and turns slightly towards me. “Marc – I would like you and your band to perform for me in Peking for the 60^th anniversary celebrations. A thousand thoughts shoot through my mind. I go down on my knees, clasp her hand more firmly and take the microphone in my hand. I tell her that I am grateful for the invitation. In a few sentences I say thank you for a wonderful time in Chongqing for the chance and the great opportunity. Then I let go of her hand, stand up and go … I go to my band and gather every individual to me. Together we go up to Qin Bailan, who looks at me a little confused.

“We will come to Beijing to ROCK China” – these are our words and Qin Bailan immediately understands. She starts to beam and clap. The crowd stands and starts to applaud.

We are all HAPPY. Today is our day – and we won’t let anyone take it from us … We’re making history here!

The morning starts off very hectic – you can see the nerves in all of us. Here we are in a foreign country; they have told us often during our stay that we are the first rock band that has been permitted to play on such an occasion. We meet very early for breakfast. The band and I run through the day’s schedule again, there will be a final sound check this morning, before we give the actual concert. After breakfast we proceed to our rooms and agree on a meeting place in the lobby in 15 minutes to set off together for the final sound check. The sound check goes well – Benny and Andy are really hot. Jason, Ray and Dennis are as always serene. Now the final polish will be applied, before we do it in earnest. A glance at the hall indicates that a large audience is expected. We work for about 1 and a half hours before it’s back to the hotel to relax. Now there’s no turning back … there is a lot on our minds … will the Chinese accept us, will we be able to win them over just like our huge following in China … how will the politicians react … all these questions run through our minds in the final hours before the concert.

Another day, … the band is as nervous as I am … We get started early tomorrow morning. Benny, Dennis, Thomas, Jason, Ray, Andy and I – each one quite big in his own right and now we are advancing and are actually in China… 

Looking back the past few days have been very stressful, but also packed with fun. We love to perform and that is precisely why we are here … To give China a show like there has never been before … And I have to admit my band is terrific. Each member has invited himself along for this adventure and stands behind me.

At first the Chinese were a little reserved, but in the meanwhile we have been able to win them over. It is unbelievable how openly they now meet us.The rehearsals went brilliantly – now in spite of a few minor problems we can get our gear together and get along to the venue. Great praise for the band – over the past few days we have really been able to get attuned with one another.

Now it’s the sound check and then hit the sack … Just a few more hours and then we shall stand before our big appearance, towards which we have worked these past days …

We’ll see you on stage …

In the late afternoon we follow Qin Bailan’s invitation and meet up in the hotel lobby to drive together to dinner. She tells us that she has chosen a traditional Chinese restaurant. The band is not really so happy because the Hot Pot is too fresh in the memory. So I ask her whether we couldn’t rather go and eat steak. She smiles at me and says, no problem. She instructs her assistants and without further ado a somewhat western-style restaurant is booked .. every member of the band beams and cannot hide his satisfaction.

The journey is exciting , Qin Bailan invites me to travel with her in her limousine. Without further ado Sasha, an interpreter, is installed and we are on our way to the restaurant.

The restaurant is huge – we enter the reception area and it holds around 600 guests. Everything looks very European, with a long bar and many guests. We are already expected and head up to the first floor. A separate VIP area opens before us, the tables are already laid and they seat us. The band sits at a separate table with the assistants, while I, Qin Bailan and representatives of the local government take our places at another table.

Qin already knows that we have to go to rehearsal again … we’re already almost on stage … the band and I are very glad  and can hardly wait … and she instructs the staff to serve the food quickly.

Quite interesting – we are making history … what a week …

What heat – it is 42 degrees Celsius today and it’s not midday yet. We are still sitting comfortably in the hotel, when we learn of Qin Bailan’s imminent arrival. Naturally we all want to greet this nice lady – who has invited us to China. So we round up the boys, in spite of our busy schedule, and make our way to the lobby.

The manageress of the hotel is already standing there trying to hide her nerves. We install ourselves on a corner sofa and wait patiently while we have a couple of drinks.

Finally, 3 limousines drive up – in the middle one we recognise Qin Bailan. While her assistants open the doors for her, she is already waving vigorously to us. She seems oblivious to the storm of flashlight bulbs around her and looks at me formally. She directs her assistants to clear her passage to me and I hear a friendly and effusive “Ni hao Marc Terenzi”[i]. Sasha introduces me and we begin a short exchange. But we are interrupted by the photographers and of course they want a group picture with the band, myself and Qin Bailan.

Before we can speak with her again, her assistants escort her to her suite. Before I can take my band to one side, I too am invited to her suite to get closer acquainted…

Qin Bailan alone has more assistants than I have members of the band and for all her elegant stature is an impressive woman with great charisma.  Her inquiries after our well-being particularly fascinate me. She tells me about the possibilities for cultural exchange and how fantastic she finds it that we are participating in such an event as the first rock band. Thus we share our experiences of art and she tells me that we are to be invited to dinner this evening.

With this knowledge I make my way back to the band and report on our meeting. The band too is quite keen to get to know Qin Bailan better, but first we must be off to our rehearsals… 

[i] Literally “How are you, Marc Terenzi?” Informal Chinese greeting.

Today we set off very early to see the city. This city is huge. Downtown Chongqing alone can be compared quite simply to Manhattan. Sky scrapers stand shoulder to shoulder, millions of people throng the streets and bring life to the cityscape.

Downtown Chongqing is unique, combining traditional Chinese houses with modern architecture without neglecting nature.

We take lunch in a traditional quarter of the city, where they have already entered the 20^th century. We were told a lot about Chinese specialities – particularly hotpot, Chongqing’s delicacy. The band and I enjoyed eating it. In the restaurant we had our own large room with a round table in the middle. One could think a king was being received as we first entered the room. There were three people to serve only us.

Hotpot is like a fondue, but is divided into spicy and less-spicy parts. I advise my band to go for the less-spicy part, because food here is really very hot.

We sit at table a good 3-4 hours and enjoy all manner of fine food. Our hosts introduce us to Chinese traditions too and have us sample Chinese liquor at 72% proof.

After dinner we walk the streets and Benny, Dennis, Andy and Thomas have their names written in Chinese. Around the corner I find an artist, who draws me in the form of a doll/puppet … it looks really great.

While it is still evening, we finally move to our rehearsal room … hopefully all our equipment will soon be there so that we can finally Rock …

We have scarcely been at the hotel for an hour, and already something is being prepared for us. Today we can relax a bit, and we have a sightseeing tour followed by dinner. The weather in Chongqing is really hot, though people are telling us that 38 degrees Centigrade is still fairly cool for this time of year.

The sightseeing is amazing – we take a look back over 2,000 years of history, and we are all very impressed by what we have seen.  While we are still trying to digest everything we have seen, a whole wave of fans envelop us. Of course we’re happy to provide autographs and photos. It’s fascinating just how fast word of our stay has spread, nearly 200 fans find us and mill around us. What a feeling – so many people in China know us and spontaneously turn out to welcome us. Special. Benny, Dennis, Andy, Thomas and I are all delighted that we have a fan base like this even in China. Some fans spontaneously hand us presents, and some children give us scarves - what a great start in China.

After spending more than an hour with our fans, we have to move on. We have a dinner arranged with some representatives from the local government. The dinner is held on a boat which is ready to sail, and while we eat, we travel along the river right through the city and get our first views of the cityscape by night.

What a dinner – in the middle of the river, sailing through the city.  It’s crazy how big the city is, you feel it’s never going to end.

Now we’re on the way back to our hotel, and looking forward to catching some sleep…

After another hour’s drive and some impressive first views of the city of Chongqing, we finally arrive at our hotel.  Before we left Germany none of us could begin to imagine just how incredible everything here was going to be. The city is enormous, and a real mixture of a modern cosmopolitan city combined with traditional Chinese architecture. We are all very impressed. Even more impressive was our reception at the hotel. We were instantly welcomed by individual fans and a major delegation. There were posters everywhere saying Marc Terenzi – Welcome to China. Of course we were really surprised, as we had already been met at the airport and none of us had even thought there might be another welcome waiting for us at the hotel.

Now we are really in China – on the way to our first concerts. By now we have all finally realised just how special everything here is, and what an opportunity this is for us…

What a welcome. After another 3 ¹/₂ hours’ flight we have finally arrived and were greeted warmly. We were received by a Chinese delegation and the first fans were waiting for us. We have all been welcomed with flowers and presents – how nice  J.

We are on our way now from the airport to the hotel and will of course report further on our trip and adventure in China….

Marc Terenzi and band