Draft:Re-TROS
"Re-TROS" (short for Rebuilding the Rights of Statues) is a Chinese rock band formed in 2003, widely regarded as one of the most iconic and internationally influential rock bands from China. Known for their distinctive post-punk and experimental sound, Re-TROS has played a significant role in shaping the Chinese rock music scene.
Re-TROS was formed in China in 2003 and signed with Modern Sky, a prominent Chinese record label, in 2005. The same year, they released their debut EP, "CUT OFF!", which is often considered a classic in Chinese post-punk music. The EP featured contributions from renowned musician Brian Eno. In 2009, the band released their first full-length album, "Watch out! Climate Has Changed, Fat Mum Rises…", which is regarded as one of the most important works in the history of Chinese rock music.
In 2017, Re-TROS released their second full-length album, "Before The Applause", produced by Hector Castillo, known for his work with artists such as David Bowie, Lou Reed, and Björk. The album was released globally and received critical acclaim from both the music industry and fans.
After that,Re-TROS has achieved significant recognition on the international stage.
In 2017, the band supported Depeche Mode on their European tour and later opened for The xx during their China tour. Additionally, Re−TROS became the first Chinese band to hold a solo concert at the Mercedes−Benz Arena in Shanghai.
The band’s innovative style and accomplishments have earned unprecedented recognition for Chinese rock music in the global mainstream music scene, setting a new benchmark for the genre. Re-TROS has gain an unprecedentedly and historical reputation in the western mainstream music scene, setting a new high for Chinese rock music that they represents.
History
Early Years and Formation (2003–2005)
In April 2004, Re-TROS began performing in Beijing. In September of the same year, they embarked on a tour across seven cities in China, collaborating with the band Ourself Beside Me. In September 2005, the band released the single "A Vision of Chris". In October, they were invited to perform for the British Independent Recording Association. On November 1, 2005, Re-TROS released their debut EP, "CUT OFF!". Later that year, they held a nationwide tour, visiting cities such as Nanjing and Shanghai.
Recognition and Growth (2006–2009)
In February 2006, Re-TROS was nominated for Best Rock Newcomer at the 6th Pepsi Music Chart with their EP CUT OFF!. In May, they completed a national tour, performing in 18 cities, including Qingdao and Nanjing. In June, they were invited by the Singapore government to represent Chinese rock bands at the Singapore Arts Festival. In March 2007, Re-TROS completed a 16-show tour in North America. On February 27, 2009, the band released their first full-length album, "WATCH OUT! CLIMATE HAS CHANGED, FAT MUM RISES...". The same year, they held a 29-show national tour, performing in cities such as Beijing and Tianjin.
International Performances and Expanding Influence (2011–2013)
In March 2011, Re-TROS performed as a guest act for Gang of Four during their Australian tour. On August 13, 2011, they made their debut at the SummerSonic Festival in Japan, performing as the closing act. On April 6, 2012, the feature film "The Band", which starred Re-TROS, was released nationwide. The film was directed by Peng Lei, lead singer of New Pants. In March 2013, Re-TROS supported Public Image Ltd, the legendary British post-punk band, during their first-ever tour in China.
Recent Years and Continued Success (2017–Present)
Starting in March 2017, Re-TROS launched the "Before the Applause 2017 China Tour", performing in 20 cities, including Jinan and Zhengzhou. In May 2017, they held three shows in the UK, followed by an eight-show tour in North America in July. On July 6, 2017, the band released the single "8+2+8 II", followed by the remix single "8+2+8 I" on August 30, 2017. On September 15, 2017, they released their second full-length album, "Before the Applause", which earned them Best Rock Band of the Year and Best Rock Album of the Year awards at the 9th China Rock Midi Awards. The album also received a four-star rating from British music magazine Q in September 2017. In 2018, Re-TROS won multiple awards, including Band of the Year and Best Rock Album at the 2nd CMA Music Awards on July 31, 2018, for Before the Applause. On August 19, 2018, they also won the Best Rock Band Award at the 2018 Asia New Songs Awards. In July 2020, Re-TROS participated in the iQIYI original music variety show The Big Band Season 2 as a contestant band. Their performance of the song "Pigs in the River" helped them advance, and they ultimately won the championship, finishing in the Hot 5 alongside four other bands. On October 23, 2021, the band participated in the CCTV cultural exploration variety show National Treasure: Exhibition and Performance Season.On May 22, 2021, Re-TROS held their first concert in Shanghai, marking the start of their "After The Applause" concert series. This performance also made them the first Chinese band to hold a solo concert at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai. On August 5, 2023, they held the second concert of the "After The Applause" series at the Nanjing Youth Olympic Sports Park, the largest indoor stadium in China.
International Tours and Future Endeavors (2024–2025)
Re-TROS resumed their North American tour in 2024, titled "RE+", with Liars and Battles. The tour covered eight cities, including New York City, Toronto, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Vancouver, Boston, and Chicago. On April 6, 2024, they performed live at the KEXP studio, with the performance video officially launched on May 30, 2024. On June 9, 2024, Re-TROS held their third concert of the year at the Wukesong Arena in Beijing. On August 17, 2024, they concluded the "After The Applause" series with their final show at the Guangzhou Gymnasium Hall 1. Coinciding with the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and France, the band was invited to perform at the "China-France Next Beats Beyond Borders Youth Music Festival" alongside Jean-Benoît Dunckel, Chloé, and INNOUT. In November 2024, Re-TROS held their "RE+" UK tour, which included stops in London and Manchester. At the end of 2024, they toured China and Japan in collaboration with Zazen Boys, performing in cities such as Shanghai, Chengdu, Osaka, and Tokyo.
Discography
Main articles: Re−TROSdiscographyandListofsongsrecordedbyRe−TROS ′′
Studio albums
CUT OFF! (2005)
Watch Out! Climate Has Changed, Fat Mum Rises… (2009)
Before The Applause (2017)
Singles
Viva Murder (Demo) (2012)
Pigs in the River (2017)
8+2+8 II (2017)
8+2+8 I (Paul Frick Remix) (2017)
At Mosp Here (Fujiya & Miyagi Remix) (2017)
Sounds for Celebration (Liars Remix) (2018)
Red Rum Aviv (Xiu Xiu Remix) (2018)
Three-Body (2023)
Tours
Livehouse Tours
China Tour (2005)
China Tour (2006)
China Tour (2009)
"Before the Applause" China Tour (2017)
North American Tour (July 2017)
Re-TROS US Tour (July–September 2017) (withXiuXiu)
Re-TROS US Tour (September 2017)
"Before the Applause" Japan Tour (2019)
"InBetween" China Tour (2022–2023)
"RE+" North American Tour (March 2024)
"RE+" UK Tour (November 2024)
"RE+" Japan Special Set Tour (December 2024) (withZazenBoys)
Concert Tours
"After the Applause" China Tour (2021–2024)
Shanghai (May 22, 2021)
Nanjing (August 5, 2023)
Beijing (June 9, 2024)
Guangzhou (August 17, 2024)
- Depeche Mode Global Spirit Tour (November–December2017) as the plus special guest
Dublin, Ireland (November 15, 2017)
Manchester, UK (November 17, 2017)
Birmingham, UK (November 19, 2017)
London, UK (November 22, 2017)
Frankfurt, Germany (November 24, 2017)
Antwerp, Belgium (November 26, 2017)
Stuttgart, Germany (November 28, 2017)
Mannheim, Germany (November 30, 2017)
Paris, France (December 3, 2017)
Paris, France (December 5, 2017)
Barcelona, Spain (December 7, 2017)
References
- Voyaging Further Outwards: Re-TROS' Before The Applause. Reviews from The QUIETUS, 14 Sep. 2017
- Liars’ Angus Andrew Directs Re-Tros’ Dark & Trippy ‘Sounds For Celebration’ Music Video: Exclusive Premiere. The music video of "Sounds of Celebration" was premiered exclusively on Billboard, 28 Jun. 2018
- RE-Tros - Before The Applause - Album review. Reviews from LOUD AND QUIET, 14 Sep. 2017
- Re-TROS: 'We don’t always want to be on the same road'. Reviews from TIMEOUT, 10, Apr. 2017
External links
1. Re-TROS at Instagram
2. Re-TROS at Spotify
3. Re-TROS at Youtube
4. Re-TROS at Bandcamp
5. Re-TROS at Facebook