THIRTY-ODD rock music bands from Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Hong Kong have joined Cui Jian, China’s father of rock music, to protest the lip-synching (where singers just mouth prerecorded words during a performance) that is prevalent in China’s concert scene.

　　Cui kicked off the campaign on Sunday at the local Base Bar, which is well-known for original rock music. The 30-odd bands will perform at different venues in the three places in a protest against lip-synching.

　　Sunday night saw many customers at the Base Bar signing their names on a huge red cloth to endorse Cui, who performed energetically that same night.

　　Cui said lip-synching in China has reached such an extent that it could ruin Chinese music.

　　On Aug. 7, Cui asked all those at the CD Bar in Beijing, including managers, producers, directors and singers, to sign a list. The signatures sent a message that people are against lip-synching and will not provide singing opportunities to lip-synchers.

　　Cui said he thinks that music is becoming a more visual thing. It’s the popularity of MTV and the extravagant “packaging” of singers and dancers which seriously undermined music as an audible art. He also said that lip-synching is unfair to good singers.

　　Cui mentioned his hope that TV and radio stations will broadcast more live concerts as he wants people to know what real music is.