Chapter Forty-Nine: A Band of Legendary Status

"Encore! Encore! Encore! Encore!" The thunderous chants inside the auditorium at the University of Hong Kong nearly threatened to lift the roof from the sports hall. Countless young men and women waved glow sticks, shrieking and cheering in excitement, while the flickering lights heightened the already electric atmosphere.

This was the “Angels and Demons” concert—a joint performance by Vivian Chow and the band Taichi. Though both had performed before, this was their first time organizing a concert of such scale. With the students on holiday, the hall was packed to the brim with young scholars. Tickets had sold out within days.

Vivian Chow and Taichi were the city’s most sensational rising stars. Their songs played in nearly every music shop on the street; Taichi’s "I Believe" and Vivian Chow’s "My Pride" were sung by countless fans, dominating Hong Kong’s music charts week after week.

The sales records of both albums had surpassed all expectations—not just for Vivian and Taichi, but also for Yan Xu and Lowell Lo. In just a month, each album had far exceeded platinum status. Taichi’s album was quickly approaching double platinum, while although Vivian’s initially lagged behind, after her performance at the Top Ten Golden Melody Awards, her sales skyrocketed. The release of the New Year’s edition, with new arrangements and additional tracks like "My Pride" and the Mandarin version of "Girl with Wings," sent the album soaring past double platinum. Taiwanese distributors took the initiative to negotiate for the album’s release on the island.

Though the sales were now beginning to decline, the drop was barely noticeable. Taichi’s "I Believe" was certain to reach double platinum, and Vivian’s album showed promise of reaching triple platinum.

Such numbers delighted Yan Xu. According to current statistics, after subtracting production costs, promotional expenses, and music store commissions, Dragon Records would net nearly two million in profits. While this was less than what Yan Xu made from a single film, for a small record company, it was an extraordinary achievement.

Even the Dragon Talent Agency drew five or six hundred thousand from Vivian and Taichi’s earnings—their first substantial income since the company’s inception. Thanks to their rising fame, Brother Jiu lined up numerous advertising deals, especially for Vivian, whose pure image and flowing hair made her a favorite among advertisers. The figures on those contracts made Yan Xu click his tongue in amazement; it was far more lucrative than painstakingly making films. No wonder so many people kept releasing albums even when the music market waned—advertising alone brought profits far exceeding album sales. Roughly calculated, Brother Jiu’s deals alone would bring in several million in annual profits.

Amidst another wave of cheers, Taichi, having just finished "I Believe," returned to the stage for an encore, igniting a new surge of excitement among the audience. Some female fans even rushed to the front, screaming ecstatically.

"A new song—‘A Very Summer’—dedicated to all of you. Please welcome Miss Vivian Chow once again," Ah Pat announced, holding his microphone and gesturing to the side of the stage as electric guitar chords rang out.

As Vivian Chow appeared, the audience’s screams intensified, and Taichi began swaying to the music.

“Watching the sun’s movements, the burning sky shouts impatiently, lighting up the city. You, full of dreams, wear the impressions of summer, leaping and dancing. Let go of old positions, let every cold face imagine with warmth, as the city’s rhythm rises, shimmering beads of sweat become a moving melody.” Ah Pat sang as he ran across the stage, stirring the crowd’s enthusiasm.

“Blazing sun, a theater of romance, everything is scorching and endless, evoking the most primal impressions. No need for face cream, just dance into the long summer.” This was Vivian’s first high-energy song of the night. Her outfit had changed; her long hair was now tied in a ponytail, her light-colored clothes replaced by a tight black leather suit, and her face adorned with rare heavy makeup.

“OH…AH…E…YEAH, OH…AH…E…YEAH, OH…AH…E…YEAH…HOO…”

This song, "A Very Summer," was originally from Jacky Cheung’s 1994 EP, "Legend of the Wolf." Its appearance here was thanks to Yan Xu’s generous hand. While Ah Pat’s voice lacked Jacky’s rich magnetism, and Vivian’s vocals were not as ethereal as Faye Wong’s, their performance was nonetheless brimming with passion.

Though the song was out of season, its dynamic beat was the perfect way to sustain the concert’s energy to the end. Yan Xu had prepared it especially for Vivian and Taichi; with a successful concert, an encore was inevitable, and this energetic duet would surely satisfy the audience.

Under the stirring melody of "A Very Summer," the "Angels and Demons" concert reached its triumphant conclusion. The explosive energy had instilled confidence in everyone present. Today, they performed in the university auditorium; one day, they would take the stage at the Hong Kong Coliseum.

“Congratulations!” Backstage, Yan Xu had already arranged for bouquets of flowers to be presented to Vivian and the seven members of Taichi. The concert’s success meant another windfall for his company.

Though the audience was beginning to disperse, backstage, the celebrations were just beginning. Flowers, champagne, and applause flooded towards Vivian and Taichi.

“Ah Pat, Ah Yiu, there are some people looking for you backstage. They say they’re your friends,” Kwok Ming Fai came running over during the celebrations.

“Ah, those are my friends,” Ah Pat replied, clearly recognizing who it was.

“Your friends?” Yan Xu looked at the seven bandmates. Most of their friends were from the rock scene, and he had given them tickets to invite their circle. “Bring them in,” Yan Xu nodded. Not just anyone could enter the backstage area.

Them? Yan Xu was taken aback when he saw the four who entered. Hong Kong’s rock scene was small, but he hadn’t expected to meet these figures here.

“Boss, this is Ka Koo Wong, and his younger brother Ka Cheung. They used to play in the Laser Band with Piggy and Big Mouth. This is Steve Yip. Now, they’ve formed a band called Beyond. They perform at various bars, singing mostly English songs, but also some in Cantonese,” Ah Pat introduced the newcomers. “Their other member, Chan Si On, is currently studying abroad.”

At this time, Beyond was still unknown. The three of them seemed shy—Ka Koo wore his hair long and parted to one side, nearly covering his eyes; Ka Cheung’s hair was short in front, long in back, and permed into waves; Steve Yip’s hair was spiked in all directions. They were at that rebellious age, striving for bold fashion. With the departure of Chan Si On, the band lacked a guitarist. It wouldn’t be long before Paul Wong, who had always designed their posters, would join them, forming the legendary band that would one day become one of Asia’s most influential.