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New Pants are among the brightest, original and most adventurous artists operating in China today. The band was formed in 1996 by four boys from the hutongs of Beijing: Peng Lei, Pang Kuan, Lo Bo, and Shang Xiao, who left in 2002.
In their early days they were influenced by New Wave and especially the Ramones, but in recent years their sound and style has tended toward 80s disco and electro, which combined with their startling, eye-catching stage presence, marks them as vibrant, original fish in the over-crowded pond of the Chinese music scene.
Peng Lei and Pang Kuan studied at Beijing Art University, as film director and graphic designer respectively, and afterwards found work as cartoonist and filmmaker; this in turn influenced New Pants’ style and presentation – check out their lively, carefully choreographed (and funny-cool!) music videos for evidence.
Aside from New Pants, vocalist Pen Lei is also a clay cartoonist, something of a pioneer in China, consistently getting good reviews and awards for his work, the most recent of which is the acclaimed film “Beihai Monster”.
Pang Kuan, not only a great keyboard player and art designer but also an excellent break dancer, and on stage acts with all the panache of the true 80s hipster, breaking all night long to within an inch of his life!
Bass player Lobo has been deeply involved in the Chinese music scene for long time, and has played with many different bands except New Pants.
Between 1998 to 2006 New Pants released 4 albums in China through Modern Sky Records, and continue to play widely to packed houses throughout the land.
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