TAKING time off to enjoy summer in Hong Kong, rock band Anodize have been quietly watching their new album Welcome To Beijing Motel steadily climb the charts.
Many see Anodize as representing the way forward for live music in the territory.
'They've got quite a following,' said HMV sales manager, Martin Carr. 'We're pleased with the way the album's doing and already we've sold several hundred copies.' But despite their cult following, the band do not have autograph-hungry fans following them wherever they go.
'We can walk around like normal citizens,' said lead singer Ronnie Suen Kwok-wai The majority of their fans are over 18 and, the band believe, are satisfied with listening to their albums at home, or watching Anodize in concert - a far cry from their US and UK counterparts, according to the band.
'Fans in the UK and in the States are crazy,' said Suen. 'The performers can't get away from them.' Anodize was formed in 1989 by drummer Davy Chan Hong-wing, guitarist Gary Chang Wah-shing, and bassist Jimmy Mak Man-wai - along with two friends. When their singer left, Suen joined after leaving another group, Zion, in 1991. 'We actually met Ronnie and guitarist K. K Wong Koon-kai in a bar in Tsim Sha Tsui,' said Chan.
Their music has been described as hard rock and heavy metal, but the boys disagree.
