And the band played on

Sitting in the office of Rock Forward, the band's Beijing-based record label, Xiang is a quiet presence, though in the online program, he sang Black Panther's classics and his own original works while exuding confidence and power.

"I have known about Black Panther for a long time like many other people. They are famous and established. When I first started to play music, I learned to sing and play their songs," said Xiang in the program.

Comparison is inevitable and Xiang is aware of that. He feels the pressure when reading the divisive comments on social media, but he is not worried.

"Becoming the frontman of Black Panther has been the most critical moment of my career so far. I am lucky and feel honored. We have done lots of rehearsals already, helping me to fit into the band as soon as possible," says Xiang.

According to Li, Xiang's entrance has put the band back on track again. They plan for new songs to be released soon and a national tour is scheduled this year.

When Black Panther was founded, the country's rock music scene was still in its infancy. With the country's reform and opening-up starting in 1978, Western rock music arrived and started making an impact on homegrown musicians. Beijing became home to China's highest-profile rock scene.

Black Panther rose to fame with their self-titled debut album, released in 1991, and has enjoyed mainstream popularity for decades. Some of their original hits, such as Don't Break My Heart, Kaojin Wo (stay close to me) and Wudizirong (no place to hide from shame), have been adapted and performed by many young Chinese pop and rock musicians.

"From the very beginning, we have been questioned. Some didn't consider our songs to be rock music. But we have a clear idea about what we do and what we want to do. We don't really care what people say about us," says Li.

Things are easier now than in the past. Streaming platforms like QQ Music and Douyin are boosting the profiles of indie rock bands around the country. Cities such as Wuhan, Hubei province, and Chengdu, Sichuan province, boast fertile rock music scenes. Reality shows also help propel young rock bands to fame.

"The music scene has changed dramatically compared to the days when we first launched Black Panther. We are also trying new things, such as livestreaming. What really matters to us is that we keep playing music," says Li.