Metal of honor

Rock veterans will rally for war veterans tonight, as seminal Beijing punk icon He Yong enlists a regiment of top-ranking stars for a charity concert and auction at Yugong Yishan.

Seven acts including folk-rocker Hao Yun, punk mainstays Brain Failure, reggae outfit Longshendao and Sichuan metal sextet Yaksa have answered the call of duty.

Among those donating items for the auction are founding fathers of Chinese rock Cui Jian and Zhang Chu, along with film director Zhang Yang and many more. All proceeds go to ilaobing.com, a nationwide charity network of volunteers for Chinese veterans, especially those that fought in the War of Resistance against Japan (1937-1945). The organization provides aid to 500 veterans aged over 90.

He rallied the troops late last month after seeing a post on microblogging service Weibo by friend Sun Mian, director of Guangzhou-based media outlet New Weekly and ilaobing.com charity volunteer since 2008. The post detailed his trip through the provinces of Zhejiang, Hunan and Yunnan to deliver food and winter coats to elderly ex-servicemen.

Sun visited the Nanjing home of a former soldier of the Kuomintang (KMT) - or National Revolutionary Army during the Republican era (1911-1949) - who fought against Japanese troops during their 1937 siege on the city. Unfortunately, he was informed by family members that the veteran had passed away just days before he arrived.

"They're part of our history, and they're disappearing fast," said Sun, 58, who explained that although ex-soldiers receive donations distributed by private organizations in some regions, the majority don't receive any regular form of financial assistance. "Most of them just want to be recognized for what they did before they leave us." Although many veterans are recognized for their efforts, the organization estimates 3,000 unregistered former KMT soldiers who fought alongside those of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) are left without aid.

"These are the soldiers who fought Japanese troops," explains one volunteer who spoke on condition anonymity. "But because they wore the wrong uniform at the time, they paid for it."

Chen Haiwu, 88, of Shaoyang, Hunan Province, was one of those soldiers. After serving alongside the US Army's volunteer pilots better known as the Flying Tigers from 1943 to 1945, he left the KMT to join the PLA and fight the Japanese. But by 1950, the government had taken all his possessions and labelled him a "counter-revolutionary." His efforts to defend his country seemed to be in vain. "I was a counter-revolutionary for the KMT and the PLA. I still don't understand why," he sighed.

However, recognition of former KMT soldiers' service has manifested recently following fictional portrayals including 2009 TV series Soldiers And Their Commander and more recently in Zhang Yimou's drama epic The Flowers of War.

Now, it's the music community's turn to salute the country's war veterans. He noted there's a sense of responsibility that comes with improving livelihoods. "Chinese rockers are finally able to fill their stomachs," He said. "Now, we've got the able to feed others." Since the late 80s, He has been known for his abrasive and critical lyrics as the frontman for his first band Mayday. His 1994 solo album, Garbage Dump, and socially charged title track, earned him further notoriety as Chinese rock's bad boy.

"I've been rocking so long that I'm not just an old soldier, I'm a general," joked He, looking around at his Yugong Yishan comrades. "We all are." He and Sun hope to make the concert an annual fixture, tightening the bond between rock and war veterans.

"What's rock and roll?" inquired Chen, who admits he's hard of hearing. "My 94-year-old war buddy and I are so grateful these musicians care about us."