THE CHINESE pop world was shaken by the news yesterday that one of the country's most popular singers, Zang Tianshuo, whose song Friendsis a big anthem here, has been arrested in connection with Triad-style activities, including involvement in deadly knife fights and for leading a gang of mobsters.
The 41-year-old singer runs several bars in northern Hebei province near Beijing and was arrested over a gang fight five years ago at a bar he owned in Langfang, a satellite city of the capital, in which someone was killed.
The burly, shaven-headed Zang is known to his friends as "Little Zang", and is a Buddhist with a reputation as a man who likes to party.
Friends featured prominently in the movie Big Shot's Funeral, which was directed by one of China's best-known directors, Feng Xiaogang, and features the Canadian actor Donald Sutherland.
The Beijing Timesreported that Zang was accused of joining the criminal gang at his bar in Beijing, and rising through its ranks until he became overlord.
Zang was one of China's first rock musicians. He started the band Infallible in 1983 with Ding Wu, vocalist for the rock band Tang Chao, and has been a prolific lyricist and singer for the past 20 years. He is also known for writing soundtracks.