Science fiction becomes fact

Music and sci-fi lovers in Shanghai will be able to experience the world of Coheed and Cambria at a concert on July 25, before their story hits the big screen.

The rock band from New York will make its Chinese mainland debut at the Mixing Room and Muse, at the Mercedes-Benz Arena.

The lineup for the concert will be singer-guitarist Claudio Sanchez, founding guitarist Travis Stever, bassist Zach Cooper and drummer Josh Eppard.

Coheed and Cambria is the name of the band led by Sanchez, 35, and the characters in a sci-fi novel and comic book series by him titled The Amory Wars.

The music style of Coheed and Cambria is often described as progressive rock, punk rock, metal and post-hardcore. The band has released six albums and sold more than 2 million copies in the United States.

Since it was established in the 1990s, Coheed and Cambria has woven sci-fi epic themes in its music.

"I think it's best to listen as a music fan first, and go from there," Sanchez tells China Daily in an e-mail interview. "You don't have to appreciate the comics or the sci-fi concept to be a fan of Coheed. But it's there to serve the fans as an additional layer to get deeper into the universe."

Sanchez says they have played in the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, and Hong Kong. The audiences were really passionate and appreciative, Sanchez adds.

Sanchez is no stranger to China, as his father-in-law lives in Guangdong province. "She (his wife) and I actually spent our honeymoon there, with a stop in Beijing," Sanchez says. "China has an incredible energy and such a unique culture that I instantly felt connected to it."

Mark Wahlberg, an American actor and producer, recently announced that he will cooperate with Leverage Productions to turn Sanchez's The Amory Wars into a live-action feature film.

"We've been working closely with our production company to put together a team for the film adaptation," Sanchez says.

Although everything about the film is still at the beginning phase, Sanchez says, "I'll be as involved as possible in the final product. And I fully intend to have a cameo."