a Tang Dynasty Tomb (c.740), Boy Bands and the Spice girls

I have always been rather fond of a straight-talking official from Tang dynasty China named Han Xiu, who was alive in the late 7th and early 8th centuries.

He was a man who didn't pull his punches - giving advice when he was asked for it, and also when he wasn't. He rose to a position of power under the Emperor Xuanzong (ruled 712-56), putting people's noses out of joint on the way.

As one would imagine, he was a man who knew what he wanted, and what he liked. You can tell from his tomb - which has only recently been excavated in Guoxinzhuang village, Chang'an district, Xi'an. I was thrilled to find a copy of the murals that decorated his tomb (which he shared with his wife and another senior official) in the wonderful exhibition on in Sydney at Art Gallery of New South Wales called Tang: Treasures from the Silk Road capital.

You can tell from the images on the walls of the tomb that Han Xiu liked his music. Musicians are depicted playing instruments to ensure his entertainment in the afterlife. What I love about the images is that they show us that Boybands and Girlbands were popular one and a half thousand years ago. As you can see.

Tang dynasty #Boyband

But then I looked more closely, and realised that there were not four, but five members of the band. I'd missed the all important dancer out in front.

 It didn't take much to recognise who sprang to mind: The Happy Mondays - with Bez, who shook the maracas and danced around in front of the band. Here is Bez and his alter ego in action.

20th century Manchester Bez

8th century Tang Bez

Having a dancer out in front then was cool too.

As for the Girls, well, that was simple enough too: the Spice Girls, with the Tang dynasty Posh Spice presumably out in front on the basis that her job in the group was to look classy - rather than sing (as some guessed, and we now know).

Spice Up Your (After) Life

So while the others got on with it, the job of one of the Girlband to stay out in front and look the part, pouting while she did so.

I can't guess which Han Xiu's favourite numbers would have been; but rather lovely to know that a tough guy wanted to make sure he could hum away to the Tang dynasty equivalent of Step On or Wannabe.

Can you imagine how this number would sound after being stuck on play for 1400 years ?! Poor Han Xiu....

Wannabe. In your head. Forever.

PS. Since posting, I have become aware how old I am. Talking with lovely, friendly people at Sydney Writers' Festival reminded me that anyone under the age of 30 has no idea who The Happy Mondays are - or how annoyingly catchy Wannabe is.

So here are the videos. Enjoy - spare a thought for Han Xiu....