While that may not match the hordes who flock to Glastonbury, it is still remarkable in a country where western-style rock music was all but unknown until about 20 years ago.

BBC: Rocking out in Beijing

Western music swept the country and fed into both Japanese folk and high culture styles.

FORBES: Fifth Anniversary

Mr. COLEMAN: Well, I happen to be (unintelligible) and it has all kinds of qualities I deal with human emotion like hillbilly music, blues, country and western, classical, oh, I grew up in all those kinds of environments.

NPR: Ornette Coleman on Sound Innovations