“Mao Live House, a legendary live rock music venue in Beijing, shut its doors on the weekend, the latest closure to hit China's music scene. Owner Li Chi said the club, popular among fans of punk, metal and alternative rock since it opened nine years ago, was forced to close due to tighter rules on live performances and rising rent. “Originally nobody paid any attention to us because this market is small. Now the market has gotten big, so we're facing legal issues regarding the legitimization of commercial support”, he told Reuters during the club's last public concert. Singers in China have long had to contend with official restrictions, despite a thriving music scene. China's censors are notoriously sensitive not just to subversive political content, but also references to s*x, drugs and religion. China has tightened control over almost every aspect of civil society since 2012, citing the need to shore up national security and stability.

Mao Live House closed its doors to the public on Sunday but Li said he was looking for another location in Beijing. Several other Beijing clubs have closed in recent weeks. Feng Chen, a 22-year-old punk rock fan who attended the final concert at Mao Live House, said the closures were worrying for fans of live music. “If there must be less and less places like this in Beijing there might be new ways to hold concerts, like on the street or just find any random place to hold one”, she said. Lai Jinrong, a guitarist with the heavy metal band Logic Out of Control, who played at Mao's on its last night, pointed to competition from night clubs and discos. “I think that rock and roll and metal in China began to die before they reached maturity”, he said”. – Damir Sagolj and Joseph Campbell via Reuters



Yuanlei Liao, the singer of hardcore band called Thank Ray wears a read scarf after performing on the stage of Mao Live House during the club's last public concert night in central Beijing, China April 23, 2016. Mao Live House, a prominent live rock music venue in Beijing, shut its doors on the weekend, the latest closure to hit China's rock music scene. Owner Li Chi said the club, popular among fans of punk, metal and alternative rock since it opened nine years ago, was forced to close due to tighter rules on live performances. (Photo by Damir Sagolj/Reuters)





Drawings carved into a wall of Mao Live House are seen during its last public concert night in central Beijing, China April 24, 2016. (Photo by Damir Sagolj/Reuters)





Fans enjoy the band called Suffocated performing on the stage of Mao Live House during the club's last public concert night in central Beijing, China April 24, 2016. (Photo by Damir Sagolj/Reuters)





A person with a tattooed hand grabs a drink from the counter at Mao Live House during its last public concert night in central Beijing, China April 23, 2016. (Photo by Damir Sagolj/Reuters)





Fans enjoy the band called Suffocated performing on the stage of Mao Live House during the club's last public concert night in central Beijing, China April 24, 2016. (Photo by Damir Sagolj/Reuters)





A girl uses her phone at Mao Live House during its last public concert night in central Beijing, China April 24, 2016. (Photo by Damir Sagolj/Reuters)





People gather outside Mao Live House during its last public concert night in central Beijing, China April 23, 2016. (Photo by Damir Sagolj/Reuters)





A man sleeps among music instruments at Mao Live House during the club's last public concert night in central Beijing, China April 23, 2016. (Photo by Damir Sagolj/Reuters)





A girl uses her phone at Mao Live House during its last public concert night in central Beijing, China April 24, 2016. (Photo by Damir Sagolj/Reuters)





Yuanlei Liao, the singer of hardcore band called Thank Ray, performs on the stage of Mao Live House during the club's last public concert night in central Beijing, China April 23, 2016. (Photo by Damir Sagolj/Reuters)





Drinks are made at the bar of Mao Live House during its last public concert night in central Beijing, China April 23, 2016. (Photo by Damir Sagolj/Reuters)





Fans enjoy the band called Mega Souls performing on the stage of Mao Live House during the club's last public concert night in central Beijing, China April 23, 2016. (Photo by Damir Sagolj/Reuters)





A member of staff wears a t-shirt with the logo of Mao Live House during the club's last public concert night in central Beijing, China April 23, 2016. (Photo by Damir Sagolj/Reuters)





Mega Souls perform on the stage of Mao Live House during the club's last public concert night in central Beijing, China April 23, 2016. (Photo by Damir Sagolj/Reuters)





A girl uses her phone at Mao Live House during its last public concert night in central Beijing, China April 23, 2016. (Photo by Damir Sagolj/Reuters)





A girl shows her tattoos that she said reads "The God" in Tibetan, at Mao Live House during its last public concert night in central Beijing, China April 23, 2016. (Photo by Damir Sagolj/Reuters)





Lai Jinrong, a guitarist with the heavy metal band Logic Out of Control (C, holding poster) poses with staff of Mao Live House after the club's last public concert night in central Beijing, China April 24, 2016. (Photo by Damir Sagolj/Reuters)





Owner Li Chi chats with his staff and remaining visitors at Mao Live House after its last public concert night in central Beijing, China April 24, 2016. (Photo by Damir Sagolj/Reuters)





Staff members and some visitors remain at Mao Live House after the club's last public concert night in central Beijing, China April 24, 2016. (Photo by Damir Sagolj/Reuters)





Owner Li Chi (C) poses with his staff on the stage of Mao Live House after its last public concert night in central Beijing, China April 24, 2016. (Photo by Damir Sagolj/Reuters)





Fans enjoy the band called Suffocated performing on the stage of Mao Live House during the club's last public concert night in central Beijing, China April 24, 2016. (Photo by Damir Sagolj/Reuters)





Visitors take pictures of themselves at Mao Live House during the club's last public concert night in central Beijing, China April 23, 2016. (Photo by Damir Sagolj/Reuters)