As soon as Black Hole's new album was recorded, I received news from the United States.

Lao Zhan passed away.

The four of them took a flight to the United States overnight to attend his funeral.

Lao Zhan is an existence that is both a teacher and a friend to the Black Hole Band.

Black Hole first met Lao Zhan at the Woodstock Music Festival, when they were just unknown newcomers to the world music scene.

And Lao Zhan did not hide his appreciation for them at all, not only helped promote their works many times, but also personally came to be a guest at Black Hole's first concert in the United States, which was already very face-saving according to the identity gap between the two sides at that time.

It was also he who led and invited Black Hole to hold an international charity concert together, and he was not the only alternative partner for Black Hole, but he still chose Black Hole, which was a kindness.

Lao Zhan has a great influence on the music of the United States, he is the godfather of soul music, and the music styles such as hip-hop, rap, and disco that have prevailed in the United States in recent decades have been deeply influenced by him.

He led the R?and B trend of the year to Soul, and then Soul to funk, and he even influenced the entire rock music scene.

Everyone is very sad about his passing.

As a result, the music scene in the United States was plunged into an atmosphere of grief, with many media outlets reporting the news and his obituary published in the local newspaper in Barnwell, South Carolina, his birthplace.

Lao Zhan's body has been transported back to his hometown, hundreds of celebrities and media reporters have come to Barnwell, and local lawmakers have also attended the funeral.

Cao Wu and the others still caught up with the funeral, and Lao Zhan's funeral was held in the largest church in the local area.

When they arrived, the church was already full, so Cao Wu and the four of them found a vacant seat and waited for the funeral to begin.

Lao Zhan was lying in the coffin in front of him, the coffin was not heavy, it was brown in appearance, shining with a ghostly light, and there were bouquets of flowers around it.

Everyone tried to keep it as quiet as possible, and the church was solemn, but not oppressive.

Lao Zhan's family sat in the front row, and his agent was also there.

Soon after, the master of ceremonies announced the start of the funeral.

His former friend Charles Bobbit got up to speak on stage, and he stayed by his side for some time before Zhan died.

Lao Zhan's life has long been familiar to everyone, Charles did not look sad, but smiled and said some interesting things about Lao Zhan, which eased the grief of relatives a lot.

"He didn't leave us, he lives on in our memories and we will always remember him. ”

Immediately, several of Lao Zhan's former friends came to the stage to give speeches, and the black hole was also among them.

Cao Wu made a brief speech on behalf of the band, and he borrowed Sima Qian's concept of "people are inherently dead, and death is heavier than Mount Tai and lighter than Hongmao", and remembered Lao Zhan's departure.

At the end of his speech, the pastor took his place and gave a memorial mass.

Religion has no meaning for the dead, and its greatest purpose is to bring comfort to the living. In this regard, as long as death exists, religion will not lack adherents.

At the end of the Mass, the coffin was closed, and Lao Zhan's two sons and several relatives and friends stepped forward to lift the coffin and walked to the door of the church.

At this time, Lao Zhan's widow and other relatives finally couldn't hold back their grief and sobbed.

The funeral attendants stood up one after another, moved forward, bypassed the deceased, and offered condolences to the families of the deceased.

Cao Wu and the others watched the coffin move outward, but did not come forward to condole, there were too many people around.

The coffin was carried out of the church and headed to the cemetery at the back, where the grave was ready for burial.

Hundreds of people in black suits saw Lao Zhan off for the last time, and outside the cordon set up by the police outside the church, a line of media reporters stood and shot at this side with long guns and short guns.

For the relatives of the deceased, they will feel somewhat bored and disrespected.

But this is something that cannot be helped, since you have chosen to become a public figure, it is inevitable.

After the burial, Cao Wu and the others stepped forward to comfort Lao Zhan's widow and other relatives with a few words of relief, and then prepared to leave.

They are not prepared to be interviewed like everyone else.

"Hey!Cao Wu!" Lao Zhan's agent, Frank Kopocedas, suddenly stopped Cao Wu and the others.

"Thank you for coming, Jaime will be happy. Frank shook hands with them one by one before sighing.

Lao Zhan's death was notified to Black Hole by him.

After chatting for a few words, he suddenly asked, "Are you going to go back to China?"

Cao Wu nodded and said, "Yes, our new album is being recorded and needs to be completed by the end of September, so the time is tight." ”

Frank rubbed his hands together and said, "Can you borrow a night's time? I mean, you can go back tomorrow, I want to treat you to a meal." ”

Cao Wu was stunned for a moment, turned his head and exchanged glances with Lele and them, and nodded: "Okay, what time is it?"

"Thanks, it's right at that steakhouse in the middle of town. Frank said, "I'm about six o'clock in the afternoon." ”

"Okay, then we'll wait for you there. ”

After Frank left, Cao Wu and the others continued to walk to the parking lot.

"What does he want to talk to us about?" asked Lele.

"If I'm not mistaken. Cao Wu smiled: "We're going to change agents......"

At six o'clock in the evening, Frank, who was busy with his work, came to the feast.

"I think you've already guessed what I mean. Frank gets straight to the point as soon as he comes up: "I don't think Sony Music has enough of an agent for you. ”

Cao Wu didn't answer, but asked casually, "I remember that this shop is Lao Zhan's favorite restaurant, right?"

Frank understood what he meant, and smiled, "I talked to Jaime a lot during his illness, and it was he who suggested that I work with you. ”

"We are old friends, I know your popularity in China, you are very similar to Jaime back then. He paused, then continued: "I know that Sony has a lot of support for you, but the size of the company itself is a limitation, and your strength deserves a higher status. ”

"No one knows the rice market better than me, and no one has more powerful resources than me, cooperate with me, and within five years, I will make you the world's top band!

Frank's words are categorical, he is qualified to have this confidence, he is the ace agent who has cultivated Lao Zhan, after so many years of precipitation, the contacts and resources he has accumulated are amazing, with him, he has those resources, this transaction is definitely not a loss.

The contract with Sony is about to expire, and Cao Wu and they were already thinking about renewing the contract, but now that they have a better opportunity, they naturally won't miss it.

Since they came, they have already decided to cooperate, and the rest is only a matter of proportion.

It is impossible for an agent of Frank's level to take a dead salary, they all choose to share, and he is no exception.

A proper ratio was agreed, and five golden beers collided.

"Happy working together!"