Chinese musician Guo Chuanlin

Chinese musician Guo Chuanlin, founding manager of the iconic rock band Black Panther, passed away at his home in Qingdao of East China's Shandong Province on Sunday afternoon due to illness, aged 66, according to an obituary posted on the band's official Weibo account on Monday. 

Guo developed a strong interest in music at an early age, teaching himself guitar and quickly became a skilled guitarist. In the early days of Chinese pop music, Guo and like-minded friends, formed the Black Panther band, initially serving as the guitarist. Known as sige (Fourth Brother), he later stepped back from performing to focus on management, becoming the manager of Black Panther and several other music groups, The Paper reported. 

In 1988, Guo invited Dou Wei to join the band as the lead vocalist, a move that proved crucial in shaping the band's identity. Dou's involvement marked a shift from covers and imitation to original expression for Black Panther. Songs Dou performed, including "Wu Di Zi Rong" and "Don't Break My Heart," quickly gained nationwide popularity, becoming some of the most representative anthems in the history of Chinese rock music.

Guo left Black Panther in 1995 and remained actively involved in nurturing young bands, serving as a judge for rock competitions in numerous universities across China and repeatedly calling for stronger copyright protection for original music.