F4: Ken Zhu - Rock On Ken!

March 2005 – Star Bios
F4: KEN ZHU
Rock On Ken!


Born in Taiwan on 15 January 1979, Ken Zhu Xiao Tian is a member of the heartthrob Taiwanese boy band F4 that has stirred a fanatic mass hysteria and captured the imagination of Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, China, Hong Kong and Taiwan after its debut in the hit drama serial Meteor Garden. With Ken’s good looks, it is hard to miss him even when teamed up with three other hunks within the boy band.

Rebellious Teen
Ken received education in Singapore and lived in a home-stay accommodation after his parents’ divorce. To Ken, Singapore is his second motherland and his home-stay guardian is his second mother.

Who would have thought that the seemingly un-intimidating Ken was once mischievous and rebellious? He was a troublemaker in school who was known for knocking his classmates’ head, kicking their chairs and beating up others. He said: "I had to cause some big troubles every year and everyone heard about me. When I was in preschool, I was so naughty that I made a teacher cry. It was a male teacher too!" When asked the reasons for behaving badly, he said he just wanted to be different. There was, however, a principle he never violated – never bully a female!

Having decided to return to Taiwan, Ken worked and studied at the same time, diligently saving up money through self-finance when he was 17. At times, he had no money for the next meal and was starved for days. After returning Taiwan, he was discovered while working in a Japanese barbecue restaurant. Since then, he has appeared in music shows, music television and advertisements. Ken shot to fame after filming Meteor Garden, which confirmed its success for both the lead actors and actresses.
Body Art To Kill Evil Spirits
In January 2005, Ken generously showed the public his tattoos. When asked for implications of the chosen designs, he said: "…The horoscopy stands for my sign Capricorn; the word Jennifer refers to my ex-girlfriend; and the Yin-Yan image represents the exorcise of evil spirits." Ken furthered that he is cursed by his vision because he can see the dead. He reiterated: “I see what others can’t see ever since childhood. I get harassed by some unknown objects fluttering around me from time to time.” Longing for inner peace, Ken considers having the Buddhist scriptures, Heart Sutra, tattooed on his back.

Not Just An Idol
A fan of The Beatles, Ken achieved precocity in music since grade four and has started to play in a band when he was 15 years old. Realizing that he cannot be a matinee idol forever and wanting to prove his skills, Ken has released a solo music album featuring soft rock ballads at the age of 25. His range of emotions and unique voice both confirm Ken’s talents, and his pretty face is just a bonus.

Unfortunately for F4 fans, Ken has left the boy band in 2004 and formed a new group of six called “Ken Zhu and the Free Birds” which includes a girl as the cello player. Despite the exit, loyal fans of Ken are here to stay!

Watch the multitalented Taiwanese pop singer in the time-travel romance fantasy SKY OF LOVE, where Ken plays Jia Hui, a university student in 2003 who gets a radio call from a fellow student who actually exists in 1981. See how lessons are learned and growth is achieved in two different worlds before a big twist that shock viewers in SKY OF LOVE on Saturday, 19 March at 21:00 on STAR CHINESE MOVIES!