This article explores the cultural and political context of the development of the rock music industry in Indonesia. With a focus on live performance, it shows how the political and economic power of Chinese Indonesian business and the military have played an important role in underpinning the sustainable development of the country’s rock music industry.

Indonesian rock music has continuously evolved from the mid-1980s, under the Soeharto authoritarian regime, through the country’s democratization to the present day. The industry developed during the Soeharto era through rock festivals (Festival Rock Se-Indonesia) sponsored by ethnic Chinese businesses, and since the fall of the Soeharto regime, the industry has continued to grow with the support of the Indonesian armed forces.

Chinese Indonesian businessmen have been sponsoring rock festivals to boost show business by attracting large crowds and contributing to the popularization and industrialization of Indonesian rock music. The increase in capacity and expansion of venues for live performances has contributed to the sustained development of the rock music industry, with the armed forces providing large military sites for music events following the democratization of the country. However, such mass mobilization, sponsored by Chinese companies increases the risk of rioting in these venues. Therefore, the military acts as a security mechanism to violently suppress riots and maintain order.