A self-styled punk, He Yong's lyrics and outspoken nature have made him controversial in mainland China and Hong Kong.
[1] From the age of six He Yong began learning music from his father He Yusheng (何玉声), a professional sanxian (three-string snakeskin banjo) player.
[2] Around this time He Yong was active in the underground rock movement and met a number of other musicians, including Cui Jian and Dou Wei, among others.
[2] On 17 December 1994, He Yong performed at a groundbreaking concert in Hong Kong with Chinese metal-prog rock harbingers Tang Dynasty and others.
[2] Between 6–8 August 2004, he attended a concert entitled the "Glorious Road of Chinese Rock" (中国摇滚的光辉道路) held near the Helan Mountains (贺兰山) in Ningxia.