BEIJING— A Chinese rocker known for his rebellious style will not perform at a state broadcaster’s variety show for the upcoming Lunar New Year after he refused a request by the organizers to sing a different song than his own choice, his manager said.

Cui Jian had proposed to sing his 1986 song “Nothing to My Name” at China Central Television’s Jan. 30 gala show, but the event’s censors told him he would have to choose another song, his manager, You You, said late Friday. “Nothing to My Name” became the unofficial anthem for demonstrating students during the deadly 1989 Tiananmen protests.