Singapore International Schools Rock Band Festival 2010

Singapore International Schools Rock Band Festival 2010

Take Cover, an Anglo-Chinese School (ACS) International rock band took top honors winning the prestigious Platinum Award for the inaugural Singapore International Schools Rock Band Festival 2010.

The young ACSI students ranging from 13 to 16 years formed the band a year ago and were generally considered rookies in the music contest where the other contestants were older, more experienced expatriate students from Canada, UK and USA. But they did impress the crowd with their showmanship and strong stage presence. The band comprise students of different nationalities ie one each from Singapore, USA, Taiwan, Indonesia and Malaysia.

Their hard rocking set got the crowd cheering and stomping from the onset. Technically, they were one of the strongest bands on stage particularly, their lead guitarist, Elwin Lim (who we understand started playing the guitar only recently - for 2 years, we think). His delicate guitar licks is reminiscent of guitar heroes like Paul Gilbert - though we thought that his excellent , delicate guitar work could have got a better showing if the sound engineers had done a better job at the mixer console and he had been assigned to a better amplifier. Certainly, he is a Singapore guitarists to watch. He plays the guitar with the maturity of many older musicians.

The judges were from leading music departments of higher educational institutions in Singapore.

Catch the band in action here:





We look forward to great rocking things from him on stage in the future.

© http://singaporemusicianz.blogspot.com - Singapore International Schools Rock Band Festival 2010

British 60s Rock Bands | Singapore

British 60s Rock Bands Performed Singapore

The greatest and most hardest working live rock band in the whole world, the Rolling Stones performed in Singapore -

• first at the Singapore Badminton Hall in 16th February 1965 (two shows) after their tour of Australia and New Zealand and
• second their World Licks Tour at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in 24 & 26th March 2003.

I really enjoyed the primal Rolling Stones' (the original lineup with Brian Jones) 1965 performance the best. The crowd got so excited during the concert, they knocked down a wall erected to contain the crowd.

Other great UK Rock Bands who performed Singapore in the late Sixties included :

• The Yardbirds (the final lineup with Jimmy Page) and the Walker Brothers (17th January 1967). Jimmy Page and his new band, the Led Zeppelin was forced to cancel their 1972 concert here because stupid govt officials would not let them off the plane due to their long hair.
• The Kinks mk1 (5 February 1965) "The 1965 Big Show Tour" of Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and the USA) with Manfred Mann mk1,
• Herman's Hermits, (National Theatre). Peter Noone made a return performance in Singapore on Monday, 18 November 2008.
  
• Bee Gees (National Theatre, 24th March 1972), Singapore authorities allowed the Bee Gees to do their show with long hair but they had to promptly leave the country after the show.
  
• Hollies (National Theatre, 17 July 1971). Returned tour: 2 Nov (Top Ten), 3 Nov (World Trade Centre) 1987
  
• Christie (National Theatre, April 1971)
• Tremeloes, 15 & 16 Nov 1971, National Theatre & New Kelong Cathay
• Marmalade, April 1972, National Theatre
  

Of course, the more significant pre-British Invasion act to come to our shores was Cliff Richard and the Shadows who played at the Gay World Stadium in 1961. They provided the blueprint for guitar based pop groups in Singapore including the Quests.

© http://singaporemusicianz.blogspot.com - British 60s Rock Bands | Singapore

Beatles in Singapore

Beatles in Singapore

Did you see John, Paul, George and Ringo (THE BEATLES) in Singapore?

Yes, they did visit Singapore, but only briefly on a night stopover after their Hong Kong concert on 10th June 1964 (flight to Adelaide, Australia). Unfortunately, they did not perform in Singapore. That would have been an awesome early Beatles performance if it had happened.

I was a fresh face kid then at the Paya Lebar airport filled to the brim with screaming like-minded beatlemaniacs. I had only a brief glimpse as they headed to a private lounge at the airport during their very brief transit stop over of our then sleepy island.

They gave their famous Beatles' style wave, smile and run before heading to the plane (imagine Hard Days Night movie to experience that fleeting moment).

Unfortunately, at that time, I could not afford a camera, so I have no proof I was ever there. Sad...

According to a local press report, the Beatles expressed their desire to perform in Singapore some time in the future. Unfortunately, their long hair and drug busts in 1968 made it virtually impossible for them to perform here even if they want to.

The Beatles were very popular in Singapore as there were many British kids in Singapore (Britain had a strong military presence in Singapore at that time).

During the screening of the Beatles' first movie, "A Hard Day's Night" at the Roxy Cinema in Katong (Singapore), the audience screamed and clapped throughout the film as if it was a concert by the Fab Four.

Needless to say, I was unashamedly a full paying member of the Beatles Fan Club based in London. This was only one of two instances where I became a member of a fan club.

British Rock Bands That Performed in Singapore in the Sixties.

Those were the days, my friend.... we thought they'll never end....

© http://singaporemusicianz.blogspot.com - Beatles in Singapore

60s Singapore Music

60s Singapore Music

One of the best sites for Singapore Music of the Sixties is

SINGAPORE 60's POP MUSIC HALL OF FAME

At the Blogger site, you'll get streaming music from this glorious era of Singapore music, stories and other golden nuggets of the roots of Singapore music.

It was a time when Singapore musicians were an entertainment force to be reckoned with and countless recordings were made of local artistes who had strong fan base never seen since then.

Check out the site, all you "oldies but goodies".

All these happened, fortunately before the Singapore authorities crack down on the "drug culture" and imposed penalties on long hair resulting in many international artistes boycotting performances in Singapore.

© http://goingtomovies.blogspot.com - - 60s Singapore Music

Singapore Guitarist Rocks

Singapore Guitarist Rocks on Satriani's Love Thing

This Young Guitarist from Singapore really rocks! Saw him play on YouTube and was absolutely amazed by his matured licks on Joe Satriani's "Love Thing"

Just imaging, he is only 14 years old and been playing the guitar for little more than a year, and shows good skills on the frets.

Watch this 14 year old boy named Elwin Lim rocking on Satriani's Love Thing.

© http://goingtomovies.blogspot.com - - Elwin Lim | Satriani Love Thing

Wayne "Thunder" Seah | Suns

Rock For Wayne "Thunder" Seah

Wayne “Thunder” Seah, (1977-2007) drummer of The Suns, passed away unexpectedly in his sleep (probable cause: sleep apnea) on 23 May 2007 at the age of 29. This DVD features music from a Singapore tribute concert held in his memory called “Rock For Wayne” held on 23 June 2007 at The Pavilion@ Far East Square.

Rock For Wayne Thunder Seah - The Boredphucks Wayne (together with guitarist Sanjeev “San Singer” Veloo & bassist Justin “Jboss” Roy) formed the underground/punk rock group, the Boredphucks in the late 90s. They achieved cult S-Rock (Singapore Rock) status when they were banned from performing gigs in Singapore because of their fondness for uttering Hokkien MF expletives and their wild stage antics. The Boredphucks released their explicit album “Banned in Da Singapura” on the BigO label in 1997 in response to this concert ban.

Rock For Wayne Thunder Seah - The Suns

The Boredphucks was disbanded in 2000 when 2 members went to Melbourne, Australia for University studies. Seah and Veloo persuaded Roy to join them in Australia, and they regrouped as The Suns. Their exuberant live performances — often coupled with confetti cannons going off — earned them rave reviews from the Aussie press, as did their EP CD albums “2/20” and “Rock” (2005). They played at the Esplanade “Mosiac Music Festival” in 2006 with "San Singer" in a cast*. Their hit single “Cecelia” received a lot of local radio airplay. Throughout their musical career, the Boredphucks / Suns have recorded songs chronicling the lives and times of the Lion City. Check out their "3 Lions" song.

When Seah returned to Singapore in 2006, he conducted drum clinics and was songwriter and music engineer/producer/art director at Snakeweed Studio. Wayne worked on albums of some of the hottest local acts, such as Shirlyn Tan, Allura, Astroninja, Great Spy Experiment, Deputy Siren. Ronin's Black Maria (art director), Saw Loser's Mr Know It All (director) and documentaries: Electrico's Show and Tell (director and editor).

Wayne was also active in promoting Singapore music. He set up www.gilarock.com -- a gigging and music resource website -- and organized gigs. His last project was supposed to be the Rock For Good concert on June 23 2007 at the Pavilion, Far East Square, in aid of Music For Good, a non-profit music organisation. It eventually turned out to be his memorial concert after he passed away.

This DVD is a must for anyone interested in rock music in Singapore and features some of the greatest S-Rock rock bands ever produced in the Little Red Dot namely Electrico and Humpback Oak (certainly one of my favourite S-Rock bands. Check them out on YouTube too!). Pity there are no archive Suns or Boredphucks performances featured in this DVD though. But don’t worry, you can get a lot of Borephucks' and Suns’ music on YouTube.

Here is a promo video on The Suns on YouTube. Enjoy!




Anyone who had seen Wayne play at concerts know what a powerful and infectious drummer he is.

Thunder On, Wayne, Singapore (and the world) will miss the beat of your drums! And as Thunder would say, "Support your local bands and create a vibrant music scene in Singapore".

The much anticipated DVD (delayed due to bands' contractual issues) has been out since December.

Song Titles on the Rock for Wayne DVD:

Rock For Wayne Thunder Seah - The Concert DVD. I've colorized their black and white cover here The Great Spy Experiment – Citi in the City
Fire Fight - Trainsong
Humpback Oak (reformed specially for the concert) – Circling Square
Vacant Affair - Departure
Force Vomit – Spaceman over Malaysia / Siti
Astrominja All- Stars (ex-Ronin) - Thunder
West Grand Boulevard – Now We Will / DKNY
Caracal - Phoenix
Electrico – Rock with You / We’re Not Made in USA





*In a separate incident, the Suns' lead singer & guitarist "San Singer" smashed his right arm in March 2006 when he tried to jump off a tall stack of Marshall amps. Veloo said that in an effort to protect his guitar, as the amps he was on started to topple, he busted his elbow instead. This resulted in arm replacement surgery in which titanium rods were inserted into his lower arm. Ouch! My advice to musicians, protect your body first, it is cheaper to get a new musical instrumental and less painful too. San Singer gives an account of this incident in a YouTube video. After Wayne's death, San Singer formed a new band "Final Eclipse" but continued to play with the Suns (with a new drummer).

© http://comsg.blogspot.com - Rock for Wayne Seah

Singapore Musicians

Singapore Musicians

Hello, SingaporeMusicianz is dedicated to Singapore Musicians (what else?).

Guitar Heroes, Vocal Dynamos, Divas, Bassists, Drummers, Music Teachers, Stage Crews, Singapore Music Events and yes, from time to time, excellent bands that perform in Singapore.

So check us out from time to time and find out what is in and what is out in the Singapore music scene.

Rock On, Party On SG........