Tuesday, June 13, 2017

"Another One Bites The Dust" A Story From Matt Tan

Here's Matt Tan, who was with Fried Ice in Singapore 60's, writing from Canada. He has posted some videos of his playing on YouTube. Thanks, Matt. Appreciate your contribution to this blog:


"I never had a reason to pick up a guitar till today!" (Frank Zappa)...

Do you remember the days when we were playing in a band, as young kids just starting out, the only time we hear about the loss of a famous musician is when an accident happened eg. plane crash... and we lost Eddie Cochran, Buddy Holly, Richie Havens... and much later SRV. 

Or in the sour events, we hear of them dying on drug overdose, for those who were unfortunate to think that drugs actually could make them play much better... wrong, and shame, we lost Janis, Brian Jones, Lenny Breau... 

And yet another cause would be illness, we lost Ollie Halsall, Wes Montgomery, two of my favourite guitarists, from different genres, Wes was already great, but Ollie was one whom I think would have been as great as Jimi or Jeff or Eric, had he lived.

Stormy Monday Blues Gregg Allman: R.I.P. A Canadian Guitarist Tribute

Today, it's different, we are losing them to old age... every month we hear someone who once influenced us to play the guitar or play music has left for the big sky. Who else is left? The ones gone include:

Chuck Berry (March 18, 2017)  

B B King (May 14, 2015) 
Alan Holdsworth (April 15, 2017)

Al Jarreau (February, 2017) 

John Wetton (January 31, 2017) 
Prince (April 21, 2106)

Leonard Cohen (November 10, 2016) 
Jack Bruce (25 October, 2015)
Chris Squire (January 28, 2015) 


Jon Lord (July 16, 2012), 
Keith Emerson (March 11, 2016)
Greg Lake (December 7, 2016)


Michael Jackson (June 25, 2009)
Luciano Paarotti (September 6, 2007) 
Frank Zappa (December 4, 1993) 


Another one bites the dust
Another one bites the dust
And another one gone and another one gone
Another one bites the dust...


(Freddie Mercury (24 November, 1991)

These stars left a long time ago: Charlie Mingus,  Thelonius Monk, Dizzy Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald, Oscar Peterson, Joe Pass, Larry Carlton; And even further back in time: Robert Johnson, Willie Dixon, Billie Holliday.

There's not many of them left, huh???   that is why I am back to playing the guitar. (Feb 27,2017). Someone has to carry those axes.

"Hope I die before I get old" (My Generation, 13 October 1965). I would rephrase that to,  "Hope I die before I get too old to play my guitar !"

Talkin' about my generation.

Well, people try to put us down.
Just because we get around.
The things they do look awful cold
I hope I die before I get old.

Why don't you all just fade away?
And don't try to dig what we all say
I'm not trying to cause a big sensation...


Ironic, things hasn't changed that much, only this time "people" could be referring to us "older generation"

John Sebastian – Younger Generation 
Why must every generation think their folks are square?

And hey pop, my girlfriend's only three.
She's got her own videophone,
And she's taking LSD
And now that were best friends, she wants to give a bit to me.
But what's the matter daddy? How come you're turning green?
Can it be that you can't live up to your dreams?


But some things do not change:

Come writers and critics
Who prophesize with your pen
And keep your eyes wide
The chance won't come again
And don't speak too soon
For the wheel's still in spin
And there's no telling who that it's naming
For the loser now will be later to win
Cause the times they are a-changing...


Contributor: Matt Tan.

Matt Tan (left) with his friend Horace Wee in the 60's, also a frequent contributor to this blog.

Check out Matt's music on Youtube  and subscribe:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZBM7bwzrnI&list=UU2F8PQIFCi5HyWM7OvcPI

I'd Rather Go Blind, Hey Joe, Red House, Sleepwalk, Supernatural, Castles Made of Sand, House Burning Down, May This Be Love, Little Wing, Burning Of The Midnight Lamp.

8 comments:

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Great list of those who has passed on, Matt. Pictures look good and so is your guitar play. I need to learn more about this genre of music.

Got plenty to learn.

If you remember Matt from Singapore, write in anytime.

matt tan said...

duo sie ni, de .. Andy! (i'm learning Mandarin, by watching all those wondering dramas on youtube .. Ode to Joy , The Disguiser, Princess Agent, Rookie Agent, etc)..to touch base with our roots.
Back to my youtube channel, a lot has changed in these 2 months, I uploaded 72 songs in a month, but have decided to delete most of the songs where i arranged the tunes , as i decided they could well be my own composition, instead of playing it my way on someone's else music. (psst, Horace Wee's advice.. best play your own songs, less complication with Copyright mumbo jumbo).
so, many of the hendrix and fleetwood mac tunes are gone. and i added jazz tunes recently. i have alot in my crazy head, 20 years of not playing guitar have collected alot of music in my head bursting from my fingers . so if they sound all a bit too much too soon, consider it a leak in the dyke that's been building up too much of a dam. Good work Andy, as always.
I esp like that photo of me and Horace. I remember the other musician who took that photo, but apologize for not remember his name. He was a nice happy person as well.
here's the link to the latest tunes..
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2F8PQIFCi5HyWM7OvcPIqA

Guru Happy said...

Nice to know another "Living Legend" from those Tea Dance Days! How long have u been "hibernating" in Vancouver Matt? I'm saying this as I've not heard of u residing here until now. Thks to our good Buddy, Andy Hope to catch up with u soon.

Nabie said...

Yes, I remember he did move to Vancouver , but then again, he travelled alot due to his work e.g. London , Paris , Korea , Latin America , South America. He never wrote much ; he never had much spare time then. Perharps now, Tan, you seem to finally be finding time enjoying life. Good for you !

Jimmy Appudurai said...

Hey matt glad you are still strumming mate. Keep well

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

According to Matt's statistic of readership and listening audience: "Singapore up 4%, thanks to the blog of course!!! (from 2 to 6%)"

Thank you, Matt. Your personality and playing shine.

MATT TAN (FRIED ICE) said...

Welcome, Andy, the only person who is bringing Singapore's views to my youtube channel is you, and I like to thanks all, please subscribe and add a comment whenever you visit. Thanks to Jimmy, etc... who wrote here on your blog as well.

Lastly, after 70 songs of noise *Hendrix, Jeff Beck, love sculpture,..tribute, I am now embarking on a soft jazz phase in answer to those who requested me to tone down.

my latest effort being. Jerome Kern's Folk who live on the hill, Killing Me Softly With His Song, All Blues.

here's the URL to the playlist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkuwcxEq-uI&list=PLaC0LY51oOQu8cSfYuVYnP0AL6YR_cicn

Anonymous said...

Guru Happy, i was living in Vancouver from the Expo till late, but that was only a temporary base, as I work and travel and lived literally every city all across the land from east (Halifax) to west (Victoria) along the weather map. As Nabie said it so well. my email says Vancouver, bc it's my general messaging center.
i am am everywhere, LOL... as i love a life like my music ... from arranged to disarray... "If you don't know where you're going; any road will take you there!" (March Hare to Alice)

please keep up supporting my youtube channel..
the latest music .. (I'm so glad) .. and coming up next (NSU).. not Cream copy but Matt Tan original :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjVQ_kH781E