Goodbye Nine Inch Nails

This is the last song from their last concert. Thank you NiN for the memories, and it was nice to have been a part of your journey. Wish you guys all the best. Thank You. thank you : synthetikz

NiN postcards

Send me your address and if I still have some of this postcards left, I'll mail 1 to you. They just completed their final show and this is just my way of waving goodbye. At least till we all meet again someday, in our own way.

NiNe InCh Nails

I first heard of Nine Inch Nails in the late 80's. I was at one of the local record shops and chanced upon it. I didn't know anything about the band then but I took a test listen to it and liked it. Needless to say, I bought it straight away. It was Pretty Hate Machine. That kind of music was not much appreciated back then. And as I've written before, you can't depend on the local radio stations to play anything new or different to the norm. Also most of the people were not into such underground music. Cyberpunk is still not very followed here in Singapore. I then got my friends to listen to the album and they all loved it. Some went on to buy the album. Others just recorded it off each other. Slowly even my brother got fond of it especially since I was blasting it in my room everyday. Then his friends got into it. It was actually very nice to see some of them that night after so many years. Some married even. I was at that time one of the local musicians. My music wasn't very appreciated by the local scene which consisted mostly of the local Malays. We call them Mats here. The problem was I placed too much emphasis on keyboards and drum machines although I did have live drums and guitars as well. They just couldn't understand. I still remember April 18th 1991. I was invited to play a gig at the Substation, which interestingly is at the Fort Canning Hill as well. I was eventually booed at and that while I was playing NIN's 'That's What I Get'. Still there were people there who knew such music and commented to me that they really liked it. They too told me that Singapore and those Mats in particular were not ready for such stuff yet. Imagine my surprise when I saw such people at the NIN concert that night. My biggest influence in my becoming a musician is Depeche Mode. And NIN of course. But what really got me fascinated with NIN was when I found out that it actually was just one man in it. Fascinated because that was exactly what I was doing with my band! I play multiple instruments. Mostly self taught. So when I went to recording studios, I had to keep going back in to play the next instrument and lay it over the previous. It was tedious but I loved it. I had absolute control. I even eventually got my hands on the soundboard. It was only during gigs that I had to recruit some of my friends to play with me. Sounds so familiar, no? I finally made sound engineering my career and that was the end of my music dream. I read in the NIN's forum someone saying it feels like he left a part of him back there on the hill. A few others agreed. Some even said they feel like they were suffering from post NIN concert syndrome. They are so right. For that is how I feel too. I'll never see Fort Canning Park the same way again. I practically grew up there and it has always been special to me. I also had my first gig there. That was also where I had my first date. Now it will be so much more special. So much more beautiful. Still I don't dare to think of myself going back up there. I don't want to break the sanctity of that hill. Almost like I want to hold on to that night as the last memory I have of that beautiful place. Sounds crazy I know, but that is sort of how I feel. I feel a little empty inside. Like I've left a piece of me up there on that hill.

NiN in Singapore

image Rob Sheridan. Wow! This is definitely one of the best concerts I've ever been to. Or not been to rather. Here's the best part. Both Ling and I did not buy the tickets. My many years of working in the music industry has thought me quite a lot of things and also, I've grown a little jaded with being in a squeeze among crowds. And lately I've also become a bit of a germ freak ( actually I've always been one but it has become a little worse now. COD?. Yes I guess. You didn't know that about me now, did you?) I know Fort Canning very well and I knew that it will be possible to watch the concert from a few locations. OK lah. You can call me a cheapo as well but I don't care. In fact, right where the stage was, was the field where I used to play football twice every week during my school days back in the 80's. You see, my plan was to do to NIN the same thing I did to Lewis Hamilton at last years F1 race. To be able to see NIN front man Trent Reznor in person and not just performing was something that most people don't see. And YES I DID IT!! Ling and I got to see him after the concert. As everyone else were still shouting 'We want more' , I already knew he wouldn't be giving anymore. In fact, he jumped into a white mini bus and headed up the hill to the Black Box building. He got off the van, we made eye contact and he actually gave me a smile before heading into the building! What really surprised Ling and I was the fact that there was no one else around. Except for a few of his minders and some organisers, it seemed that no one else took the initiative to stand by there! It was only a while later that a Caucasian man who must have seen us and those vehicles, especially the Bentley, added 1 plus 1 and realised that something was happening. We waited a short while and then we saw Trent again. I got as near as I could to him and called out to him but one of his minders got in my way. Still he turned around and gave me a little wave. I did too, then he got into the Bentley with a lady companion and left. No chance for autographs and the camera was a let down for me that night. All I got were a few blurry images. I think it needs fixing, again. Now here comes the bonus everybody. We saw Gene Simmons! Yes the legend from KISS was there at the concert and we were as close to him as you can imagine. I was shocked to see him there! Ling didn't know who he was and hell she didn't even know who Trent was. I did drag her along for this concert, remember? We saw Gene as he got off his big black vehicle and walked into the building. The only thing louder than his hair were his shoes. They were white cowboy boots, snakeskin I think. (Ling couldn't stop laughing at his hair.) Strangely he only had a few people around him too. And I got the feeling that the whole concert was delayed because of him. It was only after he arrived that it started. As for the concert itself, it was electrifying to say the least. The drummer especially as far as I'm concerned. I know from experience that it's very difficult to play live drums and keep up with recorded loops but what Ilan Rubin did was mind blowing. Robin Finch on guitar was awesome. And it was nice of him to keep throwing bottled water into the crowd. They definitely needed it. He is a mad man behind guitars. I especially liked the part Trent jumped into the crowd and offered his mic. My brother was among those lucky few who managed to touch his face at that point. I'd also like to give credit to those hidden heroes; the sound engineer and the lightman. Being one myself I know how often we get forgotten. So hats off to these guys cos I thought the sound and lighting was perfect. I truly love the way NiN left us with 'Hurt' as his final song. I thought it was rather appropriate. It is also one of my favourite songs from them. It's just so sad he didn't play 'That's What I Get'. That is my all time favourite. But like Gene Simmons said in his facebook, I too thought that the smoke was a little too overwhelming. Whether he meant 'smoke' with sarcasm or not I wouldn't know but for me I am really talking about the smoke machine. The two of them do have a little private war going on remember? Here's another thing. When Trent walked into the building, he was all smiley. But later, when he walked out he looked a little pissed off (even as he waved at us and quickly got into the car). I don't know if it was because Gene had already left. ( I know cos his car was already gone by the time we got there). Maybe Trent rushed up there for a courtesy call only to find him not there? Personally I did think it was rude of Gene to have left. I don't know. I may be wrong. It's just my observation.

So there you have it. The best concert and experience I've had in a long time. It was all so surreal that I still can't get a grasp of the night. Sitting there, away from the crowd, under the stars, with no one else around. And smelling the beautiful aromas from the herb garden around us, listening to Nine Inch Nails and then meeting Trent and Gene. And the best part? Having Ling next to me. I think I converted her again.

And here's the thing I'll never ever forget. He waved goodbye to us. And we waved back.

Goodbye NiN. And thank you for the memories.

Music for the Masses

Moonlight Sonata. Photo, aegils.deviantart.com Some of the best music most people can relate to is during the Elvis and Beatles era. Most people will say that that was when modern music was invented. I wasn't around then. But I definitely won't doubt it. I, for one, am also a fan of true masterpieces. But then again, can anyone really resist Mozart's Eine Kleine Nachtmusik? Many a people would probably only listen to this kind of stuff when they are in the washrooms or toilets of some posh hotels or in some elevators. Maybe restaurants even while they are having some scrumptious dinners. My personal favourite is Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata. I first heard it when I was in primary school. I found it very sad, emotional, touching actually. It's very true when it's said that you can feel the feelings of the composers as they write the music. I heard it again, believe it or not, when Depeche Mode played it in their single Little 15. Alan Wilder made full justice of the original version. It's since been played all over. On TV shows like CSI etc. You can even hear it on Resident Evil if you are a fan of the movie. This brings me back to the fact that for me I have had the blessings of being around when some other great music was written. Yes I am very retro. And I love it. Some of the best music I know was written in the 80's. Allow me to go through them. Depeche Mode. Depeche Mode is a class of it's own, so I needn't delve further on them. As is Nine Inch Nails. So that leaves me with the rest. And the rest are just as great! Tears For Fears. Duran Duran's latest Red Carpet Massacre. Tears for Fears, Duran Duran, The Pet Shop Boys just to begin with. Erasure, with the original Depeche Mode founder Vince Clark. He also founded Yazoo. Then we have Aha, OMD, New Order, Thompson Twins and U2. All influential in my love for music as I know it. Howard Jones. Let's not forget Howard Jones and one of my favourite songs by him What Is Love. Nik Kershaw and his hit, The Riddle. Does anyone remember the original boy band The Bros? I never liked them initially, but when I realised that they can actually play their instruments and not just sing in studios only, I really started to appreciate them. Dire Straits and their Money for Nothing song was another hit too. And who can forget Camouflage and that anthem of a song The Great Commandment. I remember playing that again and again on the cassette player when I was at The Big Splash with my classmates in primary 5. Camouflage. Then there were the alternative bands like The Sisters of Mercy, Blur, Jesus Jones, Ned's Atomic Dustbin, and even Nirvana fronted by the late great Kurt Cobain. The Charlatans, The Farm, The Stone Roses. Wow this list is never going to end is it?! But this are the things I miss in life. When everything was as near to perfect as it could be. When the music and the lyrics was written by the singers themselves. Nothing like what we have today. Songs sang by so called artist who are so young , that it's obvious even they don't know what they are singing about. You can tell that they didn't write it. They sing about having their heart broken so badly, when we know that they have hardly reached puberty. When they start growing hair in the right places, they'll know better. I hope. Still for me, I can and always will cherish the great music that I got to grow up with. Even as I write this, I'm listening to Depeche Mode's Never Let Me Down Again. In fact I just tuned into a heavy rock cover version of Depeche Mode's World in My Eyes by a band called Sonata Arctica. It will bring you into a whole new world. My World. Go on, click below and listen to it. Listen how two worlds collide gracefully. I know you want to. Moonlight Sonata anyone? How fitting.

Don't Bull the World

I cannot remember the last time I tuned in to the radio. There are so many things not right with the stations that I don't even know where to start. OK there was actually one station I did occasionally tuned into but it wasn't local, it was the BBC. The local, all crap. I don't remember ever buying a record or a cassette, (I'm from the late 70's remember?), because I heard a song or a band on the radio first. Even now, the latest downloads or CDs I buy are mostly of bands I grew up listening to or I'm familiar with. I used to head down to the many record and CD shops at Orchard and randomly listen through whatever they had. Or I'd mostly get info from my many friends who like me were also musicians. Some of us shared similar taste so it was easier back then to swap stuff. Then there were these few CD shops that actually allowed us to rent CDs. One that I recall was called Recoil, I think. It was over at Midpoint Orchard. But coming back to the local radio stations, I never found them up to par with what was really going on in the rest of the world. Seriously, the first thing I couldn't stand about the local DJs (if that's what they call themselves) is the English used. Speak good English yes, some and I mean very few of them could, but what is with that accent? Is that really how they speak at home or with their friends? They sound like they were born in some foreign land and suddenly parachuted into the radio station. These people eat Nasi Lemak, Roti Prata and Char Kway Teow and here they come sounding like some Angmoh who were born in America. Do they ever look in the mirror? Listening to them speak sometimes is like listening to a very bad comedy. Very torturous. Like nails on a blackboard. And that's another thing. They keep blabbering on and on about some stupid contest or some comic sketch that they have come up with or some other load of crap. I didn't tune in to the radio to listen to them telling their personal sad stories to each other. Where's the music? And when they do start playing, there is that hopeless repetition of the same songs over and over and over and over and over and over and over and. .. . . . . . . . . . .(now you know how that feels). I understand that there is a certain protocol that they are required to follow, but don't they have a mind of their own? Do we have to wait for the song to be a hit in another country before we start playing it here? I can go on but never mind. I'm better off without them. We all are. Thanks to my 'experimentation' with music I now know of bands and music genres that would probably not have seen the light of day on these stations. It's strange but nice to know how a song or a band has become a hit a long time after I'm already bored with it. It's nicer to lead then to follow.

Nine Inch Nails in Singapore

Twenty years ago. That was the first time I heard of NIN. That was when they released their first album, Pretty Hate Machine. I was an avid local musician at that time and this band was one of my influences. Frankly it's not much of a band as more of a soloist who brings in a bunch of other musicians to play in his band. His name is Trent Reznor. You can simply say he is the godfather of cyberpunk. Well here is the best part. As a farewell world tour, he is coming to Singapore! It is called the Wave Goodbye 2009 World tour. He is calling for an indefinite hiatus to his band. Needless to say, I'll be there on the 10th of August! His Asian tour also consists of Japan, the Philippines and Taiwan. The Singapore leg will be held at the Fort Canning Park.

..............................................................................

Click image below to get your tickets now.

............................................................................................................................................................