Gone but not forgotten

IT’S CERTAINLY their first and possibly their last but next week’s concert by the ’80s rockers Wong Tawan, will certainly be a memorable reunion as it sees the lads realising a long-held dream – performing with an orchestra.

“I think all rock bands and indeed all musicians really want to play with an orchestra at some time in their careers, and now we are,” says Kittiphan “Moo” Punkabutr, the guitarist and vocalist of Wong Tawan at the recent press conference for “The Symphonic of Wong Tawan Live with Mahanakorn Philharmonic Orchestra”, which is being staged next Saturday afternoon at 4 at the Prince Mahidol Hall of Mahidol University.

The upcoming show has also been a long-held dream of Vinij Lertratanachai, chief executive of Fresh Air Festival.

“Back in 2004, I worked with the band’s keyboardist Pongprom ‘Poom’ Snitwong Na Ayuthaya on producing ‘Kwan Thai Jai Nueng Diew’, a song that Ad Carabao wrote in support of the residents of Thailand southernmost border provinces. We gathered together more artists than Supergroup USA had for Michael Jackson’s ‘We Are the World’ but then the tsunami hit and the song was never publicly presented. Then last year, Poom and I worked together again on ‘Mahajanaka the Phenomenon Live Show’,” says Vinij. 

“I am delighted to put this show together as it will be the first and only concert that Wong Tawan performs in front of a 2,000-strong audience at Thailand’s best venue and with the country’s best production team.”

MR Ruchayabha Abhakara, Fresh Air Festival’s chief operating officer, is also looking forward to the concert. 

“The acoustics at Prince Mahidol Hall are amazing and I am not exaggerating when I say it offers the best sound in Asia. Mr Team is one of the country’s leading production teams and their set up will allow the audience to fully exercise their imagination while listening to Wong Tawan’s musical works.” 

Wong Tawan was formed in 1984 by former McIntosh members, Kittiphan, bassist Marutha “Prince” Ratanasampan and drummer Wongsakorn “Ton” Rassamitat. They recruited guitarist Chaiwat “Khun” Chulaphan and keyboardist Pongprom and immediately landed a residency at the Asia Hotel. The band released its first album, “Hoon Krabok” (“Puppet”), in 1986 and also set up their own production house, Orange Music Group, producing music for commercials and dramas as well as for other artists such as Eiffel, Heavy Mod, Thaneth Warakulnukroh and Carabao.

Other albums followed with “Mob” released in 1992 and “12 Zodiac” in 1993. 1996’s “The Promise”, the band’s swan song, leaned more towards rock opera, with the latter featuring all English songs written by Todd Thongdee Lavelle and inspired by the thoughts of patients at a psychiatric hospital.

Next week, almost 20 years since they last played together, Wong Tawan is performing with the newly formed Mahanakorn Philharmonic Orchestra.

 “We have brought together a group of young turk musicians for our own orchestra under the baton of conductor Apisit “Jack” Wongchoti, who worked with us on ‘Mahajanaka the Phenomenon Live Show’,” says Vinij.

“Jirapan Ansvananda, Bruce Gaston and Somtow Sucharitkul have built a new generation of musicians. Wong Tawan fans already know that our songs are melodious even without the orchestral sound,” says Pongprom. 

“We discussed our set list and Ton sent it out to his fan club and from there, we’ve come up with a set of 23 songs.”

 “We haven’t played together for 20 years, so this concert is like a homecoming party. It will be great fun,” Marutha adds.

 

BOOK NOW

 

- “The Symphonic of Wong Tawan Live with Mahanakorn Philharmonic Orchestra” takes place at Prince Mahidol Hall of Mahidol University, Salaya campus next Saturday, October 31, at 4pm.

- Tickets cost from Bt1,500 to Bt3,000 at Thai Ticket Major.

- Call (02) 262 3456 or visit www.ThaiTicketMajor.com.