Legends About Thunderbirds, Tornados n Strings

From left: Freddie Kang (Thunderbirds), John Cher, Andy Lim (Silver Strings), Derek McCully (The Tornados).

One of the reasons why I write this blog is to get like-minded music people to meet and chat; so this blog is like a cyberspace kopi-tiam (coffee joint).

It has been happening since because John Cher who appreciates this blog and its usefulness, has been doing something similar. He's been gathering music-makers together for personal chit-chats in the real kopi-tiams.

And I must thank him for his innovative ways in getting people together.

On Friday last John and I (Silver Strings) met, but this time with two legends who are still around.  I remember this gentleman meeting Rickie Chng (Silver Strings lead) and myself at Novena Square, twelve months earlier, thundering into the mall and announcing himself with his sirens and beepers as he approached us (image: 2). 

Freddie Kang (record cover image: 2nd right), was from the Thunderbirds, one of the top ten bands from Singapore 60's that was still playing some years back at the Carriage Bar in Orchard Road.  

When he left the group, he went solo and with his impactful Fender Strat and appropriate amplifiers became a successful one-man band for 16 years at Riverview Hotel.  (now known as Four Points by Sheraton)

You have to sit with Freddie to know him better. He's got lots of history to tell and the two hours I spent with him hardly covered the first pages of his life story.

The other gentleman is one I had met when he with his group performed at the Temasek Club some years ago, with the band's rhythmist at that time, Arthur Lim. 

The band is called The Tornados and he was from St. Andrew School.  They made a record with the Sundowners. This grey-haired gentleman sat beside me with his numerous stories of knights in shining armour riding in fast Lamborginis, Ferraris and Aston Martins.

Derek McCully from the famous McCully clan in Singapore told John, Freddie and me about how he decided to: 

Only play the guitar for fun
And not to chari-makan...
                     
The question is, how did he *chari makan?  Definitely not with his guitar and Hank Marvin riffs.  Although he was just too good with The Shadows repertoire of instrumental hits, he did something else to earn a living.

                      Derek McCully (left) with an Aston Martin Lagonda.

As I explained this posting is just a teaser.  So for more stories about The Thunderbirds and The Tornados, watch out for them soon on this blog. 

Not the usual, who joined the band and who left, but a peek into their background and what made them take up the solid guitars they armed themselves with.  Our own Guitar Heroes!

*literal: looking for food = earn an income.

Images: A Private Collection and Star On-Line.
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