after 2 years, i’m giving up on playing drums
it’s silly to say this but i have been studying to play drums for the past 2 years INTENSIVELY. i have invested in acquiring the skills and getting the right gear to help myself sound good. and just about when i’m almost virtually on par with michael and hooi playing, i gotta give up. why? michael got a project, which will last for about 6 months. and if things work out, he will be extending the project. geographically and time wise, playing with uglymen is no longer possible for michael.
the sheer fun factor is brought down to earth, violently. but hooi and i gotta support mike in his career move because throughout his participation with us actively since 2003, he has seen ups and downs. the constant practice, planning and gigging took a toll on him. he has jeopardized his classes, career, time etc. sad. he has sacrificed a lot for the band.
i was not about to give up drums until hooi told me “why don’t you play back the guitar?” i said “huh?”. it never crosses my mind that ONE day, i *may* switch back to play the guitar. i have abandoned the guitar, i have sold off my books, CDs and passed my guitar effects to michael. i still have my one and only one guitar with me. it’s like going back to your long gone hometown and what you see are just flashes of memories and unfamiliar faces. what the f*? i don’t even know what is the common guitar amp in the market, what effects are making waves or which guitarists are taking the world by storm. all i know is that the electric guitar is still having 6 strings… sigh…
i did some thinking. the things that i left behind are coming back at me now. i thought for it for a few weeks. when i switched from playing the guitar to drums 2 years ago, there WAS no turning back. NOW, i’m skeptical. i can’t play the guitar like i used to. i need to re-learn all the things, i have forgotten already — i can’t play fast, clean or complex. i’m a total shit now. 
anyway, to be honest, i have thought of doing something else if uglymen were to stop from the point mike calling it quit. i was thinking of taking up other hobbies, learning new skills, writing or working part time. because ah hooi told me to think about it…. i think and think, then i ask ah hooi “who is the drummer then?“.
ah hooi said … (to be continued in next my post)
15 responses so far ↓
SilverIsle // Mar 19, 2008 at 12:57 am
The only thing I can say now is, ALL THE VERY BEST!
It’s hard for me to accept the change, but my support will still always be there for you guys.
I totally salute and respect the courage taken by you guys especially you, Suan, to make this decision. I know it’s not easy, but you have not only proved to us once, but many times, that nothing is impossible.
Lastly, a very big welcome to the new drummer, if you are reading this. Kekeke.
Rock on Uglymen!
michael // Mar 19, 2008 at 2:16 am
rch home 1.45am….. another good night out…
leh mah… say until like i die liao… tihs is temporary la… if u guys got come back weekend, we still can practise la… i play mon tue wed sat… 9.30pm - 1.00am
u shud go back playing guitar, bcos i no wan always play guitar alone, sipek sien, let me hao lien nia… see? now Sony japan also delete my guitar video liao… leh mah…..
when to unveil the new drummer… wahahaha
hell yeah! woooooooooooo
-Chun weI- // Mar 19, 2008 at 9:07 am
KN… who’s the new drummer? yesterday while reading this the only thing that strike through my mind is”is this the end of uglymen” mana tau got new drummer…. damn,,,,
fleaman // Mar 19, 2008 at 10:54 am
Welcome to Uglymen, Mr. Drum Machine!
you’ll be the perfect match.. no error!
Welcome, petshop boys! hahahahahahaha…
Mikey needs to move on la… i am happy with his decision… that joker is no longer 18… now he has to think of so many things..
1) Earn more bucks for family n his own life
2) Get his first home/apt
3) Married with kids
Peer pressure is piling up on his end too!
So… i will be back playing drums with Uglymen… just like Chad Smith! wahahahakakakakakakakakak…
michael // Mar 19, 2008 at 2:04 pm
ya… chun wei, fleaman will be our new drummer..
fleaman.. thanks for the comment, but frankly, i never felt any pressure from peers, life is too short to get under pressure, to me, life’s most important thing is to stamp a mark at the place where you once lived, and i havent done that… money, married or not is another thing…. kids??? hahaha… i dont like kids.
-Chun weI- // Mar 19, 2008 at 2:54 pm
wow…. great!!! i’m loking forward to that!!! hahaha… cant wait for ur next show
ichibang // Mar 19, 2008 at 5:50 pm
michael, kai siao lu kang tao job, sure earn $$ fast, then u can play music all the time
become turtle head. Ur friend will love u too!!!
taisuan // Mar 19, 2008 at 8:35 pm
it was a hard decision but its a decision that has to be made. there was no pressure but respect to decisions and that’s why i love this band so much.
chun wei, thanks for the kind words (SMS). i didn’t know that u felt sad about my decision.
fleaman // Mar 19, 2008 at 10:11 pm
Mikey.. i’m just putting pressure on u man! hahahahahahaha…
¿KÆVIN™¿ // Mar 20, 2008 at 6:06 pm
so u selling ur gear??
taisuan // Mar 20, 2008 at 7:51 pm
well… not really. so far, haven’t thought of selling my gear cause these gear is quite high end. if i sell and the new drummer doesn’t have something good, the band sound will be bad and it will affect hooi and my playing.
i am so tempted to sell just for the sake of money but i dont think money can buy us the satisfaction from playing in a good sounding band.
Glacius // Mar 22, 2008 at 5:34 am
I guess I understand what Tai Suan is going through. Personally, I’m giving up on the band I’m in. Everybody’s around Malaysia..impossible to play liao lah..
just sit home and play guitar and learn new things everyday also make me happy; but not for long..missing of companions to play music with.
..therefore i shall take up drums and join uglymen one day! AHHAahAHAHAHAHAHA
but still, all the best you all..I would be heartbroken if I saw you all going your own ways..
Michael: I am a kid and you don’t like me!?!?!?!?
gnap // Mar 22, 2008 at 10:11 am
“I would be heartbroken if I saw you all going your own ways..”
I second that.
¿KÆVIN™¿ // Mar 22, 2008 at 1:59 pm
how about effects??
u still have extra money??
taisuan // Mar 22, 2008 at 3:41 pm
glacius, gnap — we’ll do well. will blog soon.
kaevin - no effects liao… u lend me yours la…
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