Paul Wong - Interview | 黃貫中 - 採訪

Most of today's bands grew up listening to Beyond's music.  The members of Beyond, Tai Chi and others of that generation are the idols for many rock music fans.  And of these members, the strongest and most persistent is definitely Paul Wong. 

But when he hears this he only shakes his head in denial.

"Why do they call me the "Godfather of Hong Kong Rock?" he asked, feigning a serious demeanor as his eyes widen and he stiffles his laughter.  "Am I really that severe?  Or was I so serious in the past?"

Of course he wasn't, but when you consider Rock music in Hong Kong, it isn't much good if you refrain from mentioning Paul.  Without him it wouldn't be a real Rock party!

The "Godfather's" most recent development is bringing together all of the newest generation of Hong Kong's rock bands for the upcoming "Let's Fight" concert.  Even those whom he forgot to include have called him up asking "Why did you leave us out?".  They all want to be a part of this event -- including Steven Wong!

At the age of 15 Paul formed his own folk music band.  But his motivation for learning music is contrary to what many other musicians say.

"Why do they say that playing guitar attracts girls?  It was the opposite for me!  Once I started practicing guitar the girls ran away!"

It was with a fierce dedication that Paul would practice music, forgetting to drink and eat, locking himself in a room and avoiding all parties and social interaction.  Every day, week, month, year -- year after year -- he would practice until his fingers bled.  He would soak his fingers in ice water to stop the swelling and keep playing again until his finger tips were nothing more than calluses.

Most people regard Paul as the best guitarist to ever come out of Hong Kong.  They give him accolades like "The top of the field" or "The number one musician of his era".

But to this he replies "I'm just so-so."

"If you think about it, there is no number one in literature, there is no number one in martial arts.  Guitar is a type of literature so there can't be an absolute best, number one guitarist." He explains, admitting "It's easy for me to become engrossed.  Once I start to love something, I can completely engross myself in it."

He taught himself piano for the purpose of composing music.  "You can't play guitar with the same two hand coordination" so he used the piano.  And he taught himself drums for stress release.  "Unhappiness isn't something you can avoid, like bad weather and emotions" so he vents his frustration on the drums.

"I live in New Territories, not in the City" he said.  "I would go crazy if I lived in that kind of place."  He looks around his studio for a moment and then adds, "I like the singing of birds, and wind and sunshine and fresh air."  But even being in that environment he still works 6 days a week, Monday to Saturday, so there is very little time for relaxation.

When asked about the current state of the music industry he lets out an emotional sigh.  "You know, albums used to sell close to 200 - 300 thousand copies.  But today the best you can hope for is around 30 - 40 thousand.  Some only sell a few thousand copies.  How can an artist make a living this way?"

He says that today the agents don't just help them to sell albums, but they try to use the artist in advertisements, movies and television shows.  Being in a band used to be the musician's main purpose, but not anymore.  Now being in a band is just a novelty, but doesn't have much future.

"But I'm not so pessimistic.  I believe that there needs to be someone to step out and support these bands -- someone needs to take that first step.  I know that a band can be a vital force after 2 or 3 years, if their managers can have enough foresight."  Paul says, adding that he's had the idea for the "Let's Fight" show for a long time.  His hope was that many in the industry would join in to help organize it, but many people didn't think the idea had merit so he ended up doing it on his own.

His own set will last about 1 hour with over 10 songs in total.  He has given 2 hours of the show for other bands making a total of 3 hours for the show.  Paul, himself, will perform on both nights of the May 11 and 12 engagement, but the other bands will perform on either one day or the other.

"We also have some special guests" he mentions, "But I can't tell you who they are right now.  The audience would be very disappointed if any of them aren't able to make it."

"Hurry up and buy your tickets!" Paul says with a smile.  "Tickets rarely sell out after the show has started."

And while he doesn't worry about the box office he admits "I'll end up with a pretty severe loss if we don't sell well", adding "at the very least it will be a good experience and help me develop good friendships".

Finally he says "When you are in a place with Rock it's even better than being high.  Listen naturally to the music instead of using ecstasy."

It is clear he feels strongly about this final advice.

view photographs from this interview here find out more about the "let's fight" event here

written by: siu but dim

translation by: jojo chow

english edit by: mark moran

很多樂隊都是聽Beyond大的。Beyond的幾個成員，都是這些搖滾發燒友的偶像。當然還有太極，還有其他當時受歡迎的樂隊。但，其中最堅持，而且最硬朗的，怎麼數都是黃貫中！雖然他拼命搖頭。

「為甚麼說我是香港搖滾樂『教父』」﹖他把小眼睛瞪大，扮嚴肅，但強忍着笑說：「是不是要這麼兇﹖！因為我很兇﹖！」

當然不是！但……，有關搖滾樂的一切，如果少了黃貫中，就不成局﹔沒有Paul Wong，又哪兒稱得上是搖滾聚會﹖

這個「教父」振臂一呼，「Let’s Fight」，香港新一輩的搖滾樂隊，幾乎被他囊括，一些漏網的，他說：「都打電話來問：『為甚麼不找我﹖』都說要來！」其中還包括家強！

十五歲已經組樂隊唱民歌的阿Paul，一反其他吉他手的論調，說：「甚麼彈吉他會有女孩子來﹖相反！我一彈吉他，女孩子全跑掉了！」原來他一學吉他就茶飯不思，自己把自己關在屋子裏，甚麼地方甚麼派對都不去，一日一周一月一年，年復年，把手指都彈出血了，浸了冰水，麻痺了，再彈！直到彈出老繭。

人說黃貫中的吉他，在香港，他認第二，無人能認第一！

說他吉他彈到「絕頂」的好！

「各種花樣！」

但他說：「一般！」

又說：「文無第一！武無第二！吉他是文，所以無第一！」

他只承認：「我這人會沉迷！喜歡起一樣東西來，就會沉迷進去！」

他似乎把甚麼都輕描淡寫。會彈鋼琴，自學，用來作曲。「彈吉他不能左手彈主調右手配合。」所以他彈鋼琴！會打鼓，自學，用來發洩。「不開心了，想不通了，天氣不好，精神不好……。」通通可以用打鼓來發洩！

「我不住城裏。我住新界。」他說：「如果要我一直住在這樣的環境裏，我會瘋掉！」他環視他的Studio：「我要聽鳥叫！有風聲，有陽光，有清新的空氣。」但他每周一至六都會在這裏。工作！不是休息！

講到樂壇的走向，慨嘆了：「以前唱片賣得好，是二十三十萬張，現在﹖能賣到三四萬張，已經叫多的了。有的只賣幾千張。怎麼靠它生活﹖！」

經理人公司一定要有歌手，但不能光靠賣碟，還得有廣告拍，有電影、電視演……。樂隊曾經主流過，但不是今日。今日的樂隊，只能是興趣，看不到前景。

「我倒也不是這麼悲觀，我覺得，要作主流，就要有人支持，但是要有人支持，先得有人肯走頭一步﹔我有預感樂隊在未來的一兩年裏，會有生機，但是還得要有有遠見的經理人。」阿Paul說他有這場「Let’s Fight Show」的意念已經好久了，他希望能有好多樂隊加入，但行內的人都不看好，結果只有他自己頂着頭皮上。

在這Show裏，他個人的表演是一小時，大約唱十幾首歌，其他樂隊合起來唱兩小時，一共三小時的節目。而他11、12兩天都唱，其他樂隊就不是個個都唱兩天了。「還有要來客串的，」他說：「我不講是誰，省得到時候人不到，對不起觀眾。」

「沒有買票﹖快點買票！」阿Paul推廣，但還是笑：「很奇怪，每次都是不到開Show不見去票。」他對票房不是太擔心，但他也承認：「如果賣得不好，我要蝕本，而且很到肉。」

雖說有蝕本可能，但：「起碼賺到經驗和友誼！」

又說：「去搖頭場不如去搖滾！」

還說：「要吃fing頭丸fing，不如natural點去聽！」

明白麼﹖

他真的用心良苦！！！

__________________________________________[view photographs from this interview here](http://www.alivenotdead.com/23241/viewspace1900.html) find out more about the "let's fight" event here

written by: siu but dim

translation by: jojo chow

english edit by: mark moran