| |
| |
![]() |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
What do the members of We Will Rock You do after performing onstage? Well, they go to other clubs to perform, apparently.
At least, that's what the show's star MiG Ayesa and some band members did last week. They were at a party organised by 42 Below Vodka, and jumped onstage to perform Queen songs , natch, and other familiar favourites and original numbers.
"It's always very rock 'n' roll with this band," said musical director Rowan Bakker who, at 25, is one of the youngest musical directors for a major musical.
"Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to be a rock star," said Ayesa. "My mum was fretting, because she's a doctor, my dad's a lawyer, my grandfathers were doctors, my brother's an optometrist and my half-brother is a medical student — and then, there's me."
But much to his mother's dismay, "I still don't have my degree," admitted the 38-year-old, who said he chose rock 'n' roll over a Communications degree with a major in film production.
He may not have a degree, but he does have an album out in stores. Entitled MiG, it contains covers of classic rock songs and three original numbers he wrote: She Loved (with a video circulating on MTV), You And I and Could It Be.
But it's not just Ayesa who wants to rock out. We Will Rock You drummer Matthew Marinus had his own band playing original numbers before he joined the show. And guitarist Nick Kendall used to be in a covers band when he was 12, playing "everything from Elvis to modern stuff".
The 18-year-old guitarist has the distinction of being the youngest member in the musical's band history — he was only 16 when he joined an original South-African production two years ago. And though he wasn't even born when Queen recorded their memorable hits, he said it's impossible not to know the music of Queen. "Even before I knew about We Will Rock You, I was playing Queen songs in clubs and stuff," Kendall said.
By contrast, the first time Marinus played Queen songs was when he joined the show. "But the songs they've written are so timeless," said the 23-year-old drummer. "I think one of the most amazing things is that Queen left such a legacy with their music that a whole bunch of youngsters from South Africa like myself can travel the world just because they started something long ago."
"Well, I read on the Internet that they're doing a sequel so … there's my next job!" quipped Bakker, although he said he wouldn't mind being a musical director on Broadway or West End. "If I didn't have music in my life, I would die," he added.
For Ayesa, he's already planning another album ("all original stuff, more organic rock and soul"), and he wants to do … well, everything, really. "I see myself having children, writing songs for films, producing for up-and-coming bands, doing the odd tour now and then, or just the odd theatre show," he said. He's also been invited to perform at this year's SingFest, but "nothing's been confirmed yet".
And he might get that degree after all. "I think when I'm in my 50s or 60s, I'll go: 'Now's a good time to finish University'."
Just don't expect him to give up music. "It's the ultimate in self-expression and creativity and job satisfaction," said Ayesa. "I could never not perform. That's my soul — if I am performing, I know I'm in a good place."
MiG is out at all CD shops. We Will Rock You runs till April 27 at the Esplanade Theatre. - TODAY/fa
|
