Local Musicians Need Countrymen's Support To Be Internationally Renowned, Says Rock Star

KOTA KINABALU (Sabah, Malaysia), Nov 4 (Bernama) -- Local musicians need the support from their own countrymen to give them the boost they require in order to be internationally renowned, an international musician said Sunday. Ron Thal, guitarist of legendary rock band Guns N' Roses, said it was important the local community rallied their full support to ensure the success of their local musicians, which could possibly put them on the path to stardom. "That's what we have been doing in the US. The American people support their local bands. It's our culture. "That kind of support is what pushes these budding artistes to persevere and work harder to achieve their ambitions," he told a press conference here. The guitarist, or affectionately known as Bumblefoot, has been here since Saturday to conduct musical outreach programmes until Monday. Thal said he was also pursuing his idea of organising a music festival combining popular artistes and aspiring musicians from around the world to allow those musicians be known by the international community. "There are a lot of phenomenal musicians everywhere in the world, but who do not have the opportunity to branch out. "I think this (festival) is a fantastic way for these musicians to gain attention," he said. Although he did not see himself as a rock star, Thal, who has been in the industry for over 20 years, saw himself as a bridge for those local talents to cross over and become the great musicians they dreamed to be. "My visit here may be the start of bridging that connection. "There comes a point when music means something more in order to provide a greater good and it's a waste of talent if it is not used to that potential," he said. Thal also belted out a couple of songs by Guns N' Roses with his double-neck guitar, including a Malay classic song 'Anak Ayam' which was made popular by Malay veteran actor M. Zain in the movie 'Singapura Dilanggar Todak' which was based on the legendary tale of when the island of Singapore was attacked by swordfish. Thal's visit is organised by the Society for the Performing Arts Kota Kinabalu Sabah (SPArKS) and the US Embassy. He also conducted a music workshop with about 100 participants at the Sabah Institute of Arts and performed for the Sabah Society for the Blind Sunday evening. Monday, he is scheduled to perform a free public concert at the Sabah National Department of Culture and Arts at 7.30pm. Thal will also conduct similar outreach programmes in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 5-8, with a highlight performance on Nov 6 at the National Visual Arts Gallery in which he will be collaborating with traditional Malay music group Dewangga Sakti. -- BERNAMA