LAM MORRISON - Thailand's Rock n Roll Legend

James Loving - National Radio Text Service - Friday October 25, 2002

Having been a musician one of the questions I often ask when I go to a country is who is your greatest musician. When it came to Rock n Roll in Thailand the name Lam Morrison often came up. It took me several years to find the mysterious musician. The result being… it was worth it.

CHASING A LEGEND REAPS REWARDS

As a take off of free at last free at last we say Lam at last, Lam at last. Yea yea, sure sure…. what does that mean?

After a ten-year search we finally caught up to Thailand's rock n roll guitar legend Lam Morrison. It was a difficult task. With his having no record company, management or booking agent contacts, finding the mysterious musician was like finding a needle in a haystack.

But that was then and this is now. Unbelievably Morrison seems to have found a home where he can feel comfortable playing his music with musicians he respects. For several months he has been displaying his skills at the Blues Factory club on the famed Walking Street in Pattaya, Thailand.

Over a ten-year period I found that Morrison was as illusive as a butterfly or as difficult to find as a gold mine. My hunt has a history.

While in search for the best rock n roll musician in Thailand the name that was always mentioned was Lam Morrison. After a two years of a seek and find mission I finally caught up with Morrison in 1992 when he was playing at a small club in Phuket, Thailand.

After introducing myself as a former musician I found that Morrison was an amiable person. He invited me to sit in (play) with his trio. Not having played an instrument for fifteen years I opted to turn down his offer feeling that I couldn't do justice to the rock legend.

At that time I didn't know anything about Morrison other than he was the best rock musician in Thailand. His music background was a mystery.

That night the musicians that supported Morrison weren't up to his level. He struggled to keep the sound together. There was no foundation of support to permit him to play freely and display his skills. Despite that he played well enough to show he indeed was a great player.

Morrison is a throwback to the sixties image of musicians, long hair not dependable. I found that to be true after our first encounter. Several times Morrison was billed at several clubs. Every time I went to see him perform he didn't show up.

In October 1997 the guitarist was to appear at Bangkok's Rock Pub with his original band that was popular in the sixties and seventies.

Before the show Chaville Kahpira the original vocalist of Morrison's first hit band said the Lam Morrison band was the first ever-Thai band to play rock n roll for the troops in the Vietnam/American War. The band later toured with famed English rock group Deep Purple.

Morrison remained an enigma and nowhere to be found prior to show time. He eventually showed up and the band played on. With virtually no rehearsal Morrison's greatness surfaced.

He played great solos on some Jimmie Hendrix and Roy Buchanan tunes. The band rocked but it would only be a one-day reunion.

Morrison disappeared again. His whereabouts were unknown His name would surface from time to time but he remained an enigma.

The correlation seemed to be that when I introduced myself as a musician he was more available. When we met again and I disclosed that I was a musician turned journalist and sought an interview he became illusive and was difficult to find. He had no phone nor an address. Coincidence? Not sure.

As a member of the Blues Factory house band Morrison has sufficient support to display his skills. He shows up virtually every night Tuesday through Sunday. He is featured one show a night around midnight. Morrison also plays the entire night with his own Thai band Wednesdays and Sundays.

The Blues Factory house band is professional and experienced. Members hail from Thailand, Philippines, Ukraine, and the USA.

Several members of the group were formerly with the Tony Band. They played at bandleader's Tony's Club also on the Walking Street. When we first sought out Morrison several months ago we were told that he was with the Tony band.

Leader and harpist Greg Carroll is from the state of California in the USA. He formally played with the Robert Palmer Band and recorded three albums with the Englishman.

Guitarist Ken 'Snowman' Minahan from Chicago, Illinois (USA) has an extensive club band background. He compliments Morrison's brilliant leads with solid chord backing.

Vocalist Angie and saxophone player Ramon are from the Philippines. Bassist Taw and drummer Bruno are Thai. Keyboardist Nick is from the Ukraine.

A visit to the Blues Factory is in order for good rock n roll and blues music with some of the best rock/blues musicians in Thailand.

Sunday - Lam Morrison with Thai band

Monday - Blues Factory House Band (Morrison's day off)

Tuesday - Blues Factory Band with Lam Morrison

Wednesday - Lam Morrison with Thai band

Thursday - Blues Factory Band with Lam Morrison

Friday - Blues Factory Band with Lam Morrison

Saturday - Blues Factory Band with Lam Morrison

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