55 replies to this topic

[Grand Ayatollah Dismantler]

Far too many articles on the death of Andy Brown when talking about his time with Ilanga refer to Comrade Chinx as the "frontman" of Ilanga.

This is incorrect

In music speak the term frontman refers to either the lead singer or the leader of a band or otherwise its most prominent member.

Chinx was never a member of Ilanga. He however used them as session musicians when he recorded and often toured with them. But he was never part of Ilanga. The confusion comes from the fact that when Chinx started off as a studio musician, Keith Farqhuarson who later became Ilanga keyboard player, was Chinx keyboard player and producer. Because Keith was integral of Chinx sound, when Ilanga was later formed it made sense for Chinx to tour with them

But Chinx was never part of the Ilanga act and is not featured on any of their songs

The "frontman" of Ilanga was Don Gumbo. Amazing how so called "music reporters" can get such simple things wrong

[Grand Ayatollah Dismantler]

Sowhat, on 19 March 2012 - 09:44 AM, said:

So Keith Farqhuarson actually Produced for Cde Chinx?

Yes

I recall in the 1980s watching Mvengemvenge wondering who the white man wearing the "Tommy" shoes in Chinx "Zvikomborero" video was

Talented boy that Keith Farqhuarson. Now he is a producer and sound engineer for South Africa's Freshly Ground. He has engineered for Tuku as well in the past for certain live shows here in SA

[Team*Hombe]

Keith has also produced for the Rusike brothers as well.

[John Kachere]

Grand Ayatollah Dismantler, on 19 March 2012 - 09:40 AM, said:

Far too many articles on the death of Andy Brown when talking about his time with Ilanga refer to Comrade Chinx as the "frontman" of Ilanga.

This is incorrect

In music speak the term frontman refers to either the lead singer or the leader of a band or otherwise its most prominent member.

Chinx was never a member of Ilanga. He however used them as session musicians when he recorded and often toured with them. But he was never part of Ilanga. The confusion comes from the fact that when Chinx started off as a studio musician, Keith Farqhuarson who later became Ilanga keyboard player, was Chinx keyboard player and producer. Because Keith was integral of Chinx sound, when Ilanga was later formed it made sense for Chinx to tour with them

But Chinx was never part of the Ilanga act and is not featured on any of their songs

The "frontman" of Ilanga was Don Gumbo. Amazing how so called "music reporters" can get such simple things wrong

You expecting too much from Zim journalists... Below is a website which supposedly tries to tell the story of Zim musicians. Ndakaridza tsamwa ndikazvirega    even the album s and times are mixed up...

http://intimatemomen...s.blogspot.com/

[golonice]

who played bass on the song 'Tshisalanga' ?

That is a song and a half

[Grand Ayatollah Dismantler]

golonice, on 19 March 2012 - 10:56 AM, said:

who played bass on the song 'Tshisalanga' ?

That is a song and a half

Don Gumbo

[Ruffius]

Grand Ayatollah Dismantler, on 19 March 2012 - 09:40 AM, said:

Far too many articles on the death of Andy Brown when talking about his time with Ilanga refer to Comrade Chinx as the "frontman" of Ilanga.

This is incorrect

In music speak the term frontman refers to either the lead singer or the leader of a band or otherwise its most prominent member.

Chinx was never a member of Ilanga. He however used them as session musicians when he recorded and often toured with them. But he was never part of Ilanga. The confusion comes from the fact that when Chinx started off as a studio musician, Keith Farqhuarson who later became Ilanga keyboard player, was Chinx keyboard player and producer. Because Keith was integral of Chinx sound, when Ilanga was later formed it made sense for Chinx to tour with them

But Chinx was never part of the Ilanga act and is not featured on any of their songs

The "frontman" of Ilanga was Don Gumbo. Amazing how so called "music reporters" can get such simple things wrong

Very right there GAD. Zimbabwean journalists are very lazy, ill-informed and such crap writing makes it difficult to believe a thing they say. cde Chinx was friends with Don - I met him at gigs in Byo and harare and I was very surprised by how nice the guy was. No airs and graces and in my view, this is a proper proper gandanga (based on my experience with him of course) ie not a fake idiot, but someone who at the time was humbled by his war experiences. You have to understand this was a long time ago and people may have changed but my encounter with this guy was not a bad one by any chance. It is true he occasionally fronted Ilanga but he was NOT the permanent frontman - that was the bass guitarist: Don.

one last thing on this: Ilanga had brought together extremely talented artists who in my view would have really gone very very far had they not allowed pride and egoism to get in the way.

From Busi's piercing vocals, Andy's screaming lead, Don's thumping bass, Keith's melodic keyboards, Adam Chisvo and Charles mangena on percussion, you had really some top, top talent. I really wish someone had kept these guys together, like a good manager/sponsor - we would be talking Zimbabwe's version of ABBA in terms of foreign-currency earning!

[golonice]

Grand Ayatollah Dismantler, on 19 March 2012 - 11:08 AM, said:

Don Gumbo

the guy's Bass was World Class.
i like the way he changes tempo on the song 'Tshisalanga'

this is my song for chillout and long journeys

[Grand Ayatollah Dismantler]

Ruffius, on 19 March 2012 - 12:02 PM, said:

Very right there GAD. Zimbabwean journalists are very lazy, ill-informed and such crap writing makes it difficult to believe a thing they say. cde Chinx was friends with Don - I met him at gigs in Byo and harare and I was very surprised by how nice the guy was. No airs and graces and in my view, this is a proper proper gandanga (based on my experience with him of course) ie not a fake idiot, but someone who at the time was humbled by his war experiences. You have to understand this was a long time ago and people may have changed but my encounter with this guy was not a bad one by any chance. It is true he occasionally fronted Ilanga but he was NOT the permanent frontman - that was the bass guitarist: Don.

one last thing on this: Ilanga had brought together extremely talented artists who in my view would have really gone very very far had they not allowed pride and egoism to get in the way. From Busi's piercing vocals, Andy's screaming lead, Don's thumping bass, Keith's melodic keyboards, Adam Chisvo and Charles mangena on percussion, you had really some top, top talent. I really wish someone had kept these guys together, like a good manager/sponsor - we would be talking Zimbabwe's version of ABBA in terms of foreign-currency earning!

They would never have stayed together. The groups that endure are those where each member is above average but not outstanding. Where some members are good instrument players can play an instrument but cant sing to save their lives. Others are good singers but dont have songwriting skills etc.  Therefore the members know that they all need each other and are better in a collective than on their own. Where you have groups with two or more outstanding individuals who can play, sing and write songs that group wont last cause people will leave to do their own thing. Egos and alternative musical visions will come in the way. Just look at the Beatles and the Wailers - or in this case Ilanga.  It was Peter Tosh who said "I did not come onto this earth to be a mere background vocalist" when explaining the break up of the Wailers.

Its the same thing in Groups with one stand out performer and a bunch of average blokes. The star will soon go solo (e.g Michael Jackson and the Jacksons) cause no point in sharing the loot and the limelight with 5 guys ina group if you can have all the money and fame to yourself

[Octane]

Grand Ayatollah Dismantler, on 19 March 2012 - 09:40 AM, said:

Far too many articles on the death of Andy Brown when talking about his time with Ilanga refer to Comrade Chinx as the "frontman" of Ilanga.

This is incorrect

In music speak the term frontman refers to either the lead singer or the leader of a band or otherwise its most prominent member.

Chinx was never a member of Ilanga. He however used them as session musicians when he recorded and often toured with them. But he was never part of Ilanga. The confusion comes from the fact that when Chinx started off as a studio musician, Keith Farqhuarson who later became Ilanga keyboard player, was Chinx keyboard player and producer. Because Keith was integral of Chinx sound, when Ilanga was later formed it made sense for Chinx to tour with them

But Chinx was never part of the Ilanga act and is not featured on any of their songs

The "frontman" of Ilanga was Don Gumbo. Amazing how so called "music reporters" can get such simple things wrong

Cde Chinx Chingayira, that useless, ex-combatant had the nerve to require such an immaculate band as "Ilanga" to re-name themselves "Barrel of Peace" when they play with him.Ilanga didn't need him; he needed Ilanga!
Just see how talented the individual members were when you look at how their seperate careers went.Busie Ncube, "umaNcube" completely went viral with her "True Love" hit.
Don Gumbo, we don't even mention.Andy Brown, we won't mention until he joined Zanu.

[John Madhiri]

chinx haana kubvira abta gidhi mufunge, ndo vataiti ma cheer leader ku chimoi

[Mujambajecha]

Nice thread


So what does an engineer like Keith Farquahson do? Strangely enough when i think of Ilanga i only think of Busi and Andy brown. This Don Gumbo he must have kept a low profile as i dont remember him at all


Photos of the members would be nice

[John Madhiri]

Don Gumbo is the soul of what we call Jazz and Soul in the zimbabwe context

[Grand Ayatollah Dismantler]

Mujambajecha, on 19 March 2012 - 02:14 PM, said:

Nice thread


So what does an engineer like Keith Farquahson do? Strangely enough when i think of Ilanga i only think of Busi and Andy brown. This Don Gumbo he must have kept a low profile as i dont remember him at all


Photos of the members would be nice

Don Gumbo sang lead on all Ilanga songs except True Love which was sung by Busi Ncube. But did not have as successful a solo career as Andy Brown

[tia]

Interesting I've always thought he was part of the group.All the same they made a great team & their shows were amazing from what i can see from youtube lol.

Busi was very talented-not so keen on her now. Is Don Gumbo still alive? I heard from my dad who is a big fan  that the group fell out caz Don Gumbo & Angy brown had a huge argument and one of them walked out of a concert? Apparently it was big news at the time

[Ruffius]

Grand Ayatollah Dismantler, on 19 March 2012 - 01:29 PM, said:

They would never have stayed together. The groups that endure are those where each member is above average but not outstanding. Where some members are good instrument players can play an instrument but cant sing to save their lives. Others are good singers but dont have songwriting skills etc.  Therefore the members know that they all need each other and are better in a collective than on their own. Where you have groups with two or more outstanding individuals who can play, sing and write songs that group wont last cause people will leave to do their own thing. Egos and alternative musical visions will come in the way. Just look at the Beatles and the Wailers - or in this case Ilanga.  It was Peter Tosh who said "I did not come onto this earth to be a mere background vocalist" when explaining the break up of the Wailers.

Its the same thing in Groups with one stand out performer and a bunch of average blokes. The star will soon go solo (e.g Michael Jackson and the Jacksons) cause no point in sharing the loot and the limelight with 5 guys ina group if you can have all the money and fame to yourself

Agreed again. The issue really is ego. Nobody in my view has a bigger ego that a good (sometimes even average)musician has. I have seen very arrogant surgeons, nuclear physicists, engineers, etc, but musicians have egos to burn.

I remember exactly how angry people were with Tosh when he said that but he went on to carve out a successful career on his own, as did Bunny wailer too. When Lionel Ritchie quit the Commodores it was pretty much the same but he really has outshone them since he left.

Robbie Williams did very well after telling members of Take That that they were sh.it and it really is the same story time and again.

and that ego, as you rightly intepret is spelt M-O-N-E-Y

[Ruffius]

Grand Ayatollah Dismantler, on 19 March 2012 - 02:50 PM, said:

Don Gumbo sang lead on all Ilanga songs except True Love which was sung by Busi Ncube. But did not have as successful a solo career as Andy Brown

because he got sick sooner

[mufambi]

Mujambajecha, on 19 March 2012 - 02:14 PM, said:

Nice thread


So what does an engineer like Keith Farquahson do? Strangely enough when i think of Ilanga i only think of Busi and Andy brown. This Don Gumbo he must have kept a low profile as i dont remember him at all


Photos of the members would be nice

Mujahedeen you are kidding right?  I can see his face in my head right now.

[Great Mambo Chabvonga]

Octane, on 19 March 2012 - 02:08 PM, said:

Cde Chinx Chingayira, that useless, ex-combatant had the nerve to require such an immaculate band as "Ilanga" to re-name themselves "Barrel of Peace" when they play with him.Ilanga didn't need him; he needed Ilanga!
Just see how talented the individual members were when you look at how their seperate careers went.Busie Ncube, "umaNcube" completely went viral with her "True Love" hit.
Don Gumbo, we don't even mention.Andy Brown, we won't mention until he joined Zanu.

True Love was done by Ilanga, not after Busi formed The Band Rain.
It was actually written by Andy Brown, with additional lyrics by Busi.

And it's just not true that Chinx ever tried to rename Ilanga - simply because, as rightly pointed out here, he was never really formally a member.

[Ruffius]

Great Mambo Chabvonga, on 19 March 2012 - 04:21 PM, said:

True Love was done by Ilanga, not after Busi formed The Band Rain.
It was actually written by Andy Brown, with additional lyrics by Busi.

And it's just not true that Chinx ever tried to rename Ilanga - simply because, as rightly pointed out here, he was never really formally a member.

very very right there- the mistakes told about these guys sometimes makes me wonder there was a deliberate disnformation against them 'coz some one was just jealous of them.

As a taster, check out the bass in this little-known song. I think Don was already ill here but hey.....