Clash of the titans

Published on July 17, 2007

Fans heading to Saturday's "Clash Army" concert at Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani, are in for a real treat, as the five rockers are promising a performance that goes way beyond their usual spectacular shows.

This time round, Clash are staging a mini rock opera as part of the concert, a musical play that their long-time producer, Permsak "Op" Pisitsungkakarn, says will take even the hardest rock-heads by surprise.

"This is the biggest and most difficult concert I've ever worked on," he admits.

Permsak, a former member of the now disbanded group Time, has been working with vocalist Preeti "Bank" Barameeanant, bassist Sukrit "Zum" Sripaoraya, drummer Anan "Yuk" Dappattikorn and guitarists Thapana "Hack" Na Bangchang and Khotchapak "Pon" Pholthanachod, since the early days.

Clash burst on to the scene in 2001 with the hit "Kod" off their debut album "One" on the GMM Grammy subsidiary Up G, and have since recorded another four studio albums, including last year's best-selling "Clashing".

"Before making their first album, Clash experimented with a handful of producers, myself included, to develop their image and sound. I brought together their individual talents and abilities, and mixed their favourite music styles for a new sound," he recalls.

Saturday's concert is divided into four acts. The first part is an introduction and the second features the musical. In part three, the band "clash" with fellow rockers Silly Fools. The rock opera sees Peter Corp Dyrendal and Bank vying for the same woman, Singaporean actress and model Ase Wang, recently voted by the FHM magazine as this year's Sexiest Asian.

"The musical is a kind of a fantasy," Permsak explains. "Bank plays both a singer and an actor, with images switching between screen and stage. On stage, he will be like a third person chasing after the same woman.

"We are using a film-editing process for the projector. The audience will see Bank on stage and his animation image on screen," he adds. "The play will be accompanied by five songs orchestrated by a 100-piece orchestra to give them a Hollywood soundtrack feel."

But while Permsak says the musical promises plenty of excitement and romance, there won't be any sexy scenes. "There's nothing erotic in the action. The passion comes from the love songs like 'Fai Rak'," he smiles.

Will the players wear special costumes for the rock opera?

Permsak is non-committal. "The story is set in the aftermath of a war. People are living in a strange civilisation. It's a bit like the movie 'Mad Max'. The stage is being designed as an imaginary place, maybe on another planet."

Clash will play more than 20 songs during the concert, including two new tracks "Saak Khon" and "Sak Wan Chan Ja Pai Ha Ther".

Permsak is confident the show will satisfy the band's legions of fans and knows that his boys will go on to bigger and better things.

"Today, all members of the band have their own charisma.

"They are proficient musicians with their own signature sound.

"Rock music is emotional. If a band is to survive on today's competitive scene, it must produce quality music and, most importantly, impart emotion to its followers," he concludes.

"Clash Army Rock" kicks off at 7pm. Tickets cost Bt900, Bt700 and Bt500 and are available at Thaiticketmajor.com.

For more information, call

GMM Live at (02) 669 9191 or visit GMMLive.com.

Kitchana Lersakvanitchakul

The Nation