Nik Confides

Nik has been filling in on various saxophones for much of the last decade. Now he’s become a permanent member so it’s time to find out more about this mysterious man.

What is your earliest memory?

你最早的记忆是什么？

MJ (Michael Jackson)

What was the first record you bought?

你买的第一张唱片是什么？

Jay Chou

What profession did you escape from?

你是从什么职业中逃出来的？

一直是musician

What song do you wish you wrote?

你希望哪首歌是你写的？

Michael Jackson - 2 Bad (feat. Shaquille O'Neal)

Teach us something in another language.

用另一种语言教我们一些东西。

Love and peace

If you weren't playing your instrument, which other 188 member would you replace?

如果你不玩你的乐器，你会取代其他188成员吗？

应该不会

Who is your favourite Beatle?

你最喜欢的甲壳虫乐队成员是谁？

John Winston Lennon

Which song is your guilty pleasure which you're too ashamed to ask the band to play?

哪首歌是你内疚的乐趣，你太羞于要求乐队演奏？

Kenny G. - Going Home

Which actor should play you in the Studio 188 movie?

哪个演员应该在188工作室的电影中扮演你？

Nik said:

Myself

The band said:

John Cusack

Who is Yi Jiun?

Yi Jiun is the latest tooter to join Studio 188. We ask the tough questions to find out about the man behind the horn.

What is your earliest memory?

I cried a lot

What was the first record you bought?

Miles Davis - Kind of Blue

What profession did you escape from?

Pizza delivery

What song do you wish you wrote?

Miles Davis - So What

Teach us something in another language.

Xui bien

If you weren't playing trumpet, which other 188 member would you replace?

Percussion

Who is your favourite Beatle?

John Lennon

Which song is your guilty pleasure which you're too ashamed to ask the band to play?

The Carpenters - Close to you.

Which actor should play you in the Studio 188 movie?

Yi Jian said:

Adam Sandler

The band said:

Kevin James

Macleen Interrogated

Our guitarist Macleen loves being in green light, We put a bright white light in his face and asked him some probing questions.

What is your earliest memory?

My First guitar

What was the first record you bought?

Stevie Wonder - Songs in the key of life

What profession did you escape from?

Carpenter

What song do you wish you wrote?

Phil Collins - If leaving me is easy

Teach us something in another language.

“IK p dire?” = What’s up?

If you weren't playing your instrument, which other 188 member would you replace?

Drums

Who is your favourite Beatle?

Paul

Which song is your guilty pleasure which you're too ashamed to ask the band to play?

Glen Medeiros - Not Me

Which actor should play you in the Studio 188 movie?

Macleen said:

Jamie Foxx

The band said:

Jason Alexander

Manny Toma Cuestionario

Manuel Tappias Berrio is chief Brass Monkey. He answers our questions honestly below.

What is your earliest memory?

Want to buy ford truck

What was the first record you bought?

Girl from Ipenamema

What profession did you escape from?

Selling pineapple on the street

What song do you wish you wrote?

Earth Wind and Fire - September.

Teach us something in another language.

Mamá mía estoy cansado

If you weren't playing your instrument, which other 188 member would you replace?

Keys

Who is your favourite Beatle?

George

Which song is your guilty pleasure which you're too ashamed to ask the band to play?

Macarena

Which actor should play you in the Studio 188 movie?

Manny said:

Rowan Atkinson

The band said:

Wanda Sykes

Bass Player Pen Portrait

Shun has been playing bass and bobbing his head for 188 for as long as his hair used to be. Today we get his answers to the 2023 questionnaire.

What is your earliest memory?

I went swimming in the ocean and my dad got angry

What was the first record you bought?

Cui Jian

What profession did you escape from?

Air Conditioner Engineer

What song do you wish you wrote?

Van Halen - Jump

Teach us something in another language.

你吃了吗 (Ni Chi Le ma) - Have you eaten?

If you weren't playing your instrument, which other 188 member would you replace?

Sax

Who is your favourite Beatle?

John Lennon

Which song is your guilty pleasure which you're too ashamed to ask the band to play?

John Denver - Take me home Country Roads

Which actor should play you in the Studio 188 movie?

Shun said:

Benedict Cumberbatch

The band said:

Jared Leto

We're learning new songs

The Studio 188 back catalog now numbers over 450 songs. You’d think that would be enough, but no, we’re alway learning more and resurrecting some we’ve almost forgotten.

Here’s some of the new songs the band have rehearsed this year:

• Red Bone - Come and Get Your Love

• Michael Buble - Sway

• Guantanamera

• Quien Sera

• The Ventures - Hawaii Five-O

• Huey Lewis - Her love is Killing Me

• Squeeze - Tempted

• Quiet Riot - Come on Feel the Noise

• Boney M - Auld Lang Syne

Drummer Takes IQ Test

Another founding member of the band, Mal has beat the kick drum approximately 4 million times for Studio 188. He stopped making noise long enough to take the 2023 Questionnaire.

Mal Collins at the original Monk about 100 years ago

What is your earliest memory?

Using Mums wooden spoons as drum sticks and hitting pots and pans .

I also broke my leg when I was 3 and a half

What was the first record you bought?

AC/DC Back In Black

What profession did you escape from?

Purchasing Clerk

What song do you wish you wrote?

The Beatles - Let It Be or Red Hot Chill Peppers - Suck My Kiss

Teach us something in another language.

“Ting Mother*#@ker”

If you weren't playing your instrument, which other 188 member would you replace?

Are drums really an Instrument?

Who is your favourite Beatle?

Paul when I was younger.

George now

Which song is your guilty pleasure which you're too ashamed to ask the band to play?

Black Lace - Agadoo

Which actor should play you in the Studio 188 movie?

Mal said…

Sean Connery

The Band said…

Danny Bonaduce

Words to live by:

“When I was a little boy, I told my dad, 'When I grow up, I want to be a musician.' My dad said: 'You can't do both, Son'“.

- Chet Atkins

El Ray Fronts Up For Some Q&A

El Ray has been a Studio 188 frontman since the very genesis of the band in 2004, when we think he was around 14 years old. He has a day job bringing the biggest sporting events to China. Today he takes our 2023 Questionnaire.

What is your earliest memory?

I must have been around 4 years old…watching my dad dancing to Mariachi music and then Santana. This must have influenced my lifelong passion for music. Later I learned he loved to drink Diet Pepsi and vodka. This must have influenced my passion for Vodka!

What was the first record you bought?

My first record was given to me by my sister Susie. It was Stevie Wonder’s “Songs in the Key of Life”, I was about 11 I think? The song “Sir Duke” and “I Wish” were just epic and Stevie’s vocals were brilliant.

What profession did you escape from?

I was very close to becoming a printer. I had a part-time job (I was always working) delivering printed goods like business cards, letterhead, envelopes etc. One of the off-set printer operators ask me if I wanted to help him out on the press. It was super cool and I was a natural. We have a very rich lady boss (actually her husband was rich…she was kind of a trophy wife..very hot) who sent me to trade school for three months in the evenings. This must have been in 1983. I was making like ten dollars an hour…a small fortune at that time.

What song do you wish you wrote?

Journey’s “Lights”. It will always remind me of my first love.

Teach us something in another language.

Amor lejos es amor de pendejos.

“love from afar is love for shitheads”

If you weren't playing your instrument, which other 188 member would you replace?

If I was not the lead singer, I would be playing drums!

Who is your favourite Beatle?

Sir George Martin. Let’s face it….he was the man.

Which song is your guilty pleasure which you're too ashamed to ask the band to play?

The band will play anything I tell them too! And like it!

Which actor should play you in the Studio 188 movie?

El Ray said:

Antonio Banderas

Antonio Banderas

The Band said:

Salma Hayek

Salma Hayek

The Sound Guy

First to take the 2023 band Questionnaire is Neal who has been twiddling knobs for Studio 188 since a few weeks after the invention of the phonograph machine.

What is your earliest memory?

Playing with the RT in my Dad's truck

What was the first record you bought?

The Who - Who's Next

What profession did you escape from?

Unemployment

What song do you wish you wrote?

Morning from Peer Gynt Suite by Edvard Grieg

Teach us something in another language.

"Waiata" - Maori for song or to sing and my daughter's middle name

If you weren't mixing, which other 188 member would you replace?

It’s only a matter of time before they need a teleprompter.

Who is your favourite Beatle?

Mal Evans

Which song is your guilty pleasure which you're too ashamed to ask the band to play?

KLF - Justified and Ancient or anything by Kylie

Which actor should play you in the Studio 188 movie?

Neal said…

Melanie Lynskey

Melanie Lynskey

The band said…

Peter Jackson

Peter Jackson

2023: We're Back!

Meet the new Studio 188 Lineup for 2023, coming to a stage near you soon…

Shun, Manny, El Ray, Macleen, Marina, Nik, Mal, Yi Jiun & Byron

This Year we welcome to the band family;

• Our new lead vocalist Marina Shvetz.

• Old Friend Nik Xue has joined the Brass Monkeys permanently.

• And Yi Jiun is our new trumpeter.

• Mal Collins is back on the drum throne.

• Byron Hill sits behind the keys now.

• Manny is still our Chief Brass Monkey and he’s got more new songs to sing.

• Macleen Ragasamy is still strumming.

• Shun barely moves from in front of his bass amp so he’s still here.

• And of course El Ray, just like Rick Astley, never gonna give you up.

Rehearsals are underway and you’ll have an opportunity to enjoy Studio 188 live soon.

Get into the WeChat group and keep an eye on the calendar