by Peter Rusland (The Cowichan News Leader)
additional content by Barry Newman with Wayne Diggins
from issue #19 - Cosmic Debris Musicians Magazine - July '95
Cowichan sax player Wayne Diggins had a riot in Thailand last winter (editor: 1994/95),
but the excitement didn't stem from over indulgence during his six-month Siamese sojourn.
Diggins witnessed Thai authorities' intolerance for hooligans during three performances in a
band touring with the country's top rock star, Sang Tammada.
"Wherever we were, usually I'd be the only
farang (white). There were normally between 1000 to
5000 fans in the audience. A few nights we had riots,
and the police and army had to come in and push them off the stage."
But musical mayhem was generally tame during
Diggins' trip that turned into a working holiday which ended
on his valley return May 18, 6 months later.
"I was looking forward to getting back and playing with
Monte Nordstrom and GROOVEDIGGER," he said of the
the local band to which he returned for summer work
(formerly THE BEAUMONTS, Monte's band hosts the
Sunday jam at The Brigantine Inn in Maple Bay).
Meanwhile, Diggins is planning another Thailand visit
and tour next year. "I love the East and hope to get set up to
play music both here and there, but not have to save money
to go back. This winter I lucked out; I threw myself to the
wind and got taken care of."
"It was Greg Winter, brother of infamous Beaumont
Billy who initially inspired me to go to Thailand. While I
was there, I often thought of him and how easily his
exhuberant spirit would have been accepted by the Thai
people."
Shortly after arriving on the tourist island of Koh Phi Phi
along Thailand's west coast Nov. 6, Diggins landed gigs.
"I met a Malaysian band and jammed with them. Then
I picked out a bar I thought would be good to work in," said
Diggins.
"I did a freebie for Charlie's Bar at Phi Phi Princess
Resort. I later heard blues and guitar playing and thought,
These are the guys for me."
"I mentioned I played with Buddy Guy (at Harpo's in
Victoria, 1991) and Albert Collins (also at Harpo's) and
again while jamming with Dave Gogo and Colin James at
86th St. in Vancouver.
"Their English was so-so. Later the guitarist exclaimed
Albert Collins is my father (hero).'
"I joined the band and started playing with them Dec 1
as THE CROSSROADS BLUES BAND.
Chang, the lead guitarist, had recorded on a rock album
with Sang Tammada, whose lyrics praise Thai culture but
damn polution and politics. "It's music for the people,"
Diggins said.
CROSSROADS (bass, drums,
guitar and saxman Diggins) played
on Koh Phi Phi during December,
January and half of February while
Diggins enjoyed a free resort
bungalow and "fabulous weather."
"They built us a nice stage on
the beach at the Phi Phi Pavilion
and the rest of the time we played
at Charlie's.
"There were a few complaints
because the music was too loud."
To Diggins' surprise, Sang
arrived on Phi Phi "and we
jammed with him. Then he asked
if we wanted to go on tour with
him.
"We got shut down after 2
months just when Sang wanted us
to go on tour. A 15-day tour across southern Thailand
followed, entailing "incredible response" from spirited
audiences. Then Diggins and his friends were hired by Sang
for a subsequent 34-day tour again through the southern
region.
Sang's troupe included the Crossroads Blues Band
(Diggins also manned accordion and some percussion);
guitarist Sang; and Sang's girlfriend, Yeewah, a singer who
doubled as a "manager extraordinaire."
"Most of the top musicians, bar owners, etc, ride
Harleys ... the status symbol for Thai yuppies is a Mercedes
or a white poodle.
"At various times on the road trip, after work we would
stop in at a small club or bar and just jam. I would often get
up and play the guitar (Jimmy Reed) or piano (Champion
Jack Dupree), singing in a Southern Delta style. To many of
these people in Southern Thailand, this would have been
their first experience hearing this style of music - which they
lovingly accepted."
The tour's opening act boasted 30 dancers, including 25
females, five males, four singers, three comedians and a 10-piece band. Their April 20 gig was a
free concert to save the jungles monkeys threatened by a resort development.
Diggins' pay involved "gratuities" of about 2000 Thai
baht ($112) per night. "I made more there than I do here."
Perks included rooms in five-star hotels, meals, fame and
a chauffeured 11-seat van.
Sang's first CD sold more than 300,000 copies and his
second recording pegged 200,000 sales. Diggins is expected
to be heard on Sang's next project. "They're going to fly me
over in about two months and we're going to record a live
CD," he said. "Some proceeds will go to saving the
monkeys."
Musically, Diggins was swimming in a creative sea. He
appears in a music video with Sang and the band, and he is
attempting to have footage shown on Cowichan's Shaw
Cable.
Another memorable date involved The Buddha's
Birthday concert April 15 during the "biggest festival in
Thailand" when Diggins and the troupe played at a south
region temple.
"We played quite a few concerts at temples. It's old
school Buddhism.
"The first time I played with the band I was wiping tears
from my face, they loved Sang so much. It took me a few
concerts to get used to it.
Sang's band appeared on Thai TV and "people asked me
for autographs. They gave me nicknames like "Wayne
Canada", "Wayne Tammada" and "Mista' Well".
"It was the most hectic tour I ever did. I'd had my fill of
white rice and could feel a nutritional deficiency. Thai food
is great, but a bit much for a foreigner," said the Windsor,
Ontario native. Diggins suffered intestinal parasites, fevers
and chronic ear aches during the tour.
The tropics also plagued his 18-year-old Couf alto sax.
"Salt rusted my horn right up. I managed to get it going.
If another sax player had tried to play it, there'd be no way.
It was tough blowing.
A jeweler temporarily repaired Diggins' horn.
"I later heard about the head of the Bangkok Sax Quartet
and he did a sax overhaul for me for about $180 before I
came home. In Canada the same work would cost about
$600.
Diggins also honed a smattering of Thai.
"A few of the musicians speak English. There were
times it was frustrating with the language difference,
especially during the riot," he said.
"But after a while on the road, I had to just give myself
to the project and let myself go.
But warm Thai hospitality and friendship transcended
petty travel snags. "Thai people speak more from the heart
than western people. I can feel my heart and intuition more
now than when I went," he said.
"Thailand has had much bad press over the years with
the sex trade issues. It has always amazed me when I told
people I was going there, how many of them thought this
was my reason. I have seen documentaries on Thailand that
suggest most of the poor families sell their children to pimps
so they build bigger homes. Let it be known that I spent a lot
of time in these rural areas and have many good friends.
These people are very family-oriented and would never think
of doing such a thing to their loved ones; as a matter of fact,
if these sex trade dealers persisted in their neighbourhoods
they would be lucky to get out alive!
"With most Thai women, the courtship before engaging
in sex is so long that most western men could not handle it.
Generally speaking, the prostitution is confined to the cities
and big tourist resorts. The whole industry is very much
frowned upon by the majority of Thai people.
"For anyone contemplating a trip to Thailand, it is a
very picturesque land. You can travel there and be far
removed from the sex trade unless you go looking for it.
Diggins first visited Thailand in 1992 for three months
without his horn. He said other valley players would meld
with Thailand's music scene.
"There's a very good market for playing there. I had two
or three other job offers to play at beach resorts. They have
a great love of the blues. If someone makes the jump over
there, I'm sure they'll find work.
Meanwhile, Diggins is eager to learn more of the Thai
language: "If there are any Thai people in the valley, I'd like
to study with them; then I could really communicate the next
time I go over there."
Editor's Note:
Dec 28, 1999 - I've just found out that Wayne Diggins died in Thailand yesterday,
apparently from a heart attack. According to the musicians he was working with, he
had complained of chest pains the day before and had to leave the rehearsal early.
I last chatted with Wayne on Sept 6 at the Black Swan pub in Shawnigan Lake. He had been back on Vancouver Island for several months, playing gigs mostly with THOR & THE THUNDERCATS.
We had a couple of beer; my girlfriend and I drove him to his Cobble Hill pad and we talked for half an hour in the car. Then I aimed my headlights up the embankment, so he could find his way to his cabin. That was the last time I saw him.
According to his room mate Donna, about 20 feet after reaching the crest of
the embankment and now in total darkness, Diggs slipped into a 5-foot hole just outside the cabin. Unscathed, he climbed out and exclaimed to her... "That felt GREAT !!"
That's the kind of guy that Wayne was... always focused on the positive. Diggs will be sadly
missed by many Vancouver Island musicians and music supporters. Monte and Thor are planning a memorial concert for Diggs sometime in late January. Stay tuned - bn
