The band of five was found playing golden age music at the corner of Armenian Street today, with a full drum set made out of pots, tin cans and containers, a guitar made out of a tennis racquet, and a bass guitar modified from a shovel.
Drummer and handyman Jimmy Tan, 73, is the creator of the innovative do-it-yourself musical instruments that are crafted out of discarded items and he believed that anything could be crafted into something musical, from something as small as a coin to as large as parts of a vehicle.
Tan had given performances using his own crafted musical instruments in 1964 but went into a 43-year-long hiatus after being mocked and ridiculed by others, including those close to him.
“Back then, they used to think that I’m crazy that this will ever work, including my friends, my teachers, even my mother and my grandparents thought that I’m insane,” he chuckled.
In 2016, Tan got back on his feet after Penang House of Music opened in Kompleks Tun Abdul Razak (Komtar) and they encouraged him to perform in the Unesco-listed heritage area.
Tan performs every Saturday with volunteers, and donates the collection to the orphanage at St Joseph’s Home.
Elvis Kuna, 69, who was the lead vocalist today, said tomorrow’s performance would be from 9am to 5pm.
“We are all Malaysians here, and we all want to contribute to make a better Malaysia. I’m more than happy to volunteer as a singer again tomorrow, but I can’t predict how much we’ll earn on that day. Hopefully, luck will be on our side when that day comes,” he said.
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