Maung Maung Zaw Latt

WHEN El Phyu 33, the bass guitarist of the alternative band the Ants, died of lung disease on May 27, he left behind a wife, a son and a rift in the lives of his band members.

In the wake of his death the Ants are struggling to come to terms with the loss of their front man. During an interview with The Myanmar Times at a tea shop where El Phyu had often sat and writing songs, the remaining band members Maung Maung Zaw Latt, Aung Khant and Ko Aung expressed their feelings on his parting.

Drummer Aung Khant said he and the band had not expected El Phyu to pass away so quickly.

“When we got to the clinic, the doctors said his condition was 50-50, but he seemed really cheerful so we all thought he would get better soon,” he said.

“He pretended to be recovering so that we wouldn’t be worried.”

It is eight years since the Ants came together to form a band and in that time they have had several hits. The band’s debut album Yaung Sone Chocolate (Colourful Chocolate) which was released in 1998, Myanmar music lovers went crazy for their alternative style.

The Ant’s second album Hnan Kaung Lay Ye Nway U Pone Pyin (Spring Story of Grasshopper) was released in 2003. Their third album has been left unfinished because of El Phyu’s passing.

Maung Maung Zaw Latt said the band were part of the way through recording.

“We had given our third album the title Pahtama, Dutiya, Tatiya (The first, the second and the third) and the musical arrangements and recording were finished in the PTL Studio. [El Phyu] had finished recording the vocals for three rough songs and one finished song,” Maung Maung Zaw Latt said.

Aung Khant said the band is at a loss over what to do now El Phyu is gone.

“We feel so much grief, for our band as well as our friend. He is irreplaceable, he was a complete genius and we are lacking a lot without him,” he said.

“We don’t know to how to move on. We are afraid to discuss what we want to do next, even though we know we want to go on playing.”

Maung Maung Zaw Latt said, “We have to go on without him, we can’t break up the band so we have to find another bass guitarist. Preferably someone who can write songs and sing too.”

Both band members Maung Maung Zaw Latt and Aung Khant, said El Phyu was a great person to be around. They said he smoked and drank beer a lot and was always joking and laughing with his friends. Maung Maung Zaw Latt said El Phyu loved his family very much.

“When we were recording our first album in 1997, he often said he missed his wife and son a lot. He said he wanted to go home to Taunggyi to be with them,” Maung Maung Zaw Latt said.

Despite El Phyu’s happy-go-lucky demeanor many of his songs had dark tragic lyrics.

One of his songs Lay Lwint Thu (The vagrant) sung by Lay Phyu said, “The eveing of a traveller who doesn’t know the way ahead. Someone is waiting for him outside. How can he stay, how can he feel like this. He is wandering like a cloud.”

In the Ant’s third album, he wrote a song called Nar Yay Kyaw Nyar (Obituaries) that talked about death.

“Did he know what was going to happen to him? That song sounded like a prediction,” Aung Khant said.