Photo: supplied
Garry Eyles, of The Screaming Riels, playing this Saturday night at Star Bar in Siem Reap. Garry came to Cambodia in 2010 to teach drum therapy at an NGO. “I have been writing songs and performing in bands since the 1990s. My early bands included Mind Riot and Knobtang, who had a cult following in Australia playing original grunge. The songs of The Screaming Riels are tales of the south lands, Australia and South East Asia. We have had nearly 20 members over the years, playing songs and having fun times. The current line up features fresh members and new songs. What to expect: all original high energy 70s middle eastern rock grunge swamp punk.”
Do you have a pet musical hate?
Classic songs that get re-released and butchered with crap dance or techno beats.
A private musical indulgence:
Youtube music nights at late night bars listening to awesome bands like Winery Dogs.
The year you first came to Cambodia:
2010.
An early music memory:
Beatles cartoons. Seeing someone play a Gibson SG. The movie Crossroads. Borrowing a cassette from a library that looked good – it turned out to be David Lee Roth’s Eat ‘em and Smile.
The last thing you had to eat:
Salty egg and rice porridge. Soul food.
A country you want to visit:
USA.
A book or movie you keep going back to:
Avatar.
What languages do you have?
Australian and Khmer.
Your primary instrument, and when you started playing it:
Drums and guitar.
Something people might be surprised to know about you:
I’m claustrophobic.
You have a time machine and a magic ticket to one gig or festival in the past. What do you choose?
Primus at the Palais in Melbourne.
A question from the last participant: what is the wildest gig you have ever played?
Support for the Painters and Dockers in Australia. Their lead singer was on stage naked.
Originally published on 19 January 2023