About The Padres

Members Joe Ng (Vocalist) Nigel Hogan(Guitarist) Evan Tan (Bassist) Dean Aziz (Drummer) Who they are Padres Biography Formed in 1991, Padres is Joe Ng's vehicle to realise his musical ambitions. Comprising of friends from other bands, Padres remains more as an ad hoc rock outfit. Previous members include Abdul Nizam and Jong Aik (The Nonames), Patrick Chng and Vincent Lee (The Oddfellows), Francis Frightful and Ray Aziz (Opposition Party), Ben Harrison (Electric Penguin, Etc, Deserters), Adam Yusop (Global Chaos) and Idham 'Budi' Budiman (Cracked Healer), amongst others. Even the moniker was a case of last minute name picking. During their first gig at Marina Village four years ago.Joe chose 'Padres' simply because that's the first thing he saw - drummer Abdul Nizam t-shirt of the US baseball team. Since then, Padres have released one mini album, What's Your Story (1994), one single, Radio Station (1993) and they have contributed tracks to a few compilation albums (two of which were played by legendary UK DJ John Peel on his BBC World Service, John Peel Show). Joe Ng has even found time to dabble in some acting, landing the lead role in Eric Khoo's highly acclaimed movie, Mee Pok Man. The final line up of Nigel Hogan (ex-The Mother), Evan Tan (ex-Opposition Party) and Dean Aziz (ex-Silent Sorrow) was partly a result of a need to nurture a cohesive permanence; an element that was lacking in Padres' earlier line ups. As Joe puts it," All the previous members have an understanding with me that their primary band have the priority over Padres. In that sense, I could maintain a very creative unit with all the different influences coming in to shape the music". With Nigel (who fronted and co-wrote for his former band) in the team, the new game plan will feature more collaborative songwriting. Padres On Rock In 1996, Rock Records signed The Padres for a three-album deal plus a publishing contract that harness bandleader Joe Ng's songwriting skills for Rock's roster of acts. The Padres are Rock's first English language Singapore signing. Says Rock Records' assistant General Manager, Mr Ngiam Kwang Hwa,"We see the Padres as an Asian band, not just a Singapore band. We are looking at the regional market and we will be pushing them hard in Taiwan, Japan and Korea. In fact, one Padres song, Pearly Eyes, was featured on a Rock Records' compilation, Made In Asia, released in Korea. The new Padres album is slated for release in the first quater of 1997. Says band guitarist, Nigel Hogan,"We get a good vibe from Rock because they are very artist-centred. They attend many of our gigs before they signed us." "Rock are totally behind us," says Joe Ng. "We are really pleased they like the songs as much as we do." - Philip Cheah (BigO Sept 1996) Reviews Left of the Dial - The Padres (Radio Station) John Peel played Teenage Story and Mary Said, both found on the What's Your Story EP, on his BBC programme. Radio Station first appeared as a CD single on the first BigO Singles Club release which came with the December '93 issue. If you haven't got the original release (which might become a collector's item in the future), here's your second chance. - (BigO Nov 1994) take from www.substitute.com/bands/padres.html