Video

It is election season in Papua New Guinea right now, and this old classic 'MAUSWARA' which was recorded 38 years ago, will always be relevant because it delivers a strong message. Late John Wong wrote and recorded it back in 1984 to warn the people about corrupt politicians and con artists in general. 'MAUSWARA' in PNG Pidgin slang means bullshit, lies, nonsense, gibberish, exaggeration, liars,...

The WAGHI HELLCATS, PNG's legendary ROCK group of Mt Hagen, was simply way ahead of its time.Formed in 1973 at 5000 feet above mean sea level, high up in the beautiful cool misty Highlands region of Papua New Guinea, the group began performing way before commercial recording studios were established in Papua New Guinea. Led by an 18 year old rock guitarist and vocalist by the name of Pat Siwi, ...

"Stuck on you "is Barike's version of an international hit by American singer Lionel Richie. The song is taken from Barike's 3rd album titled "I PAIA" which was recorded in 1984 at the original Pacific Gold Studios in Rabaul. This was recorded using a very basic Tascam 4-Track reel-to-reel ¼ inch analogue recorder, mixing down through a 4-channel mixer with basic on-board effects and equalizati...

Barike's lead singer sings "Dreaming" with a Rabaulian girl by the name of Linda Chang .The song is on Barike's "Bad Reputation" album which was recorded at Pacific Gold Studios in Rabaul. MUSICIANS: John Wong=Vocals/Guitars. Matalau Nakikus=Vocals/Synths/Keyboard. Fabian Tadoi=Drums/Percussion Donald Lessy=Lead Guitar/Congas Glen Low=Bass Guitar/Harmonies Linda Chang=Guest vocalist on "Dreamin...

Barike plays their version of 10CC's "Dreadlock Holiday"; taken from their "Bad Reputation" album which was recorded at Pacific Gold Studios in Rabaul. MUSICIANS: John Wong=Vocals/Guitars. Matalau Nakikus=Vocals/Synths/Keyboard. Fabian Tadoi=Drums/Percussion Donald Lessy=Lead Guitar/Congas Glen Low=Bass Guitar/Harmonies Linda Chang=Guest vocalist on "Dreaming" *Special dedication to Paul (Wiggy...

Barike plays a Tolai song called "Kaliku"; taken from their "Bad Reputation" album which was recorded at Pacific Gold Studios in Rabaul. MUSICIANS: John Wong=Vocals/Guitars. Matalau Nakikus=Vocals/Synths/Keyboard. Fabian Tadoi=Drums/Percussion Donald Lessy=Lead Guitar/Congas Glen Low=Bass Guitar/Harmonies Linda Chang=Guest vocalist on "Dreaming" *Special dedication to Paul (Wiggy) Yabo Engineer...

UNBELIEVERS REVIVAL another group from a by-gone era, was popular back in the early 80s with many of their songs hitting the PNG airwaves.The song "NERRIE" is taken from their album titled "UPSIDE DOWN" which was recorded by Greg C Seeto on a basic 4 track recording system at his then Sound Stream Studios in Rabaul in 1981.The Molachs Band also released this song in their first album. MEMBERS: ...

When you are talking about TOLAI ROCK, the real Tolai ' Rock' music, you cannot ignore the mighty Painim Wok band whose rocking sounds, which were manually produced through the musical skills and talents of the band members, made them the biggest selling group of the 80s and 90s in Papua New Guinea. Here is a song called " DADAR WARMUR" .This track is taken from one of their hit albums titled '...

In this third SHUTDOWN album a youngster by the name of Patti Doi joins in as the Lead Guitarist, taking over from Kabu Rita who had left to concentrate on his new band called XNB.His replacement,Patti Doi, was a keyboardist with the original Narox band before joining SHUTDOWN as the new Lead Guitarist.. This track "MERI JUNCTION"'is taken from this third album. Musicians appearing on cover abo...

In this third SHUTDOWN album a youngster by the name of Patti Doi joins in as the Lead Guitarist, taking over from Kabu Rita who had left to concentrate on his new band called XNB.His replacement,Patti Doi, was a keyboardist with the original Narox band before joining SHUTDOWN as the new Lead Guitarist.. "WARURAI"'is taken from this third album. Musicians appearing on cover above: TOP-Kanai Pin...

UNBELIEVERS REVIVAL,another group from a by-gone era, was popular back in the early 80s with many of their songs hitting the PNG airwaves, This album,titled "UPSIDE-DOWN" was recorded by Greg C Seeto on a basic 4 track recording system at his then Sound Stream Studios in Rabaul which later became the PACIFIC GOLD STUDIOS. MEMBERS: Robin Kaseng=Rythm Guitar/Vocals. Manuel Garalom=Lead Guitar. Se...

Malay Town was a suburb of the old city of Rabaul which was home to four members of the Barike Band; and one of them is John Wong. John wrote "The "Poor Side Of Town" after he was fed up with the local media and members of the public who often paint his beloved Malay Town in a negative picture.The song is taken from Barike's 3rd album titled "I PAIA" which was recorded in 1984 at the original P...

"Should Have Called "is Barike's version of an international hit by American singer George Jones The song is taken from Barike's 3rd album titled "I PAIA" which was recorded in 1984 at the original Pacific Gold Studios in Rabaul. This was recorded using a very basic Tascam 4-Track reel-to-reel ¼ inch analogue recorder, mixing down through a 4-channel mixer with basic on-board effects and equali...

Here is Barike's version of "SATURDAY NIGHT, a popular song by the Hollies .The song is taken from Barike's 3rd album titled "I PAIA" recorded in 1984 at the original Pacific Gold Studios in Rabaul. This was recorded using a very basic Tascam 4-Track reel-to-reel ¼ inch analogue recorder, mixing down through a 4-channel mixer with basic on-board effects and equalization to a ¼ inch 2-track tasc...

"BARIKE Band Of Rabaul 'Sipak Sawe"-1984

Barike Band of Rabaul- "Giaman Toktok" 1984

The story behind BARIKE'S CONTROVERSIAL ALBUM COVER-1983

SHUTDOWN Band of Rabaul-"GAWANE SAPANE" 1989

SHUTDOWN Band of Rabaul-'KAS BALA WHIP'-1989

SHUTDOWN Band of Rabaul-"ALAN KAILOU"-1988

SHUTDOWN Band of Rabaul-TOANAS -

PAINIM WOK Band of Rabaul-Andy Ra Biavi-1988

RIOT SQUAD of Rabaul-Get That Love-1992

SEXY APPLES of BOUGAINVILLE & SOLOMON ISLANDS."If Not You"1982

DANIEL BIANG of New Ireland "EDAN KARAVINAI" 1990

John Wong- Islands in the stream-1984

John Wong- Fall in love again-1984

John Wong- Tropical Medley-1984

PAINIM WOK Band of Rabaul-"A Bul Manus"1988 .Real Tolai Rock