Band of brothers belt out a storm

By AB Kade Rogers
Volume 11, No. 41, April 20, 2006

Better than nothing: Maj Pinghan Chua, Lt Troy Wilson and Capt Bernie Westley, all AMTG2, perform at Camp Smitty. Drummer Capt Sam McGrath, 2 Para, is hidden. Photo by AD Kade Rogers

THE peace of Al Muthanna Province has been shattered by a small band of Australian and British officers – for one night only.

Armed with two guitars, a keyboard and an electronic drum kit, the group known as Money for Jam – or Better Than Nothing, depending on who you ask – dazzled a company of seasoned soldiers with renditions of Steelers Wheel, Oasis, Robbie Williams and Neil Diamond standards.

Band leader Maj Pinghan Chua spent the greater part of the day trying to find a microphone, but finally just belted out the vocals with contagious enthusiasm over the top of all the other instruments – not to mention the roaring crowd.

“My singing teacher would kill me if she knew I was singing like this,” he said.

Capt Rupert King-Evans, 1 Bn, Grenadier Guards, and heavy metal fan Lt Troy Wilson, Combat Team Willis, both purchased their guitars in Iraq and have been jamming at night with Capt Sam McGrath, from 2 Para Regt, who had brought his own electronic drum kit.

“We’ve had a few other guys come and go, but we’ve all been jamming for about five months now,” Capt King-Evans said.
Lt Wilson added, “I think we managed to annoy everyone in our accommodation row at some point.”

He said the concert served as a farewell for some of the British soldiers, whose deployment was ending.

“We thought putting on a show would be a nice way to say goodbye to the Brits, and besides, this was the last occasion we could all play together before Sam had to pack up his drum kit too,” he said.