FOR just the second time in a long and checkered career, guitar hero Wally Gonzalez is returning to the Pinoy rock fray.
He’s coming off a major medical procedure in September, followed by an extended period of recovery.
On December 29 Gonzalez will give thanks to all his friends and fans with a comeback gig at 19 East Bar in Sucat, Muntinlupa City. It will be his first live performance after a short-lived skirmish with a colon problem.
Gonzalez tells SoundStrip: “I just felt a swelling on my right side, and the initial findings pointed to a lump on my colon. When my doctor became available, I immediately underwent a four-hour surgery, [then] stayed for another eight hours in the recovery room.”
Before the surgery the guitarist didn’t feel any pain to warrant emergency hospitalization. After the operation, there was still no discomfort to merit maintenance medicines.
‘One lucky bastard’
THE good news is that the biopsy turned up negative. Even better is that Gonzalez’s doctor recognized his life-long passion as an artist and urged him to get back to playing music as soon as he can.
His attending physician has already called him “one lucky bastard” for escaping even the small discomforts of a potentially serious health problem.
“Hard to get sick…” the 68-year old stringsmeister said. “My initial checkup didn’t show anything wrong with me. After surgery there were no restrictions on my diet. I guess I’m just [fortunate].”
The “lucky bastard” got away with his good fortune while living the rock-and-roll lifestyle. He’s been playing guitar professionally since he was 18 years old, but stopped playing music for the first time in the ‘80s as he did not want to compromise his music in the emerging disco scene.
During that period, Gonzalez worked for his brother’s company. He remembers passing the dull moments just messing with his guitar in the office. His brother would tease him to go back to playing music because it’s something he couldn’t just shake off anymore.
His first chance after a “dry” spell was the Juan de la Cruz reunion concert in 1998. When his brother passed away and the company had to close shop, the iconic band’s guitarist got back to playing music full-time.
He recollected, “I’m really a musician. Making music for me is difficult, but it’s fun. With income from gigs, I’ve been able to raise a family and got my two kids through college.”
Red-letter night
BEING a music man continues to be a financially rewarding calling for Gonzalez. He projects new revenues when a petroleum giant used the Juan de la Cruz classic Beep Beep in an upcoming commercial. (It’s actually one of the many future payoffs for him, being one of the Pinoy rock pioneers who decided early on to keep the rights to all of their original compositions.)
Music has naturally become his therapy after the operation. He usually listens to Spotify. When the itch hits him, he turns to his ProTools at home to turn new ideas into fresh music.
Gonzalez revealed he is working on an all-instrumental album with Razorback’s Louie Talan.
He shakes his head in recalling that his last album, “Wally’s Blues” came out in 1977.
Talan will be one of the session musicians on Gonzalez’s thanksgiving gig. He is also getting the services of drummer Wendell Garcia and keyboardist Wowee Posadas. A rotation of singers, whoever is available for the night, will be on hand.
“With session friends, we’ll just do sound check,” Gonzalez shared. “No need for rehearsals, which can be an unnecessary expense. It can be a scheduling nightmare given the monstrous traffic situation today in Metro Manila.”
December 29 will be a monster red-letter night for all Pinoy music fans. Come and celebrate the life and enduring vision of “one lucky bastard” who also happens to be one hell of a guitar supremo.
Image credits: John Gonzales
1 comment
Great write-up! Paalam, Wally!