Korean-American Behind Blue Man Groups Funky Beat
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter
caption: Blue Man Group's Korean-American drummer Ian Pai talks with reporters at the VIP room, Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, Seoul, Monday. / AP-Yonhap
The man responsible for the Blue Man Group's funky drumbeats is Korean-American Ian Pai. Pai, the original drummer for the Blue Man Group, is currently in town to perform in the ``MegaStar World Tour,'' which opens in Seoul Tuesday.
Pai said he's happy to finally be able to bring the Blue Man Group to Seoul. ``We've been talking about it for years, since 1996 when I came here with the Blue Man band. ... I think there's a strong connection between Korea and the Blue Man,'' Pai said, in a press conference at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, Monday.
When he was 21 years old, Pai was working as a bartender in New York City when he met Blue Man Group co-founders Chris Wink, Phil Stanton and Matt Goldman.
``I was a drummer, but I wasn't very good. I was doing a lot of different things at that time, but I was at an age when I said `yes' to everything,'' he said.
On his first day with the group, Pai and the other Blue Man founders created a unique instrument made out of PVC pipes, which is now a staple at every Blue Man Group performance. He also wrote all the solo drum parts for the Blue Man Group performances.
Before joining the Blue Man Group, Pai studied with the American Ballet Theater, did some break-dancing and took up painting in college.
When asked if he was exposed to Korean culture as a child, Pai said it was difficult because there were not a lot of opportunities to experience Korean culture when he was growing up.
``In our neighborhood, there were no Koreans, so that was tough. I think as I've been coming here as an adult, it is an awkward place to be, because in the one place where I should feel at home, I'm an outsider. But I identify very strongly with the Korean culture. ... There's a part of me that feels very at home here. It's just the language that is the tough part. I feel at home with the food, too,'' he said, with a smile.
Pai hopes the music of the Blue Man Group will resonate with the Korean audience. ``Music is universal. The most important thing about our music is that we try to evoke emotions and feelings. Because the Blue Man is a very reserved character, the one place where they can express themselves is through their instruments and music,'' he said.
The Megastar World Tour runs from June 10-22 at the Main Theater of the Sejong Center for Performing Arts, Gwanghwamun. Tickets range from 50,000 won to 150,000 won. Visit www.blueman2008.co.kr. For English information, call (02) 541-6235 or email info@mastmedia.co.kr.