:::::::::::::::::::::::: The Formation of Beyond ::::::::::::::::::::::::::
In 1983, Wong Ka-Kui met Yip Sai Wing, and formed a rock band called Beyond. Yip Sai Wing was the drummer of the band and Wong Ka-Kui was the leading vocalist and guitarist. In the same year they won an award for “Best Band” in a competition sponsored by Guitar Magazine. Paul Wong, initially designed posters and record covers for Beyond, joined the band later on as a guitarist. In 1984, Wong Ka-Kui’s younger brother, Wong Ka Keung joined the band as a bassist. Since then Beyond remained an independent band, playing music at nightclubs and schools. In 1986, Beyond self-published "Goodbye Ideals" on cassette tape. Their early styles were mostly hard rock, new wave, post-punk, experimental and avant-garde. Their later manager, Leslie Chan, attended one of their live performances and was impressed by their unique style. As a result, Chan invited Beyond to sign with Kinn’s music. However, their hard rock style was not widely accepted by listeners in Hong Kong. Disappointing album sales presented Beyond with a dilemma. In 1987, Beyond released their first album Arabian Dancing Girl. Their music began softened with keyboard, but their album sale still couldn’t meet the expectations. At the same time, they were constantly criticized by other rock bands about commericializing their original hard rock music. In 1988, Beyond released album Modern Stage with some pop songs. For the first time, they included some slow-paced, love theme songs as well as songs with satirical lyrics about their Society. Again, their album sale was not successful, and their management company threatened that no more opportunities would be provided to them if they fail again.
Realizing the situation they were in, Beyond released their next album Secret Police with songs that were more in the popular genre. Songs such as (The Land) and (Loving You) from the recording (Secret Police) gained tremendous popularity, followed by Beyond’s increased recognition and public appearances. Several songs they composed later proved incredible success as well. They received awards for (Truly Love You) and (Social Party). Truly Love You is a tribute song to mothers, which is one of the best-known songs from Beyond. Social Party is a satire song about the Hong Kong entertainment industry, in which musicians are often asked to appear in unrelated TV game shows.
Gradually Beyond became the most popular band in Hong Kong. At the same time marked the turning point of their music career. They paid more attention to the social issues and the ongoing events around the world. Wong Ka-Kui won the Best Lyric award for his touching, epic-like lyric for (The Glorious Days), which is a tribute to Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, former president of South Africa. In 1991, Beyond visited Kenya and witnessed the poverty and misery there. When they came back to Hong Kong, Ka-Kui wrote a number of songs addressing the serious problems he saw in the trip. The most famous is Amani, which urges to stop wars and demand peace. The Beyond Third World Foundation was created in the same year with profits from the redistribution of an early album.
Realizing the restriction on original music in Hong Kong, Beyond decided to redirect their career to Japan. In January 1992, Beyond signed a worldwide management contract with Japanese record label Amuse. During the year, they released an album called The Revolution Continues. In May 1993, Beyond returned to Hong Kong with a new album Rock and Roll. Wong Ka-Kui’s signature work (Under a Vast Sky, sometimes translated as “Vast Sky and Boundless Sea”) won the Best Original Song award in Hong Kong. Before they went back to Japan, Beyond held an unplugged concert in Hong Kong and Malaysia, and that is Beyond’s last concert with Wong Ka-Kui in it.
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"For us and for Hong Kong, the incident was not merely about the loss of an artist. It was about losing a revolutionary of music." - Paul Wong on the death of Ka Kui.
On June 24, 1993, Wong Ka-Kui fell off a three-meter platform head first while filming a game show for Fuji Television in Japan. He fell into coma immediately and was hospitalized. News about this accident was little covered in the Japanese press. However, people in Hong Kong were shocked as soon as they learnt about this accident. Realizing the tremendous popularity Wong Ka-Kui had in Hong Kong, people in Japan paid more attention to him, inviting plenty of medical experts to help. At the same time, Beyond’s fans in both Hong Kong and Japan kept praying for Ka-Kui. On June 30, 1993, the Japanese representative announced Wong Ka-Kui’s death in a press conference, which at the time, was a complete blow to everyone in Hong Kong. Ka-Kui’s funeral procession caused traffic in various major city streets in Hong Kong to grind to a standstill, and almost every famous Hong Kong Cantopop singer was in attendance to pay their respects.
Another dream of Ka-Kui was to help local musicians. Along with the other members of Beyond, they established a foundation offering assistance to aspiring artists in creating and publishing their works. As the leader of Hong Kong’s only band to have transitioned from the underground scene to the mainstream, Ka-Kui has been cited as influential and inspiring by many of today’s crop of musicians and bands. In addition, Ka-Kui has often been credited as a positive force in Hong Kong’s music industry.
:::::: Wong Ka-Kui ::::::
(June 10, 1962 - June 30, 1993) was a Hong Kong born (with family roots in Taishan, Guangdong) composer, songwriter, musician and singer. He was the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and the founder of the Hong Kong rock band Beyond.
He composed more than 90 percent of the songs for Beyond and wrote a few award-winning lyrics. Ka-Kui is remembered for his musical talents as well as his unique and powerful voice that is able to convey a number of emotions. His songs are often addressing humanity and social issues such as injustice, war and peace, racism, poverty, family and pursuit of dream.
Wong Ka-Kui had a great influence on at least a generation of Chinese because of his outlook on life and the spirit of never giving up. He devoted his entire life to achieve change in the Hong Kong music industry and also tried to make a difference in the world.
While filming a gameshow for Fuji Television in Japan on June 24, 1993, Wong Ka-Kui fell off a 3 meter platform head first, and was hospitalized immediately. He died after spending several days in coma due to internal bleeding of head injuries.
:::::: Wong Ka-Keung ::::::
(born November 13, 1964 in Hong Kong) is a singer, songwriter, composer and the bassist. Ka-Keung is the younger brother of Beyond’s late lead singer, Wong Ka-Kui.
After forming Beyond, Ka-Kui asked Ka-Keung to practice the keyboard so he could join the band. However, Ka-Keung disliked the keyboard and learned bass guitar instead. Ka-Keung joined Beyond in 1984.
Shortly after the remaining members of Beyond split up, Ka-Keung formed his own band called Picasso Horses.
At the 23rd Annual Hong Kong Film Awards, Beyond won the award for "Best Original Film Song" for "Vast Skies" ("Chang Kong"), which was written by Ka Keung and Yip Sai Wing.
:::::: Wong Koon-Chung ::::::
(born March 31, 1964 in Hong Kong is a composer, songwriter, singer and the lead guitarist.
Wong started off doing artwork for Beyond before joining in 1985. In the 1980s, Paul performed one of Beyond’s most popular songs, "Dai Dei", which means "Big Land."
Known for his extraordinary guitar techniques, the guitar manufacturer, Ovation, have custom made acoustic guitars for him.
After Beyond split up, Paul pursued a solo career with his new band Hann.
On 18th of Oct in 2006,Paul held his second solo concert in Hong Kong Coliseum,and released the sixth solo album on 17th of November.
:::::: Yip Sai Wing ::::::
(born August 19, 1963 in Hong Kong is a songwriter, singer and the drummer. He is the only remaining original member of Beyond.
In 1983, Sai Wing, along with the late Wong Ka Kui and a few other friends, formed Beyond.
In 2003, Beyond won the "Best Original Film Song" at the 23rd Annual Hong Kong Film Awards for "Vast Skies" ("Chang Kong"), which was written by Sai Wing and Wong Ka Keung.
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