Local rock bands, especially young ones, are struggling hard to keep playing as they can hardly make a living as rockers and face splitting up at any time.

One of the few competitions for young rock bands held in the country over the past few years, Tiger translate - Battle of the Bands, has seen limited applications, though a one-week extension has given for the selection round, on May 24.

Though last year’s competition was a relative success, organizers had to persuade bands hard to take part in the 2013 competition.

To split, or not to split?

Truong Nam Phong, a veteran member of I-Teu, a young rock band that emerged from Rock Storm 2011, one of the country’s biggest rock tours, has put aside his rock passion over the past two years and run his family’s small plastics business. Other I-Teu members have left the band as well and been replaced by new ones, who have also now left.

KOP, another young rock band who won a local band competition in 2010, has fared little better than I-Teu.

Despite their efforts, they face the grim prospect of splitting up, due to the insipid audience applause and meager pay that rock bands typically receive.

According to Thai Chau, KOP’s leader and a former member of Prophecy, which also split after carving out a niche for themselves locally, young rock bands face lots of financial difficulties. They spend their own money buying musical instruments, and do everything on their own, including composing, mixing, performing their pieces live and recording them, as well as supporting themselves with other jobs.

“I now practice rock by day and work as a tattoo artist by night. Many don’t like what I’m doing, but I have no choice,” he confided.

Even veteran rock bands in Ho Chi Minh City such as Atomega, Ket cau thep, Metronome and Little Wings have broken up for several reasons.

Ho Quoc Hung, a former seasoned member of Little Wings, which received many show offers in HCMC in the 2000s, said that though the band members didn’t go their separate ways due to financial reasons, few rock bands, including Microwave, which is still playing, are financially successful.

Shows are really hard to come by, and they sometimes are invited to only one some months, and are paid a mere VND1 million (US$48.3) to be split between five or six members.

Upbeat note

Against all odds, many local rockers remain optimistic about rock’s future.

“The financial difficulties also apply to rock bands in other countries where rock has an established presence. and they also work other jobs to eke out a living. The thing that counts is that despite the breakup, we should remain sanguine and keep cherishing our rock zeal,” said Phong.

One piece of good news is that rockers in Vietnam come from many walks of life, including architects, artists, chefs and computer programmers. They unconditionally love rock and are willing to keep their passion alive.

Phong said optimistically that despite the intermission, his band, I-Teu will work on new material soon. Meanwhile, KOP also hopes to produce a debut album featuring 10 songs they have composed.

According to Do Thanh Lam, one of RFC Club’s managers, rock is gradually gaining in popularity compared to two years ago.

Apart from featuring popular, seasoned rock bands, his club always makes sure there’s room for young bands, who usually help each other out to cope with the meager pay they receive for playing.