Richard Y. Tan, the founder and head of Backbeat Artist Management, passed away on Sunday, June 3, 2012 at 5:00 AM, due to cardiac arrest from meningitis. He had been confined to the intensive care unit of an undisclosed hospital since Wednesday and expired early Sunday. He was 47 years old.
Tan started Backbeat in 1993, when he looked after the careers of such local rock acts as The Youth, Tribal Fish, Feet Like Fins, Datu’s Tribe, and Teeth. He also brought a then-fledgling comic rock band called Parokya Ni Edgar under his wing, and the rest, as they say, is Pinoy music history. Besides Parokya Ni Edgar, the Backbeat artist roster currently includes the bands Kamikazee, Moonstar88, Franco, Typecast, Hilera, and Chicosci, as well as rapper Gloc-9.
Tributes to the late manager were posted online throughout the day, including on some of the official Facebook pages of the talents that Tan managed. One of his latest signees, Chicocsi, simply posted, “Rest in peace to one of the most influential people in our lives, Sir Richard Tan.” Aristotle Pollisco, a.k.a. Gloc-9, said, “Kahit sa maigsi nating pagsasama hindi ko naramdaman na trabaho o pagkakakitaan ang trato mo sa akin. Sa halip, masarap na kainan, kwentuhan, at true friendship ang binigay mo sa akin at sa aking pamilya.” The staunchly independent Typecast, acknowledged Tan’s role in the band’s recent successes, as they posted: “You paved the way for us to reach our grandest dreams. We are very honored to be a part of your Backbeat Family and very grateful that you've given us opportunities that we could have never done alone.”
Over the past several days, many friends, musicians, and music industry professionals have been paying their respects at Sanctuarium, where Tan's remains lie. On Tuesday, Parokya Ni Edgar vocalist Chito Miranda also posted this message on the band's official Facebook account: "Wala na ang aming bossing at manager na si Richard Tan pero tuloy pa rin ang Backbeat at ang pagsasama-sama ng mga Backbeat Bands. Tuloy ang tugtugan. Tuloy ang ligaya. Tuloy ang RAKENROL."
"Ang burol ni Richard ang pinakamasayang burol na napuntahan ko," he continues. "Malungkot man na wala na si Chard, ang kasiyahan at kaligayahan naman na idinulot ng lahat ng mga ala-alang napagdaanan namin sa halos dalawang dekada na nakasama namin sya bilang manager, at ang samahan ng Backbeat Crew at ng mga pilyong banda na kasama namin, ay higit na nangibabaw."
We at Pinoytuner.com and DIGRadio.ph extend our sincere condolences to the family Richard Tan left behind, and that includes his friends, his co-workers and colleagues in the industry, the bands, and the fans.
Photos courtesy of Chito Miranda.
