JIM Wallenborg lives what many of us would imagine is the rock and roll dream.

He plays six nights a week at night in a Metallica tribute band in Rock City in Soi Bangla in Patong, and the venue is packed tight every night with a vocal and enthusiastic audience.

And so it should be.





Jim is good at what he does and puts more energy into one performance than most of us do at the gym in a week.

Many of us in our fledgling years stood before the mirror with a tennis racquet suspended around our necks and dreamt of the success, the glamour, and
the girls.

But the reality is very different.

In most cases, the job is not as glamorous as you would imagine, and it?s often very hard work with little reward.

Jim?s working day normally starts at 5pm with a rehearsal for one of the two bands he plays in.

If no rehearsal is scheduled, then it?s an 11 pm start with the rock covers house band which is designed to whip the audience into a state of excitement for the bands that follow.

He then has two hours off, and he returns to the stage at 2am with the Rock City Metallica tribute band.

He plays for one hour and then he can park his guitar up and go home to bed anytime between 3am and 3.30am, 6 times a week.

Then he has to practice.

Before he leaves the house to go to work, Jim warms up for about ten minutes to loosen up his fingers.

He will then run through a couple of numbers, or practice a new song.
Then it?s off to work.

It?s a strenuous schedule and the nocturnal life he leads can put a strain on any relationship.

?Luckily I have a very understanding partner,? he said.

Jim hails from Sweden but he thoroughly enjoys life in Phuket.

He plans to convert a room in his house into a studio and start recording the four hundred or so new songs he has stored on a recording device.

He has already laid down some tracks and is planning to release an album soon.

Jim?s credentials as a musician are immaculate.

He has played guitar since he was six years old, and after answering an advert, he was auditioned and selected by Mats Olausson, the keyboard player with Ymgwie Malmsteen.

He got the nod and then left the cold of Sweden to come to Phuket and within a few weeks he had learned twenty six new songs and was performing nightly.

?George is an excellent boss and the organisation is tight,? he said.

?The bands are great and we get on really well.

?I really enjoy doing what I?m doing.?

You can see Jim every night except Wednesdays at Rock City, Patong.

To see Jim at work, drop in to Rock City any night except Wednesday, or visit www.newtonmedia.biz