As you may have heard, local music icon Karl Roy (vocalist of the bands Advent Call, P.O.T., and Kapatid) suffered from a couple of strokes recently (one would think that one was enough).
That’s tough. The funk-rock-jazz P.O.T. album – the band’s one and only album recorded back in 1997, and remastered and rereleased a decade later – remains a seminal touchstone of contemporary Filipino music, as influential today as the day it hit the record stores. Karl Roy, together with co-songwriter and guitarist Ian Umali, unleashed a collection of instant classics such as “Fishcake,” “Ulitin”, “Piece of This”, and “F.Y.B.” – though the band was just as well known for its cover of “Yugyugan Na”, from the 70’s soul band The Advisors.
Here’s a transcript of a short thread on the subject from my PinoyRock mailing list, with my unabashedly emotional response.
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From: Solo
I got this in my ym:
Benefit Concert for Karl Roy Mar 28, ’08 9:00p Music Museum, Greenhills, Pasig We are doing a benefit show, proceeds will go to the treatment of Karl Roy Date: March 28 Time: 9pm Venue: Music Museum Tickets: P300
Artists: Razorback, Sandwich, Kjwan, Sugarfree, Mayonnaise, DRT, Playphonics, and More… Tickets will be available at Music Museum the week of March 24-28
What happened? O:
Solo
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From: Jim Ayson
yes good question – i know he had some sort of stroke but wonder what are the developments since then.
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From: Jay Ortega (DRT)
Hi Jim,
He had yet another stroke a number of months ago, and has since not been able to recover much. The right side of his body got paralyzed. (Although there has been some improvement) and he has a hard time speaking, let alone sing… It is very difficult for him to work, obviously, so it was decided to help him out with this benefit concert. Proceeds of which will be used for more therapy and Karl’s daily needs as well
Hopefully with more therapy and help, Karl will be able to fully recover
Ciao,
Jay
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From: Jim Ayson
Thanks for the explanation. I’m reading this at work, and for some inexplicable reason a profound sadness has just come over me as if this had happened to a close relative. I guess all those hours listening to the classic P.O.T. album (over the past decade!) has formed that bond between listener and artist. I’m sad for Karl, but I’ve also known some people who have been able to survive strokes and with rehab, have been able to live out their lives.
One thing about strokes is though the body is paralyzed, the mind is still running at full speed. I hope Karl will be able to find a way to rechannel his creative energies somehow, maybe through technology? I’m convinced that the world still has a need for Karl’s artistic genius.
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Update!
Here is the final lineup of bands playing at “WISH YOU WERE HERE”: the Karl Roy benefit concert at the Music Museum this Friday, March 28, 2008 (alphabetical order):
- Cosmic Love
- DRT
- Gayuma
- Greyhoundz
- Itchyworms
- Kastigo
- Kjwan
- Mayonnaise
- Peryodiko
- Playphonics
- Razorback
- Sandwich
- Sugarfree
The Ayson Chronicles 
any updates on Karl Roy’s health?
I only read about his condition on this month’s issue of ROUGE magazine. I hope he gets better. Please post updates on his condition. Thanks!!
P.S. How old is he? Im just curious..
how is he doing? im a really big fan of P.O.T. and Karl Roy, and i wanna make sure this genius will fully recover and continue with his brilliant music. please give us some updates about his health.
i was listening to the song “Sa Panaginip Lang” over and over again, that is my only favorite tagalog song. i really hope that Karl Roy will get through this ordeal and i wish one day i will be able to see him on stage… it has always been a dream!
thanks for this article mwah !
Hi Jim, hope you’re all ok. How’s Karl now? hope he’s well too. Regards to all
I saw karl roy just this evening in robinson’s place pioneer supermarket. he was alone and was walking on his own without any support/cane but you can see that he’s movement is that of somebody who has had a stroke.
I hope he’ll be able to recover fully so that he can perform again on stage
I agree with bdth. I saw Karl Roy around Pioneer area, the man looks sad and alone.
I hope he fully recovers, be on stage again.
huwaaatt?? where the hell am I? Kahapon ko lang nalaman na na-stroke pla c Karl. Nakita ko cya khapon sa Pioneer area with an american girl. Kawawa nman c Karl. Sana maka-recover na cya. Sama sama natin cyang ipag-dasal! mga kapatid!