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Under the Tide: Tony Sly

Gar Meng Leong
February 23, 2014

I’m not one to mourn when someone who doesn’t have a discernible effect on my life passes on. When one of the lead singers who belonged to a band which I used to listen to a fair amount in high school died unexpectedly, it’s fair to say that I didn’t react the same as how I had when Paul Walker and Steve Jobs did.

Tony Sly, frontman of punk rock band No Use For A Name and for a short stint with Scorpios, died in July 31, 2012 in his sleep. I got introduced to the softer pieces of No Use For A Name’s catalog, with undoubtedly a heavy inclination towards a pop punk feel as to old school punk. With my tastes finding delight in music similar to the likes of blink-182, Yellowcard and Brand New, it wasn’t that hard for it to find its way into my music library.

Sly’s influence amongst his peers was influential. One year after his death, his work was re-interpreted, honored and perfectly shaped into a tribute album dedicated to him. It includes an expansive cover of his work (both No Use For A Name and his solo work) by artistes such as Rise Against, NOFX, Bad Religion, Lagwagon and many more.

When I found out not too long ago that a book was in the works detailing Tony, I felt compelled to re-visit the archives and to pen this, and while doing so, I stumbled upon his acoustic and stripped down collaboration with Lagwagon lead man Joey Cape. This mellowed down and different approach to the songs that I listened to really just painted a new picture into Sly’s musical prowess for me. A deeply personal favorite of mine since the early 2000s is this track from No Use For A Name’s 2002 album, Hard Rock Bottom. (I’m sorry that it took so long to write this song/But I gave up/You see one million words can’t describe how it feels to know your love) This opening verse was enough to reel me in, and I won’t ruin the rest. This song was one of my go-to anthems, and I am still never sick of it.