An extremely wonderful event is planned at Oppikoppi this year. Musicians from all walks of life are paying tribute to Valiant Swart for giving us 20 years of beautiful music.
His name is synonymous with Oppikoppi. In fact I distinctly remember him playing in the first Oppikoppi 16 years ago. It was love at first sight. From his punk attitude on stage, to his rebel-without-a-cause good looks, Valiant was so unintentionally cool. And then of course there is the music - simple rock n roll played with laidback enjoyment. His lyrics, always in Afrikaans veer between fun (Moelikheid Met die Man) to the haunting style of Die Mystic Boer, a South African classic.
Off stage he is one of the sweetest men and one of the best people to party with. Many an Oppikoppi night ended with us at that famous top bar imbibing all sorts of wicked things.
But more than that, Valiant changed Afrikaans music forever. And now people like Jack Parow, Francois van Coke and Piet Botha will be paying tribute to him at Oppikoppi on Sunday afternoon.
His former bassist, Schalk Joubert, is the musical director of the show.
"We are bringing people in especially for the show," he said. "Piet Botha, Anton L'Amour and Tidal Waves are just performing one song. There is also a grand finale planned with Vusi Mahlasela and Marcus Wyatt."
Of his value to local music, Joubert said: "Valiant was the intermediate between the Voelvry movement, which was very political to real rock n roll. He made it hip to listen to Afrikaans music. He has good lyrics steeped in solid rock n roll. He opened the gate for people like Karen Zoid. She is more on the Valiant side than the Johannes Kerkorrel side. He's a survivor and he has stuck to his guns."
Producer and Springbok Nude Girls guitarist, Theo Crous agrees: "Valiant was there when I was still at school. He was one of the first guys the Nudies looked up to. At that point no one was playing live original music except for Valiant and Koos. We used to hang out a lot together in the Stellenbosch days during the mid-nineties."
"I remember I played drums for him once in Mossel Bay. I hadn't slept that night and I'm a very kak drummer."
Jack Hammer's Piet Botha had nothing but praise for this South African icon. "I've known him for such a long time and he's really worked at it over the past 20 years. He is a rock n roll brother."
Guitarist Anton L'Amour has the longest association with Valiant: "We met in 1987 when we were auditioning for the same band. Then in 1990 we formed the Valiant Swart Band with two electric guitars, an acoustic guitar, drums and bass.
"Lyrically he stands out above anyone else. He has a unique style and lekker insight. He has a beautiful way with words."
A case in point is the fab track Moelikheid Met Die Man, which a very excited Tamara Dey will be singing. "The song has such a cool vibe and he is extremely respected out there. When I got the call I agreed with pleasure."
The Van Coke Cartel are planning to cover Buitenkant. "We wrote Buitenkant Twee which we wrote in the same house in Stellenbosch that Valiant wrote Buitenkant," says Francois van Coke. "Oh and I am also doing a verse for Die Meerste Mense is Maar Lekker Zef with Die Heuwels Fantasties and Jack Parow."
"Valiant Swart is very nice. I like him," said the man with the long, long peaks. "He's an all-round, great guy. He has done a lot for Afrikaans music over the years."
"Ja, and he didn't try and stay this young rock n roller," said Van Coke. "He grew with his audience."
Keyboardist Simon Orange, of The Blues Broers, and Agent Orange fame joked that Valiant increased the tequila drinking market.
"But seriously he made Afrikaans music cool again and his songs are great to play."
That the tribute is happening at Oppikoppi is entirely fitting. Valiant is the godfather of Oppikoppi and has helped make this event the spiritual home of true original South African music. And so often, it is when people die that we pay tribute to them. That Valiant is alive and kicking makes this tribute that much more beautiful. It will be an emotional experience not only for the man himself, but for many of his fans and friends too.
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