June 30 will mark the 15th year of rocker Koma Wong Ka-kui's tragic death, and three years since Beyond - the city's most influential rock band - faded from the scene. But founding member Yip Sai-wing says Koma Wong's dream has lived on, in him.
'I will always be a member of Beyond, and I will continue to make music in the spirit of Beyond,' says Yip, who formed the band with Koma Wong in 1983.
Koma Wong died of internal injuries a few days after he fell head first from a three-metre platform while filming a game show in Japan.
Now, Yip's star is rising. No one, not even the band's guitarist Paul Wong Koon-chung and bassist Steve Wong Ka-keung, can better represent the spirit of Beyond.
Yip has an absolute and single-minded commitment to music even though he used to be considered by many fans and critics as the band's weakest link. 'It is really a big leap for me, from drummer to singer-songwriter,' he says, adding that Paul and Ka-keung wrote most of the music for Beyond.
Yip has always been serious about music - so serious he bemoans his lack of experience on his debut EP. 'Listening to it now, I feel my vocals were horrible and I can't stand it myself,' he says.