The legendary Dr. Victor & The Rasta Rebels are a firm favourite in South African entertainment. A true all-rounder, Dr. Victor is a musician, singer, songwriter, and producer whose career spans over four decades. Recently, the band upgraded their live setup with an L-Acoustics system from DWR Distribution, including A15 Focus, KS21 Subs, LA4x Amplified Controllers, A-TILT and KS21PLA Dollies along with some cabling, cases, bags, and stage decks.
A highlight for the DWR team was the opportunity to put a few questions to Victor Khojane himself, better known as Dr. Victor, and to hear firsthand reflections on an extraordinary journey that has shaped South African music.
Q: Out of curiosity, how did you become known as Dr. Victor?
A: We were busy recording our first album as the Rasta Rebels and would rehearse all the songs the day before we went into the studio. We were a six-piece band with four guys singing, but we only had two working microphones; all the other mics were broken and sitting in a crate full of broken cables, DI boxes, etc.
During lunch breaks, the guys would go out and buy something to eat, but I would stay behind with my soldering iron, trying to fix the other broken mics. I would sit there during my lunch breaks, and our keyboard player jokingly said, “The doctor is busy with surgery again.”
I eventually got them working, and the nickname stuck with me. It started out as a joke, and by the time the album came out, the band was named Dr. Victor & The Rasta Rebels.
Q: When thinking of the early years, are there any memories of having to make a plan to get the audio right, or perhaps a funny story to share how far you’ve grown as a band?
A: We all grew up in Kimberley and after we matriculated in 1983, we decided to move to Johannesburg. We made up our minds that this is what we wanted to do for the rest of our lives. Our first resident gig in Johannesburg was at a place called Fun Valley (Club Status) near Soweto (Eldorado Park). They had an in-house sound system when we got there. The PA system was a Martin Audio 115 (3-way system) driven by 3 x Mosfet amps and a H&H crossover, Klark Teknik 2 x 31 EQ, and a 24-channel Dynamix console. The amps were rated: 1000 watts for bass, 800 watts for mids, and 500 watts for the tweeters. We bought that Martin PA from the venue for R15,000 when our contract ended.
Because the venue was a resort, the owner would make us set up the PA outside by the picnic area, where we would play three sets, pack up, and set it up inside again to play another three sets – but it was great fun. I was the band leader and engineer and always had the mixer right next to me. The annual festival was coming up, and we hired extra gear from Sound Hire (Brian Le Gassick) in Commissioner Street. The stage was set up over the swimming pool; the band was on a high, and more and more people got on the stage. Seconds later, the whole scaffolding collapsed into the swimming pool like the Titanic. Luckily, our roadie switched off the mains, no one got hurt, but we all had to swim for our lives!
Q: What has been special about this journey?
A: Music is a beautiful thing. I’ve been to so many places that I wouldn’t have gone to had I not been a musician. The joy you can bring to people, even if it’s just for that hour or so, is just so special. I’m so grateful for the gift of music.
Q: You’ve recently invested in L-Acoustics. What led to this decision?
A: I fell in love with the L-Acoustics system when I heard “Fourplay” at Carnival City’s Big Top Arena almost 15 years ago. The band was good, but the sound was amazing.
The PA that we had before served us well for almost 20 years and was slowly aging and starting to lack power and clarity. We do a lot of gigs on the various models of the L-Acoustics range across the country, from corporates to festivals, and we are always in awe of the sound of the L-Acoustics system. Our sound engineer, Brent Moses, is a huge fan of the brand, especially with its deceivingly small size but powerful output, which is perfect for our crew. The A15s and KS21s are perfect for our gigs, from school halls, parties, to corporates.
Q: Why did you choose this system, and will the equipment tour with you?
A: It’s very important that the speakers sound musical to me, and we get just that with the A15 and KS21 combination. We use our PA mostly in the Gauteng area and within a five-hour radius from Johannesburg. The bigger sound companies normally cover cities like Cape Town, PE, etc.
L-Acoustics is a respected brand, and we get a lot of compliments from our clients and fans.
Q: How have you managed to stay relevant over the years? To this day, if you tell someone that Dr. Victor is playing at an event, they get excited, knowing a fun night lies ahead.
A: I try to record new material whenever I can and keep rehearsing to keep the band tight. Also, we’re a hybrid band that always tries to keep up with the latest trending musical styles at our gigs. You have to keep it interesting for the fans!
For upcoming performances in your area please follow Dr. Victor & The Rasta Rebels on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drvictormusic
