All 8 Members Of Star Wars’ Mos Eisley Cantina Band Explained

The song played by the cantina band in A New Hope is iconic, but few know about the in-universe band behind the song. Known by the name Figrin D’an and the Modal Nodes, this group has played music in different establishments throughout the galaxy. Despite the fact that they only appear for a moment in the first Star Wars movie, they have made an incredible impact.

Composed entirely of Bith musicians, Figrin D’an and the Modal Nodes were both talented and well known, especially in the Outer Rim. Briefly located on Coruscant before moving to Tatooine, the group has a variety of songs, including the iconic “Cantina Band,” which is known in the Star Wars universe as “Mad About Me.” Listed below are the members of the group, who have cycled through at different points in time.

8 Figrin D’an Was The Leader Of The Modal Nodes

He Also Played The Kloo Horn And The Gasan String Drum

Also known by the nickname “Fiery” Figrin D’an, the leader of the musical group is best known for his critical nature. He was incredibly demanding of the band, ordering them around and even owning all the band’s instruments himself. It was Figrin who eventually signed the band with Jabba the Hutt, causing the rest of the Modal Nodes to fear Jabba’s wrath every time they played.

Aside from this, Figrin did not choose a side in the war with the Galactic Empire. He stayed out of this conflict, deciding that it would be more beneficial to remain neutral and focus on music. This, along with his addiction to glitterstims and gambling, would remain his life’s sole focus.

7 Doikk Na’ts Was One Of The Band’s More Relaxed Members

He Was A Master Of The Dorenian Beshniquel

Unique among the rest of those in the band, Doikk Na’ts was actually the only member of the Modal Nodes to own his own instrument, a reed instrument known as a Dorenian Beshniquel or a Fizzz. This was because he made his instrument himself, carving the reeds used to play the instrument by hand. His music was considered incredibly high quality, and his temperament was incredibly level-headed.

When signed to Jabba the Hutt, Doikk Na’ts was accused of stealing from Jabba’s collection of feckled toads that he kept to snack on. Because of this, the group was threatened with being fed to a Rancor, making it a necessity for them all to escape from his palace. The series of events that follows their escape is what eventually leads them to the Mos Eisley Cantina, and from there, they go on to play across the galaxy.

6 Ickabel G’ont Differed Between Canon And Legends

The Character’s Signature Instrument Was The Double Jocimer

Much less is known about Ickabel G’ont than the other members of the band, though there is a distinct difference between the character’s portrayal in canon and in Star Wars Legends. In Legends, Ickabel was a male Bith, but in canon Ickabel is referred to as a woman. Ickabel played the Double Jocimer for the group’s songs, which was another kind of reed instrument similar to the Dorenian Beshniquel.

Ickabel’s favorite song to play with the band was one known as “Tears of Aquanna.” This was because the song featured a long Double Jocimer solo, allowing Ickabel to show off the skills required to play the instrument at such a high level. In canon, she also wrote a memoir about her time in the band titled The Lady Has a Jocimer: My Life as a Modal Node, A Memoir.

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5 Lirin Car’n Was The Son Of A Famous Kloo Horn Player

In Star Wars Legends, He Was A Mercenary

Originally written as a powerful and tactically minded mercenary, the character of Lirin Car’n was changed after being brought to Star Wars canon. Here, Car’n was described as the son of the famous Lirin D’avi, who was considered by many to be one of the best Kloo Horn players of all time. While he did not own his own Kloo Horn in Star Wars Legends, he was left his father’s instrument in canon after his father’s death.

He did not have this instrument for long, however. Initially intending to sell the Kloo Horn in order to pay back a debt he owed to Greedo, he lost the horn in a game of cards. He would eventually be freed of this debt once Greedo was killed by Han Solo, and his father’s Kloo Horn would eventually be returned to him.

4 Nalan Cheel Was An Elusive Member Of The Band

He Played A Complicated Instrument Called A Bandfill

Unlike the previous members listed, there is not much known about Nalan Cheel. He was the member of the group that played the Bandfill, which had a variety of different moving parts and buttons. It had several different horns, allowing him to play different pieces.

Though he did enjoy traveling around with the rest of the band, Nalan Cheel also longed to retire. More than anything, after a while of traveling with the band, he expressed the desire to return to their home planet. This planet was Clak’dor VII, which was best known for its pink and bubbling swamps.

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3 Sun’il Ei’de Was A Mystery To Fans For Years

The Drummer Was Barely Visible In A New Hope

Another elusive member of Figrin D’an’s Modal Nodes, Sun’il Ei’de was best known for his skills as a professional drummer. He was also present during the famous scene in Mos Eisley Cantina, being one of the original members to have played the Cantina Band song “Mad About Me.” Despite the fact he was present in this scene, he was not confirmed to be one of these members until the release of the Star Wars Blog article Star Wars Holiday Special Cantina: Who’s Who by Tim Veekhoven and Kevin Beentjes.

“Mad About Me” was not the only song that he took part in within the Star Wars franchise. He also played the drums for the bartender of the cantina, Ackmena, providing accompaniment for a song titled “Goodnight, But Not Goodbye.” Despite this, Sun’il is still one of the more underrepresented members of Figrin D’an and the Modal Nodes.

2 Tech Mo’r Despised The Band’s Leader, Figrin D’an

He Played An Odd Instrument Called An Ommni Box

Tech Mo’r was a bit odd compared to the other members of the band, as he was often quiet and kept to himself. He was often under the influence during the band’s performances, with a glazed look in his eyes noticed by the other members of the band. Despite this, Tech was still an incredible instrumentalist, able to play the Ommni Box despite losing his to Figrin D’an in a game of sabacc.

It was this event that began Tech’s hatred for Figrin, as he was never allowed the opportunity to win his instrument back from him. This grudge would continue to go on throughout the time the two of them worked together. However, it is notable that the two of them never let this get in the way of their professional relationship as musicians.

1 Tedn Dahai Held A Grudge Against Ickabel G’ont In Legends

He Was Not A Primary Member Of The Group

Even though Tedn Dahai was a long time member of Figrin D’an and the Modal Nodes, he was often forced to remain as backup for Ickabel G’ont. This was because the two of them both played an instrument known as the Fanfar, and Figrin considered Ickabel to be the more talented of the two. He held this against Ickabel, with the two of them going on to argue about little things including the size of their Fanfar cases.

Being a musician was not the only career path that Tedn followed, because before that he was a member of the Imperial Navy. He was a scout for the Empire, but in Star Wars Legends, he would eventually abandon this entirely in order to become a musician. However, because of how talented Ickabel was, he would find himself held back in Ickabel’s shadow.

Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope

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The film that began the Star Wars franchise, Episode IV – A New Hope tells the story of wistful Force-sensitive Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), who longs to leave his home planet of Tatooine to fight the evil Empire. After inheriting his Jedi father’s weapon, a lightsaber, Luke sets off under the tutelage of Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness) with smuggler Han Solo (Harrison Ford) to join the Rebellion and face the evil Darth Vader.

Release Date

May 25, 1977

Distributor(s)

20th Century

Cast

Mark Hamill , Harrison Ford , Carrie Fisher , Alec Guinness , David Prowse , James Earl Jones , Frank Oz , Anthony Daniels , Kenny Baker , Peter Mayhew , Peter Cushing

Runtime

121 Minutes

Budget

$11 Million

Main Genre

Sci-Fi

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