Rock vocalist Abhishek Gurung gets nostalgic about his home town and rues its current state
Abhishek Gurung is also the vocalist of the rock band, GingerFeet
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Darjeeling, the quaint hill station in West Bengal has been in a state of turmoil since the long-standing Gorkhaland movement for a separate state for the Nepali-speaking Indians surfaced this June. Rock vocalist Abhishek Gurung, who hails from the region, and now resides in Mumbai, has been keeping close tabs on the goings-on, as he prepares for a tribute gig to rock legends with his music collective.
"I was exposed to rock music back in school, thanks to my cousins who bought cassettes. The artwork on cassette covers drew me to music. One day, while browsing through my brother's collection, I came across the album, Bump Ahead by Mr Big. I fell in love with the track, Promise Her The Moon," says the 28-year-old, who moved to Mumbai a year ago to participate in the second season of singing reality show, The Stage. He was one of the finalists.
Listening to bands back home inspired him to start playing the guitar. "Everything was musically rich in Darjeeling. We had music festivals every year. I would travel from Kurseong to Darjeeling to attend those concerts. In the '70s, there were bands like The Forbidden Fruit, who introduced rock music to the masses. Later, I grew up listening to Mantra, Grungy Morphins and Pralaya. Many people, who went through oppression and injustice [due to Gorkhaland crisis] often found solace in rock music. When you are raised in such an environment, you automatically pick up an instrument," reasons Gurung.
The artiste is constantly in touch with his family to ensure they are safe. "They are doing fine but I am worried. It is sad to see the hills in this condition. Once a vibrant place, it has now become a battlefield. The government should come up with a concrete solution and those in power should let go of their ego. Banning the Internet and local TV channels is ridiculous," he says.
Gurung at a school function in Darjeeling
Recently, he composed the song, I Believe, for those back home. "I am looking at doing a small show there, but it is going to take some time. I performed the song at a radio interview this week and the feedback was great."
At tonight's gig, he will play a cover set comprising songs by Queen, Chris Cornell and Chester Bennington, the vocalist of Linkin Park who died last week.
On Tonight, 8.30 pm
At The Irish House, Rampart Row, near Rhythm House, Kala Ghoda, Fort.
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