1. Rob, you are posting your theories and experiences on the internet but you won't engage in arguments in the comments section because that steps over the line of virtual communication?
Rob says: This question has nothing to do with South Asia or my experiences it. It is irrelevant.
2. Rob, what's the Indian metal scene like?
Rob says: Ok, this is more like it, a very penetrating question. The only way I meet anyone overseas is by going to metal shows, metal records stores, metal clubs etc. I know no one in India. This gives you an idea.
Metal is about as popular here as “al Qaeda” T-Shirts in lower Manhattan. Cities with larger tech communities such as Mumbai and Bangalore have more bands and a couple stores, but very few show spaces. Basically every metalhead in India with the means made the pilgrimage to see Maiden in Bangalore in March. The only other western metal band that has played here in the last few years is a one-off show Enslaved did at some festival. Actually, the band that opened for Iron Maiden, Parikrama, parlayed that outing into a spot at the Donnington Festival. They are more Indian-folk inspired rock though and as we all know, rock is not metal.
I have made a few local contacts via e-mail who don’t share my pessimistic appraisal of the situation. They think it’s even worse. Here is Vineet Modi, a local metal distributor, on the subject:
The metal scene in Delhi is dead, and so in the entire country! I hate to say this, but there have been hardly any metal gigs in the past 4 months. There are a few extreme metal bands from Delhi - Narsil (Death Metal), 3rd Sovereign (Death Metal), Acrid Semblance (Power metal with Harsh Vox) etc. There are other Heavy metal bands, but they are not worth mentioning. I find them poserish and fake. There are tonns of Nu-metal bands, but I assume by "metal" bands you mean real metal, and not the Slipknot or Korn types. Though the fan base for metal is on a rise as more and more people are getting into extreme metal, but the live scene is very bad for the time-being. (Bold added by Ed.)
The closest thing I have seen to metal so far is a guy playing a sitar in a restaurant the other night started played a few bars of "Fade to Black" by Metallica between songs. That said, everywhere I go I manage to come back with at least one good record from the area, I don’t plan to let India break my streak.
3. Rob, did you take the blog photos yourself?
Rob says: Yes. If I had not done them myself, the shooter would have met a quick death. My arm is only so long I fear, which accounts for the somewhat central position of my skull. I am currently accepting applications for a personal photographer. Must be willing to travel at own expense. When I get to the Taj, I'll probably be forced to enlist help, but until then, it's DIY.
4. Rob, the CCP (Chinese Communist Party - Ed.) does not approve of your new method for free speech and the dispensation of information (blogspot is blocked here). Can you email me choice excerpts?
Rob says: Sure, John. 没有什么问题。No problem.
That's it for questions this week. I can handle much more in terms of volume (this is a challenge). I leave you with one final picture, the blood stained sari Indira was wearing the day two of her body guards gave her lead poisoning. The stains didn't come out too well in this picture, but trust me, it's a mess. Unfortunately, I didn't get any shots of the 3 cloth scraps and scorched Converse that remained of Rajiv Gandhi when he exploded. I wouldn't jest if the family were not all a bunch of criminal scumbags with blood all over their hands.
Now playing: "Victim of Changes" - Judas Priest. Fact: The experience of hearing this song live back-to-back with "Exciter" was once described by NWOBHM (New Wave of British Heavy Metal) aficionado Robert Drewry as, "...the most aurally stimulating 15 minutes of my life."http://youtube.com/watch?v=YUcnmYXjktQ
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