Well, it started at 2 PM. The sea of black shirts and blue denim gathered. The storm slowly built up. Every corner of the place filled up. The sweet smell of tobacco and marijuana slowly drifted through the air. Despite the heat, despite the prediction of rain, they all came. As far as the eye could see, there were men and women in black shirts. This was no funeral, but was a celebration of the great music we called “Metal”.
14th March 2008 was one of the greatest days in Indian rock history for this was the day; the band called “MEGADETH” blessed us with their presence. The atmosphere was similar to most of the rock fests we’ve seen happen abroad, normally we would just hang our tongues out and drool, but for once, we were living the scene. Tattoo artists, Bungee jumping, souvenir stores and a bar all made the environment to good for us to believe. The show started with performances by some of India’s finest and oldest rock and metal bands like Mother Jane, Thermal and a Quarter, Millennium, Pentagram, Mother Jane and Junkyard Groove. The Indian bands were there usual tight selves, but that’s another story.
Come 6:30 PM, the main stage went dark. Smoke filled the stage and there they were the prelude to the headline, Machine head. They rocked the joint with some of their well known numbers and had the crowd wanting more. But the crowd knew what was in store. It was the reason, they came from far and wide, bearing the heat, and they came to see the Gods of thrash metal. The stage went silent. Slowly a chant raised as the clapping became louder like the rumble from the storm that loomed over the horizon. The stage was dark, nothing moved. Only the voices of people screaming, “Megadeth”, “Mustaine” filled the air. And then like greased lightning, there they were. Dave Mustaine on guitars, Chris Broderick on guitars, James LoMenzo on bass and Shawn Drover on drums…all came together to live up to the name of Megadeth, hailed as one of the “Big four” of Thrash metal. For a man, who once lost the use of his left arm, Mustaine is the sheer example of what determination and love for what you do can motivate you to do what others say impossible. Flawless, the Gods came with axes and drums and moved us all.
There was no talking; there was no speaking…only rocking. I had a fever of a 101degrees, but the moment the first note from ‘sleepwalkers’ played, by God, medicine entered my veins. The sound of guitars was enough to have me and every person in the audience back on their feet. We all yelled along to every song, head banged to every number. Every fist in the house held up the devils horns, every voice screamed for more, more music, more metal, more Megadeth. For one and a half hours, the sea of black rose and fell as the tempest called Megadeth had hit the shores of India. For once, we all sang in unison, brothers and sisters in metal.
I shall look back, years from now and say, “I was there when gods of thrash graced us, I was there when they chanted about ‘hanger 18’ and the ‘holy wars’, I was there when they sang songs of ‘trust’ and ‘sleepwalkers’. I sang along with the ‘symphony of destruction’. I was there. I had no strength left in my feet to stand, but the music gave me energy to head bang and not frown…I was there, when Megadeth came to town”
14th March 2008 was one of the greatest days in Indian rock history for this was the day; the band called “MEGADETH” blessed us with their presence. The atmosphere was similar to most of the rock fests we’ve seen happen abroad, normally we would just hang our tongues out and drool, but for once, we were living the scene. Tattoo artists, Bungee jumping, souvenir stores and a bar all made the environment to good for us to believe. The show started with performances by some of India’s finest and oldest rock and metal bands like Mother Jane, Thermal and a Quarter, Millennium, Pentagram, Mother Jane and Junkyard Groove. The Indian bands were there usual tight selves, but that’s another story.
Come 6:30 PM, the main stage went dark. Smoke filled the stage and there they were the prelude to the headline, Machine head. They rocked the joint with some of their well known numbers and had the crowd wanting more. But the crowd knew what was in store. It was the reason, they came from far and wide, bearing the heat, and they came to see the Gods of thrash metal. The stage went silent. Slowly a chant raised as the clapping became louder like the rumble from the storm that loomed over the horizon. The stage was dark, nothing moved. Only the voices of people screaming, “Megadeth”, “Mustaine” filled the air. And then like greased lightning, there they were. Dave Mustaine on guitars, Chris Broderick on guitars, James LoMenzo on bass and Shawn Drover on drums…all came together to live up to the name of Megadeth, hailed as one of the “Big four” of Thrash metal. For a man, who once lost the use of his left arm, Mustaine is the sheer example of what determination and love for what you do can motivate you to do what others say impossible. Flawless, the Gods came with axes and drums and moved us all.
There was no talking; there was no speaking…only rocking. I had a fever of a 101degrees, but the moment the first note from ‘sleepwalkers’ played, by God, medicine entered my veins. The sound of guitars was enough to have me and every person in the audience back on their feet. We all yelled along to every song, head banged to every number. Every fist in the house held up the devils horns, every voice screamed for more, more music, more metal, more Megadeth. For one and a half hours, the sea of black rose and fell as the tempest called Megadeth had hit the shores of India. For once, we all sang in unison, brothers and sisters in metal.
I shall look back, years from now and say, “I was there when gods of thrash graced us, I was there when they chanted about ‘hanger 18’ and the ‘holy wars’, I was there when they sang songs of ‘trust’ and ‘sleepwalkers’. I sang along with the ‘symphony of destruction’. I was there. I had no strength left in my feet to stand, but the music gave me energy to head bang and not frown…I was there, when Megadeth came to town”
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