1995...the journey continues...
Nothing's
permanent in life except change. Nothing. Frienship, relationships, trust...
nothing. Life teaches you a lot. 1995 taught me so much. I grew up! I lost
my trust, but I kept my faith. Why do I sound so bitter?
May 5, 1995: Euphoria breaks up! No one knows really what happened. A friendship that lasted 7 years, is history. We can't be friends anymore.
What really happened it too long, complicated and painful to recollect. But I know, it was a long time coming. I don't speak with Ashok anymore. I guess I have a surgeon's attitude towards life. If a limb gets gangrene, amputate it.
There were a lot of consequences to this "tiff". I lost a brother in Jitty. I lost my best friend, and even more important, I lost a family I had been a part of for such a long time.
We lost one of the best drummers to have "slammed the skins." Music lover won't hear from the Shroff brothers anymore, but they were an inspiration nonetheless. Bye guys. Thanks for teaching, guiding, helping and inspiring. Our goals were different and I am on a different journey.
Now what? Well, Benny, D.J. and Gary decide to stay and give me complete support. Besides that we really don't have much else, no equipment, no rehearsals, maybe no future. What we have a-plently is a madness, a passion that overcomes all odds. Thats what makes us, Euphoria.
Lets get to work. I call up Gussy and Amit. They both say yes!
Gussy - Legendary guitar player, father figure, musician par excellence,
Amit - Young, raring, talented, sharp, brings with him a new attitude to
that band - aggression.
We are suddenly slated to play an unplugged show at Talkatora. Well, it is our idea really and Times Music agrees to sponsor it. It is a first.
I feel like getting some back up vocal support for my puny li'l voice. I go to town but no female wants to sing with a rock band (we are all evil incarnate, you see ;). The last girl I call says, she'll think about it. She does more than think. She brings three more in tow with her! We have 4 back ups - Tara, Hemlata, Barnali and Yan, all from Lady Shriram College. Polly Sen, R.I.P.
September 1, 1995: Gaurav leaves for his Hotel Management studies. At least he leaves with that famous, "I'LL BE BACK!" line. And he means it!
Enter IIT goldmedalist, engineering whiz, new guitar man - Prashant Fuloria (you'll hear the last name nowhere but this site :). He learns 47 songs in 17 days!
October 17, 1995: BITS, Pilani... and we don't look back.
SRCC, LIC, IP, MAMC follow.
October 29, 1995: A group of people called "The Friends of Music" invite us to perform for a selected audience who are, well... friends of music. We perform a set of 17 original songs, and they love it! We know the path we have taken is the right one. The last vestiges of doubt are fading away.
Other bands are shitting bricks. By the end of the year Euphoria and their fans are rocking once again.
MARK 4: Benny, D.J., Gussy, Amit, Prashant, Barnali, Tara, Yan and yours truly
