JWinter, MWater, JJCale, EClapton, JMayall, JHendrix, SOtis, JPaige, JBeck, MKnofler, EVHalen, JSatriani: not just legends— gods, muses, each an axe man like no other before or since. They are only a handful of reasons why the guitar culture remains popular the world over, generation after generation. Nepal has not remained untouched by these forces; these are names that have inspired and in turn helped create some of Nepal's finest guitarists.
This month WAVE begins its two part series on Nepal's guitarists. Music and guitar lovers alike can now not only look at the list of names above, but also turn to homegrown talents featured on The Axe Men for great guitar work. This monthly series will be composed of guitarists that have been taking center stage from the late 70s to the young and promising guitarists of our generation. This is our tribute to the guitarists of Nepal and a thank you note to the generations of guitar gods that have helped inspire them. WAVE presents, The Axe Men.
Pemba Lepcha
In the beginning there was Prism. Sure, there were a lot of bands gigging around the valley before them, but it was this band, formed in 1978, that truly paved the way for rock culture in the country. Though they went through numerous lineup changes, the original members were Pemba Lepcha, Dinesh Rai, George Subba and Hari Roka.
Thanks, largely to his work with Prism, Pemba Lepcha has become a much-respected musician and guitarist today.
Pemba Lepcha first picked up the guitar when he was in class seven, back in his hometown Darjeeling. Since a friend's uncle had offered to buy his group a guitar, and they had no clue on how to choose the instrument, they ended up buying a Hawaiian. "We had to cut off the bridge so that we could play it," remembers Pemba. Self-taught after listening to the Shadows and Jimi Hendrix, he formed the Diamonds when he was in class 9. The band performed in Calcutta and later in Kathmandu at the Rastriya Nach Ghar during the late 60's/early 70's. "It was the first band to go outside Darjeeling and introduce the town to the rest of the world," he says.
After migrating to Kathmandu, he played in a band called Spinning Wheel, and later Prism. The band performed at Soaltee where they played mainly improvised covers. "There was great communication between the members on stage. It was fun," he says.
He stayed with the band for around 15 years after which the original members were replaced by Jyoti Ghimire, Deepak Thapa and Dev Rana. However, the founding members got back for the Return Of The Legends concert a few years ago.
Cloud 9 was his next band and although they played regularly at Himalayan Hotel for three years, his most memorable performance with them was at the Everest Hotel. So moved was he by the performance that he calls it "a musician's dream which can't be compared with anything else."
Pemba is currently involved with the Oktober Fest, and also plays regularly at Red Onion with Dev Rana, Ram Shrestha and Udesh of Blind Faith. He is also a "freelance" guitarist and teaches at Rupy's International School. As busy as he is, he has plans of forming another band but which, right now, is just a good idea.
Mukti Shakya
Mukti Shakya is an axe man who needs no introduction. As the frontman for Mukti & Revival, and now MñM (his band in Spain), he has been part of the music scene for a very long time and has made quite a mark in the process.
Inspired greatly by Jimi Hendrix, he first got a piece of the action in 1979 when he performed on stage. "We practiced for quite a long time, but I don't remember for how long," he says.
Currently living in Spain, Mukti has been gigging around quite a bit there too with his band MñM, a guitar, drum and bass trio. "We're doing better everyday. We've been performing at pubs and public places, playing blues rock and my Nepali songs," he says. He is currently working on an album and in his own words, "having a great time with it."
Mukti plays a Fender Stratocaster and a Gibson SG, through Fender, Marshall and Carlsbro amps. For effects, he uses Blues Drive, Turbo distortion, compressor sustainer and Zoom.
"What I want to say is that young guitarists should practice a lot, preferably for hours and hours a day. I played for five to six hours myself," he replies when asked on what advice he has for budding guitarists. Take it from Nepal's premier blues man!
"When I saw him [Jimi Hendrix] live with his sexy thing, that was it, buddy! I decided to pick up the guitar!" – Mukti
Jyoti Ghimire
Jyoti Ghimire has been in the business for more than two decades. Starting off by imitating heroes from old movies and self-practicing by listening to guitarists like Jimi Hendrix, he entered the music scene with his first band Off-Beat, which also had Rajiv Upadyaya and Vijay Lama in the lineup. After Vijay left the band, they renamed themselves The Grand Slam and gigged around in hotels, mainly playing standard rock n roll and blues covers. Jyoti then moved on to other bands, such as The Kathmandu Katz, Legend and Prism, with whom he toured the country and abroad. The last band he was a part of was Blind Faith.
Being in the music arena for so long, Jyoti has "been there and done that." He has performed on stage over six hundred times with artists from almost all genres and ages. He has played with confirmed legends such as Phatteman Shrestha and current hot shots like Nima Rumba, Sanjay Shrestha, Dhiraj Rai, Catch 22 and Namaste Band. He cites the release of his solo album Dordee in 2001 and playing for the English duo Centerfold among his major achievements. His most memorable performance, as he recalls, was the Prism Comes Alive charity show in '91. As for guitars, he's perfectly happy with his Ibanez.
"People are doing just fine," he replies when asked about what he thinks of the current state of the Nepai music industry. Although he agrees to the fact that there are many setbacks in Nepal that don't allow guitarists to reach their full potential, he says that with enough marketing and promotion, upcoming bands could make it big not only in Nepal but internationally as well. His message to upcoming amateur guitarists: "We had to learn to play laddai paddai. There were hardly any facilities for us. Things are a lot easier now. Grab hold of all the opportunities you can and learn to play the right way."
Evolution, Jyoti Ghimire's new album will be out in Tihar.
