The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : British bands in fundraising drive

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, May 07, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

British bands in fundraising drive

Staff Reporter

Raising money for tsunami victims an opportunity to find commonality, say musicians "We'll give you 14, you give us 14,000."

CONCERT FOR A CAUSE: The musicians pictured with well-wishers.

CHENNAI: John Caulcutt struck a wager with Chennai on Friday, "We'll give you 14, you give us 14,000."

It's a tempting offer, especially when the fourteen include the likes of singer-pianist Gary Brooker and guitarist-singer Andy Fairweather-Low, both musicians entrenched in the British rock-and-roll scene since the late 1960s.

The motley group of musicians from U.K. bands `Gary Brooker and Friends', `Step on the Gas' and `Big Town Playboys' are here for a common cause: fund-raising for tsunami relief through a music concert called `Aftershock'.

"We are going to play music from our roots: rhythm and blues and rock and roll from the fifties, sixties and seventies," said Mr. Caulcutt, the CEO of Watermark Group, U.K., and member of the `Step on the Gas' band.

Mr. Caulcutt flew down to Tamil Nadu soon after the tsunami struck and visited Nagapattinam. "Seeing the destruction first-hand, I became emotionally involved," said Mr. Caulcutt. Tying up with the Rotary Club of Madras, he organised for 56 tonnes of aid and arranged for engineers and technicians from U.K. to fly down to help fishermen bring fishing boats that had run aground back into the water.

"We are holding this concert to celebrate the re-launch of a number of fishing boats and to raise money for new boats," he explained.

"This is an opportunity to find commonality," said Gary Brooker from the band Procul Harum and the voice and co-lyricist of the 1960s hit, `A Whiter Shade of Pale'. Guitarist-singer Andy Fairweather-Low who has performed with musicians, such as Eric Clapton, Paul Young and Roger Waters, said he was amazed by the enthusiasm for classic rock in India.

Virgin Atlantic flew the musicians to Delhi for free. Indian Airlines took care of domestic travel and the Park Hotel, their stay. Other agencies providing services free of cost include DNA and Albatross Travels.

The 50,000-watt event will take place at the YMCA grounds Royapettah (7 p.m) on Saturday. Tickets, prized at Rs. 250, Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000, are available at Landmark, Planet M, Odyssey, Albatross Travels & Tours, Pro Music, IDBI Bank branches, Fashion Folks, Tangerine and The Park Hotel, besides at the venue.

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