Discordianism

We took on a new religion a few months ago. Mel, Garreth, and me. An impulsive, reckless decision on our part, and we have to pay for our actions now.

Discordianism. A religion that idealizes chaos and discord. A quick Wikipedia search, and we embraced it eagerly. Chaos? Bring it on, we said.

Soon after that, Garreth permanently marked Discordianism on himself, by getting a tattoo on his left arm of the symbol of Discordianism.

But, things weren't meant to be that way.

One morning, Garreth woke up, and everything changed. He couldn't remember his name, or his identity. Not the slightest idea. Frantic, he rushed into the bathroom and looked at his face in the mirror. No clue. Desperately, he pulled his hair, and they came off, but still no recollection of his life. He pulled his shirt off and started at his body. Hmm, nice nipples, he thought, but he'd never seen them before.

Finally, he turned, and lightning struck his building. Amidst the chaos, he caught a glimpse of the Tattoo. And then, he remembered who he was...

I am Dischordian, he said. He picked up his guitar, and harmonica, and walked out of the door.

The Eternal Jim

I'll tell you this...
No eternal reward will forgive us now,
for wasting the dawn.


- Jim Morrison


Isn't that crazy.

Potter

I told you, Potter fever's coming up.

Yesterday, I received an email, with an e-book. The 7th Harry Potter Book. I have no idea how this person got their hands on the e-book of the book that isn't released yet, and everyone is waiting for.

I'm not sure I quite believe it is the thing. So, a bit wary, I opened it and read it suspiciously. The writing seemed accurately her style. J. K. Rowling I mean. But then I was reluctant to read more, for one, I've lost touch and wanted to read book 5 and 6 again. And then again, when I read Dumbledore's name, I felt an immense pang.

Also I wonder if someone has actually been crazy enough to write their own version of Harry Potter and the Deathly Harrows. I can't wait to find out.

I'm reading book 6 now. E-book, though. I mostly hate reading books online, in fact I never have. But this time, I dont have a choice, coz I'm reading it during work hours and I'm hooked. I could never ever get hooked to an e-book. Its just difficult to read too much text online for long. But, Harry Potter makes it otherwise.

Anyway, gotta get back to the book. I just wrote this because:

1. I haven't blogged for a while and have missed it.
2. I was impressed or intrigued, rather, by how many times I've been in near tears while reading Potter. Quite affects me.

Later, then.

PS: Been also tripping on Depeche Mode the past week or two. Brilliant stuff - Playing the Angel (the album). Check out.

I love(d) Michael Jackson

Man, I grew up listening to the chap. Thriller. Bad. Billie Jean. There isn't a bigger star in my head. I thought he was incredibly hot, gorgeous, and I loved his music.
When I was in the third standard, I'd come back from school and dance for an hour. To Thriller. The whole album. And the songs still have that effect on me. Billie Jean! I could dance forever. And watching him dance... His videos were always so grand, extravagent and so, so, so engaging. Entertainment. The King of.

I've had a hard time believing what I read in the news about him. I just know that he's really sick now. Sick in the head. I dunno why or how. It's ugly and sad.

But for me, he lives on in my iTunes player and still gives me a little rush and thrill.

A life more extraordinary

I want my life to be a film. I want to save someone's life. I want to survive a calamity. I want a life extraordinary.
I want to be madly in love. I want to fight for justice. I want to stand up all alone.
I want to stand at the helm of the world's biggest ship and scream "I'm the king of the world."

My Love Affair With Split

I've had strange tendencies. In my relations with rockstars.
During my first year in college, my boyfriend started a band: Seguey. I loved them. Not only because I loved him, but I loved the excitement of jamming, getting gigs, performing and all that.
Seguey had nowhere to practice, so I let them come to my home. They'd get guitars and amps and the drummer would practice on my electronic piano. And I'd tell my parents that this was important.
I'd print out lyrics, and note down chords, and serve tea.

Soon after I broke up with my boyfriend, Seguey dissolved. Everyone had scattered by then. There were plenty of other bands in college - Zephyr, Something Relevant. But I just knew them. I wasn't a part of the universe anymore.

Last December I met Garreth, the vocalist of a well known band called Split. I'd heard of them, and had seen them perform at Independence Rock - twice. Garreth told me about a gig coming up the next few days. I promised myself I'd go.

I did ... I saw them, and felt that great thrill that being pounded by loud live music beats always gives you. And it's even better when you know the person creating that live music.

A few days later, I met Nigel at a Christmas Eve party. He plays drums for Split. We were both drunk. I went up to him and told him I'd seen his band perform two days back and that I knew Gary. We immediately sat down on the grass and spoke.

About Garreth and how he is Nigel's God. About Split and how I'd love to attend practice. I promised I'd be as silent as the furniture. Not that they'd care about me being there, but just to be earnest.

Nigel and I danced, I thought it was funny. A few weeks later, I was at band practice and then I never missed any.

I love Split.
Garreth sings, or croons, or screams. And closes his eyes, like Jim Morrison. And goes berserk on stage.
Vishwesh plays guitar and jumps around and trips over cables on stage.
Mel plays guitar and wears a communist cap and bobs his head.
Shekar plays bass and looks as if he's performing a surgery.
Nigel hides behind the drums and complains that no-one can see him onstage.

They're immensely talented, like so many others of our young musicians.

But there's a tragedy here. Here in India, no rock band makes money. Not enough money for them to be able to just do what they do best- make music. No, they can't do it.
They all have to have jobs. And then what they want to do most gets put aside for weekends. Practice on Sunday morning? Yea. Inevitable, someone can't make it.
Gigs get cancelled often. Our entertainment industry is booming. People would pay anything to have a good time. But still no one arranges good live shows.

The rock scene, at least in Mumbai, where I come from, is dominated by Death Metal and its variations. Not that much variation of that kind of noise is possible, but yea, that's what one means by Rock Music here.

But Split is still around. They love their music too much to stop. They think and talk about the band a lot. They fight and get drunk and abuse cops. They argue about wanting to do something to the world. About a revolution. They write songs.

I've known them for 8 months. I've felt the heart-ache of the music.
I want things to change. I want more people listening to new music, music created by our musicians. I want crowds to appreciate Original Compositions. I want they to be willing to pay for this music, so that musicians can make a living from making music.
I want Split to never stop. I want them to be able to stop doing what they don't want to, but have to, and I want them to change the world.


I want them to record their first album in December.