British-American rock band Foreigner that hit high notes in the 1970s,will perform in the city today. Will they mesmerise us? Guitarist and songwriter Mick Jones recounts how he fell in love with India after listening to the music of sitarist Pt Ravi Shankar. My friend,the late George Harrison introduced me to Pt Ravi Shankar and his music. It was such a great experience that I have wanted to visit India all these years, says Jones,66,who is the founder and only remaining member of the popular 1970s British-American rock band,Foreigner. So,what took Foreigner so long to come to India? Somehow,it never materialised, he shrugs. But Foreigner is finally on its India tour courtsey 100 Pipers,following in the footsteps of other ageing bands who have discovered India past their prime. Foreigner,for its part,boasts album sales of 70 million,and their hit singles like Waiting for a girl like you,Feels like the first time and That was yesterday would have a capacity crowd singing along. The band may not have the popular names that it started with,like guitarist Ian McDonald and vocalist Lou Gramm,but Jones is excited about the new line-up. With Kelly Hansen on vocals,Jeff Pilson on bass,Tom Kimbel on rhythm guitars and saxophone and Jason Sutter on drums,the band isnt aiming to recreate the magic of yore. I have already done that with my old band members. Now,it is about presenting some great music in its most impressive form ever. As for this group,the atmosphere and chemistry between us is tremendous and everybody is working toward the same thing,to enjoy every minute of being in this band, says Jones,who adds that his band has been more powerful in the past few years as compared to the earlier days. The Delhi show will be followed by performances in Mumbai,Kolkata,Hyderabad and Bangalore. All gigs will be opened by funksitar player Niladari Kumar. I am excited to be playing with the band,whose LPs I used to listen to as a kid in the early 1980s, says Kumar,who is known for blending the feminine notes of the sitar with world music styles. Like Jones,he wants to enjoy the performance. It is important to have a good time on stage. People get that vibe when Foreigner plays live. Thats all I can ask for, says Jones. The band will perform at Talkatora Stadium today. For tickets contact www.bookmyshow.com
