American rock band FireHouse to rock Imphal today
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, May 05 2012:
As part of their 'Rock to Rescue India Tour, 2012', band members of the Internationally acclaimed American hard rock/heavy metal band, FireHouse, touched down at Imphal today for setting ablaze the stage at Hafta Kangjeibung here tomorrow.
It is for the first time that an International rock band would be giving their performance
in Manipur.
Prelude to their performance here tomorrow, well-known Tangkhul folk singer Guru Rewben Mashangva and local band Angellica would present gig as opening bands.
The date of FireHouse with Imphal, which was earlier scheduled to take place in April remained under cloud with Government of India denying visas to some of the band members.
Formed in Charlotte, North Carolina in 1989, FireHouse reached stardom during the early 1990s with hit singles like "Don't Treat Me Bad" "Reach For The Sky" and "All She Wrote", as well as their signature ballads "I Live My Life for You", "Love of a Lifetime", and "When I Look Into Your Eyes".
At the 1992 American Music Awards, FireHouse won the award for Favorite Heavy Metal/Hard Rock New Artist.
The band was chosen over Nirvana and Alice in Chains.
As the 1990s progressed, the band remained very popular in Asia, mainly in countries like Japan, Thailand, India, Malaysia, The Philippines, Indonesia, and Singapore.
Originally composed of vocalist C..JSnare, guitarist Bill Leverty, drummer Michael Foster, and bassist Perry Richardson, the band has maintained its original members with the exception of Richardson, who departed in 2000.Richardson was replaced three times before current bassist Allen McKenzie was given the position in 2004 .
Sunny Shimrah of 7 Sisters Entertainment Group, an event management group brings the rock band to Imphal, who had been accompanying the band since the band's arrival at Delhi on May 2 midnight, has informed, "Everything has been set for the Imphal gig" .
"We'll play about 14-15 songs, so stay positive", says Bill Leverty, guitarist of FireHouse, soon after landing here on Saturday morning after their gig in Nagaland's commercial capital Dimapur.
"Besides North East we also love to play in other parts of India." The band is also expected to render couple of tracks from their newest CD 'Full Circle' .
"The Dimapur show was amazing," Drummer Michael Foster said, adding "People here are passionate and we hope the same here too".
"Hafta Kangjeibung would be the main performing ground here.
The FireHouse Imphal concert has been sponsored by Airtel and part of the proceeds will go to Manipur State AIDS Control Society for enhancing AIDS awareness programme among the youths in the region.
Firehouse band members have an advice for the music loving youngsters of the region to 'keep away from drugs and stay positive if you want to achieve something in life' .
"We love to see you with smiling faces," said the band's vocalist CJ Snare.
Rock to Rescue India Tour 2012 is made as part of extending a helping hand to the helpless orphanage centres in NE India.
"We're lucky enough as we would be experiencing live performance of Firehouse tomorrow," said a fan in Imphal.
"I wish they gonna make the real difference on our soil, I still remember them playing their 1st song 'All She Wrote' in Shillong on 13th Dec 2004.Hope they'll make the same euphoric moment tomorrow", feels another fan.
The ticket prices are Rs 1200 and Rs 500 .