I must admit that it was indeed an eventful week with the ‘Gods of Rock’, Deep Purple who performed in this city. The music lovers of Bangalore had been waiting with eager anticipation for the first day of April. And when the day finally came, people could hardly wait for the show to begin. Crowds flocked around the entrance several hours before time in their ‘best attire’ complete with bandanas and all.

The place was filled like a can of sardines. There was hardly any breathing space but that didn’t deter the people from letting their hair down and ‘swinging’ away. The crowd there was a mixture of at least three generations. Grandpas and grandchildren were there dancing to the good ol’ numbers. The entire place went ecstatic when they played  ‘Highway Star’ and ‘Smoke on the water’ in particular.

As was expected, there were some people who did not go to watch Deep Purple perform live but to try out their ‘acts’ which they must have perfected over the years in all possible gatherings. No, I am not talking of all the gentlemen who have their limbs about them in control and do all the politically right things. There is this special category among men whose base instincts get the better of them. They wish to give vent to their frustrations where there are crowds. The reasons for such inane behavior may be many and well justified but the ‘recipients’ who happen to be women are not too comfortable about it.

I wish to make myself clear that I don’t intend to come down heavily on men in general. I believe men are quite lovable creatures and very easy to admire. But it’s hard to convince yourself about their ‘niceness’ when you are in a rock concert, craning your neck to watch your favorite guitarist perform before your eyes and enjoying yourself when you have some man beside you trying some distasteful trick!!

You didn’t expect us to fuss too much as to wind up and go home. No, that would be a shame especially when a band like Deep Purple was here all the way from England to play for Bangalore.

All said and done, one couldn’t be distracted for long and so we continued lapping up all the numbers that the ol’ guys belted out and basically unwound after a long week. And went home by midnight knowing we were a part of history in a very small way!

Please send in your views at the Banging it Out Board on the Communiqué.