Gurgaon [India], Mar. 17 (ANI): Who says rock is dead? 'Dire Straits' members feel that's just a label!
When Gurgaon is all set to experience a once in a lifetime concert, ANI took some time to have a candid chat with the British rock band 'Dire Straits,' who are all set take the Indian crowd on a joy ride for the first time, in person.
While speaking on the recent trend of EDM and Pop music, which, according to some, have murdered rock music, Terence Reis, lead vocalist, said that it's just a label, which probably looks good as something new.
"I just don't think label means a thing, may be, I think, it probably looks good that something's there, something's new. It doesn't really matter what you call it. I remember being a student in 80s saying that guitars are finished and no one is going to play guitars anymore. All the music would done on computers. It doesn't really interest me if something is called rock or pop. If you see the song book of Dire Straits is a mixture of rock, pop, blues and folk," he told ANI here yesterday.
In a continuation to it, Chris White, on percussion, said, "Rock grew out in adversity. It was something that other people were not doing. That will always be the way, people will always find an act to what they want to say, whatever you label it, doesn't matter."
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'Dire Straits,' formed in 1977, drew its music from a variety of musical influences, including jazz, folk, and blues, and came closest to beat music within the context of rock and roll.
When asked, whether they saw any change in music over the period of time, Terence promptly replied, it's the world that has changed, not music.
"I think it's the other way around, the whole world has changed. People are always going to play, if they have a stick and a tin. They will do something with it," he said.
But Chris feels, "it's a lot more difficult business now," however, "Thankfully people still want music, need music and are ready to go and see it."
'Dire Straits' is in India to extend their support to Seagram's 100 Pipers' 'Play for a Cause,' an initiative to provide sustainable drinking water to villagers in Rajasthan.
Speaking on the same Chris said, "We were really delighted to fit in and be able to support it as well.it feels fantastic to be able to help people. Rather, our band started for a charity project in London. "
Finally, sharing their experience in India, Terence said, "The experience has been great and we have been treated extremely well, so that is an over-riding thing. It always surprises us."
On a related note, 100 Pipers 'Play for a Cause' has become one of the largest movements by any brand in the world.
Since 2014, more than 200 leading artists like Farhan Akhtar, Vishal Dadlani, Ehsaan Noorani, and legendary bands like Parikrama, Indian Ocean, MLTR, DJ Hardwell have performed in India for 'Play for a Cause,' in more than 25 cities, supporting people affected by natural calamities like 'Kashmir floods, Earthquakes in Nepal and India etc.'
'Dire Straits' is scheduled to perform for the Indian audience on March 17 and 19 in Gurgaon and Bengaluru respectively.