Let's roll the clock 35 years back!!!

Mr Kumar Pushpa Gurung (Tamagi), a permanent resident of Adelaide in Australia,  performing live on stage at the "Whole Nepal Beat Contest 1974" at the City Hall in Kathmandu.  As far as I can remember, George Tamang was the drummer and Dev Rana from the band "The Road" the bass guitarist! 

Kumar Pushpa Gurung was the organiser of “Kathmandu Pop Festival 1975” and “East West Music Concert 1975”.  There were approximately 50 or 60 bands taking part from the western world and at least about 15 to 16 local bands in both the concerts.   The Editor of Tamagi website, Mr Rachha Bandhan Gurung MBE, was co-hosting both shows, when he was aged just 16!  Due to the full involvement on both shows, he failed to turn up for the entry exam at Amrit Science Campus, Thamel and ended up studying science at Tri-Chandra College, Clock Tower.  He also had his audition (popularly known as Voice Test) by the state radio of Nepal (Radio Nepal) the same year!  

Mansing Gurung, the answer to late Jimmy Hendrix in Kathmandu, performed on both shows, when he played his electric guitar using his teeth, feet and god knows what!  It was amazing to see him play his guitar behind his back, under his both thighs, left hand, right hand - and of course using endless tricks!!!   It was absolutely unbelievable! 

In those days a bunch of British Gurkha boys from St Johns' College in Singapore started to rock Kathmandu with Blues, Rock and Heavy Metal (it was known as hard rock in those days).  They were the ones, who revolutionised the Nepalese music trend.  Their band was known as the ROAD and the Band members were: Mansing Gurung, as many people can still remember, was on the vocal and guitar, Krishna Gurung (Sidhane) on bass, Damber Subba on the guitar and Udaya Thakur, who was later replaced by Dev Rana, was on the drum.

As far as I know, Kumar Pushpa Gurung had the opportunity to manage this band, when they did few concerts in Kathmandu and Pokhara.  However, the original band manager was Stanley (Maita Lal Gurung of Hariyali Movement).  Kumar Pushpa, who learnt a great deal of techniques for Blues from Mansing Gurung, actually received his initial guitar lessons from his mama-uncle Janga Bahadur Gurung (Sidhane).

Although Kumar Pushpa passed his voice test in the Radio Nepal and composed many songs, he has never recorded any songs there.  "Hosh Harai Sakyo Mayalu" is one of his best compositions.  He has constantly been encouraged by his Nepalese friends in Australia to release an album containing his new and old songs.  At present he is busy forming a band for his musical tour of Australia intended purely for Nepalese communities in Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne and other major cities of Australia.  We hope everything goes well for him.  Good luck to him!   Mr Rachha Bandhan Gurung MBE (The Editor)