Still rock ‘n’ rolling after all these years

The place was Chennai and the year, 1966. Five college students from Bangalore met up for a jamming session at a hostel room at Madras Christian College to realise that they belonged together in music. Taking their instruments in hand, they decided to rock a music scene that was dominated by bands that played Tony Brent and Pat Boone. And they did so, quite literally.

The days that followed are the stuff of legends. The Mustangs, as they called themselves, went on to win praises from music critics and even cut their first album (a chartbuster at the time) through HMV in Kolkata. And, in the meantime, their number went up to six.
Then, in 1969, while the rest of the world celebrated the phenomenon that was Woodstock, they split. Just like that.
For more than four decades, they remained separated, each making his own way through life. But memories of the old remained, and one fine day in 2010, the Mustangs were back again — the world being their audience.

Sounds like something out of a recent Farhan Akhtar starrer? No, it’s true, and doubting Thomases may go check these guys out when they play at Whitefield Club on January 16.

The names are the same, only the dates have changed. Today, the Mustangs — consisting of guitarists/vocalists Kittu Rufus (alias Ratnam), George Cherian and Timothy Tharasingh; drummer Anand ‘Paddy’ Padmanabhan; bassist Haroon Mohamed and saxophonist/vocalist/tambourine man Derek Norris — hope to make a comeback with the same tunes with which they once regaled the country. So what if they are all between the ages of 64 and 66 and eligible for “railway concession,” as Ratnam puts it. They still play a mean guitar!

Inspired by music greats like Everly Brothers, Cliff Richards and Elvis Presley, the Mustangs made it to the top at an enviable speed way back in the 1960s. Though the sands of time have swept by, the six believe that rock ‘n’ roll still has what it takes to get people up and shaking the booty.

Recalling the days of their formation, Haroon Mohamed says, “In the beginning, when we were part of the Madras Christian College in Chennai, there were two bands that stood out from the others — the Silhouettes and the Thunderbirds. One day, during a practice session at one of the hostel rooms, we realised that we should play together. Ratnam, who was part of Loyola College, joined us later.”

But then, considering that the Mustangs hailed from bands with contrasting inspirations, weren’t there any musical differences among them? “Oh yes, there were some. But we didn’t squabble,” says Mohamed, smilingly, “We simply evolved.”

Derek Norris’s inclusion into the band is yet another thing that the Mustangs like to talk about. “One day, this chap comes up to us and asks if he can sing to the music we are playing. And before we know it, he starts singing Satisfaction in a way that even Mick Jagger couldn’t! I must say his version of the song did get quite popular,” says Padmanabhan.

And, as original compositions are all the rage now, are the Mustangs planning to pump out a few of their own? “We will do that, sure,” says Ratnam, “But, first, we have to give the audience a chance to get used to us. After all, it’s been some time since we played last.”

Incidentally, the name ‘Mustangs’ came from neither the animal nor the guitar. “We decided to call ourselves that because the Ford Mustang was such a grand automobile back then. Everybody liked Mustangs,” says Mohamed.

Sure, they do. And everybody is sure to like this band too, when they come back with a blast on the 16th.

For reservations, call the Whitefield Club manager at 9902254039 or 28453563.