Been in an impression that July Maadham was played by Guitar Prasanna. or Both? Raghu
--- In [email protected], Vithur <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Rahmaniacs, > > Keith peters , has been a famous base guitarist and has been assosciated > with ARR right from Roja till Sivaji. > > *1. When did you meet ARR ?.* > > I met Rahman in 1988, when I was working for Music Director Raj Koti. At > that time, he was around 18 years old. In 1990, when he was doing jingles, > he had called me for doing jingles. He has always been a very quiet boy. We > used to have lot of discussions about music. I have played a lot of ad > jingles, themes with Rahman. I was working in a Five Star Hotel, and used to > play base guitar every night. One night he called me and asked me to come > and play for a song in 1991. That was for Chinna Chinna Aasai ( Roja ) . I > asked him what was this for, for which he replied " I am doing a movie, and > hopefully it comes out well". I told him that it would definitely be a hit, > and not to worry. > > *2. What are the songs that you have played for Rahman ?* > > First of all, all songs I used to play in the night. Rahman was the cause > behind me leaving the Hotel. he told me " *leave the hotel; Play for me".* I > thank him a lot for getting me out of that hotel. > > *3. What was your experience of working with Rahman during Roja ?* > > Each song of Rahman is a different experience. He is a very great and good > composer, and hence each song is a unique experience. It seems Keith's speed > of playing is so much, that Rahman used to tell him " You should wait more > than you play ". > > *4. What is your experience in doing Live Programs ??* > > They are totally different from recordings. You have to be really alert > especially for Rahman songs. Its because you have to duplicate the same > thing thats on the record. My experience has been a different experience > playing for his concerts. we have to practise nicely and deliver > > *5. Which are the programs that you have enjoyed a lot ?* > > I play all different styles of music, like pop, jazz, rock and of course for > Rahman for Tamil Songs. I like little bit of Jazz. Even rahman loves that. > My kinf od Jazz is little modern. Each person on the band improvises on a > particular theme. > > *6. which song of Rahman did you love playing ?* > > All his songs are so beautiful. Esp Chinna chinna Aasai, Pudhu Vellai > Mazhai. Then came July Madham ( Pudhiya Mugam ) , Netru Illadha Matram ( > Pudhiya Mugam ) . My base guitar was prominent in Kaadhal Rojave ( Roja ) > and even Kadhal Sadugudu ( Alaipyudhey ) > > *7. what are the different styles of Base Guitar ?* > > The style that we play with fingers is called peeking style. Then is the > slab style with the thumb and the forefinger. Then comes the walking base( > swing pattern ) > > Swing Pattern :- Kannum Kannum ( Thiruda Thiruda ) ( Fast running base ) > Slab Base - Kadhal Sadugudu ( Alaipayudhey ) > > *8. Is there any song that you have not played for rahman ?* > ( Laughs) That we have to ask him. Before, when Tamil, Kannada, and Telugu > recording were done at the same place, I used to play for 3 songs the same > day. But I can play for 10 songs in the same day. > > 9. *How many Children ?* > > MY wife is a housewife. I have two children. But all the support for me > comes from my wife. My daugther is studying in her Final year in Stell > Marrys ( Chennai ) and my son is in his eighth standard. My son is learning > rhthym guitar. Daugther was learning some piano, but stopped now . I come > from a family of musicians. My father used to play any instrument. Just take > and play. he was not full into music. My brothers are all musicians. One is > a Base guitarist. he is in Mumbai . His name is Carl Peters, and the other > one is in Delhi. he is also a guitarist. Carl plays for films. The other > brother plays in Hotels. Basically, we are all Anglo Indians . and hence > can't speak Tamil fluently. > > *10. Is there any song which was recorded the entire night with Rahman ?* > > Yes. The song " Oh Maria Oh Maria " from Kadhalar Dhinam. we played it . But > Rahman didn't like it . So we were trying different patterns. Then we did > Roja Roja from the same film, and these two songs took the entire night for > us. I came home the next evening. > > *11. Have you ever thought why I am wasting my time and energy the entire > night and my skills are getting minimised here ??* > > No. I love working with Rahman. Its really wonderful to work with. So > pleasing and he is open to ideas. when we are working with Rahman, we do not > think abt sleeep . I am excited to do my best and make Rahman happy. > > *12. What kind of relationship do you share with Rahman ?* > > I respect him a lot as a good musician. Good friend and for his level > headedness. He is so big but nothing has happened to his head. and I admire > him for that. I keep telling this to everybody. Look at RAHMAN. > > *13. How much are you religious ?* > > I fear GOD. I thank God for all the blessings that he has showered on me. > > *14. Which praise can never be forgotten in your life ?* > > Rahman has praised me by saying " God Bless your hands ". Once I hurt my > thumb while recording. That time Rahman's incharge Samydurai had called me > for recording. I said I cant come. When I showed my thumb to Rahman, he said > " There are lot of evil eyes on you. People have casted eyes on you. Take > care ". > > *15. Why everybody calles you as UNCLE ? ( Fun part )* > > Because they are mad. There was this guitarist player called Johnny who > started all this. He used to play for Rahman at times. Then it was continued > by H. Sridhar ( Rahman's Engineer ), and the entire team started calling me > as Uncle > > *16. Which place do you like in the world ?* > > I like America a lot. Thanks goes to Rahman. First , we went to Malayasia, > Dubai. *Its only because of Rahman, that I have seen the whole world*. I > have travelled a lot with Rahman. I like the US because of the music, > country and the place. I buy Base Guitars in New York in Guitar Centre, New > York Elley. My children are my best fans. They keep praising me and telling > me and my wife . Once in chicago, there was a boy who was running all along > the stadium telling that he was a fan of Keith. > > *17. Which are the songs which you feel has come out wonderfully with > Rahman ?* > > July Madham, Chaiyya Chaiyya, Aiyoo Pathickicchi, Snegidhane . > > *18. You have seen so many music directors come , right from 1984 . How is > the industry progressing ?* > > I feel everybody is following Rahman's style, the patterns. But even if > anybody comes, Rahman goes a step ahead. He is the man who comes with new > sounds always. *HE IS THE BOSS. * > > *19. Has Rahman asked you for any new sounds anytimes ?* > > Sometimes, I take a process. But he says No. he always says " Take it dry", > and then he processes it. he always calls me last before he is going to mix > the sound to the song. he has got his own reason, and he knows best . He > knows what he is doing. I get the full feel of the song when I play. He lets > me play and do whatver I want. generally, he likes whatver I play. It > synchronises well with his thought. Because he knows what he wants. Rahman > revolutioned the Music sound. in 1990s, and he gave a lot of importance to > base guitar. It was he who brought this forward, as introductions for songs. > > > *For eg :-* Alaipayudhey - Kadhal Sadugudu ( the initial guitar bit comes in > front of the song ) > Dil Se re song ( the pattern follows before ) > Chaiyya Chaiyya ( there is a pattern ) > Akkadu ( Indian ) He plays and shows all the patterns ) > Kadhal Rojave ( roja ) > chinna Chinna aasai ( Roja ) > Rangeela ( Haire Haire pattern ) > > Fusion Music have played for zakir Hussain, Hariharan > > *final Words* :- Listen to good music... STOP PIRACY.. Listen to Non Pirated > Music. , be confident and never take success to your heads. > > > -- > regards, > Vithur > > A.R.RAHMAN - MY BREATH & LIFE FORCE >
