Gone too soon but not forgotten

Once a quiz master on TV asked: Who were the famous three J’s in rock music who died at the age of 27?

I can’t recall if I knew the answer back then, but I do remember that this was years before Kurt Cobain of Nirvana burst into the scene and later took his own life in 1994 and made The Club 27, which was hitherto a sketchy pop culture list, a widely known term. In 2011, the mythical rock and roll club got even more attention when Amy Winehouse died of alcohol poisoning at the age of, yes, 27.

The three J’s were, of course, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison. These are epic names in rock and roll history, but all victims of drug and alcohol abuse. They were among the first stars to pass away after struggling with fame, fortune -- and also loneliness. The other big name who went before the three J’s was Brian Jones (also at 27) who was the initial driving force of The Rolling Stones.

While rock music is not the sole arena of substance abuse, the industry has somehow carved its own tragic legacy. The three J’s were followed by Keith Moon, Sid Vicious, Bon Scott, Tommy Bolin, Lowell George, John Bonham, Mike Bloomfield, Phil Lynott, Steve Clark, John Entwistle, Prince …. the list is long.

And joining the list are three unknown musicians, far away from the starry limelight of the West, hailing from the hills of India’s north-east, in a state called Manipur, where by some quirk of fate rock music is the soul food of youth. The three were my friends with whom I had the chance to share the stage. Of the three, one really helped me groom as a guitarist through hours of woodshedding.

They were all so young -- late 20s and early 30s -- and were part of the formative years of the rock and roll scene in my hometown but at a time when the unforgiving fangs of heroin were biting into the social fabric.

But hey, rock and roll is not all doom and gloom: because in its annals you will also find plenty of inspirational tales of great survivors.

On the big stage, the first names that come to mind are Keith Richards and fellow partner in crime: one and only Mick Jagger. And also Eric Clapton from the same era. They have seen it all. Let me correct myself: They started it all, back in the 60s but are still rocking strong. As for Jagger, who was once the icon of counterculture, he is today a poster boy for fitness. For bandmate Richards, question remains: How did he survive?  

Even as many musicians continue to battle the curse, modern survivors who have been a hope for others include standout blues rock guitarist Eric Gales and the current rock and roll queen: Beth Hart.

Every performance of Beth Hart is a step towards light for those souls searching for a way out of the darkness. A fan said: “Her story is a testament to the power of music to heal, connect and transform lives.”

As for Eric Gales, he is back to doing what he does best: play that guitar, evoking the spirit of Hendrix. After beating a 27-year addiction, as somebody rightly said, he is making others addicted to his music. Today, he considers it a duty to tell others his story every time he climbs the stage.

Somewhere in his story, I am reminded of the three J’s who couldn’t live to tell theirs. Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison and Janis Joplin were already gone way before my time, but they played a huge role in paving the rock and roll path that I and many others would walk upon. As a guitarist, Hendrix still continues to guide me even today.

And unbeknown to the wider world of rock and roll, my three friends – Rajesh, Sushil and Jolly -- too have left a mark on me that can never be erased. I salute them all and also those who made it through the maze.