Cactus
Cactus :
Back in early 90's, the average Bengali was not used to the idea of bangla rock. A very small percentage of the mass used to listen to rock music and that was essentially in English, language was the barrier.
Cactus was formed way back in 1992. Inspired by DEEP PURPLE, PINK FLOYD, LED ZEPPELIN and IRON MAIDEN- we started the journey with the purpose of making some real good rock music in a language closer to our soil (we are the first ever organized bangla rock act) thereby growing its vista (erasing its existing limitations).The professional debut of the band saw the light of the day on 6th March 1993 at Aban Mahal (CLT) Kolkata. It tasted some success when our first self titled album came out in 1999 released from HMV with the following departments taken care of: VOCALS- SIDDHARTHA, GUITARS- SANJAY, KEYBOARD-KANISKA(PINKY), BASS-SHUBAYAN, DRUMS -SIBAJI (BAJI), VOCALS-RAJESH and AVIJIT (BABI).
Along this journey we had to part ways with many of our friends for different reasons some personal some not.
Like in 2000 RAJESH left and AVIJIT (POTA) joined.
In 2003 for the first time in the history of bangla music, a bangla rock band got associated with a Bengali movie titled NIL NIRJONE and the soundtrack for the movie was released. Cactus (VOCALS- SIDDHARTHA, GUITARS- SANJAY, KEYBOARD-KANISKA, VOCALS-POTA, BASS-SHUBAYAN and DRUMS -SIBAJI) composed and performed all the songs in the movie along with a bit of acting thrown here and there.
In early 2002 SHUBAYAN left the band and SANDIP joined the band to carry on the bass duties.
In early 2004 KANISKA decided to leave Cactus and SUDIPTO stepped into his shoes.
In October 2004 the second album of Cactus titled RAJAR RAJA was released from ASHA AUDIO and this time the line up was VOCALS- SIDDHARTHA, GUITARS- SANJAY, BASS-SANDIP, KEYBOARD-KANISKA and SUDIPTO, VOCALS-POTA and DRUMS -SIBAJI.
In early 2005 we had to part ways with POTA and SAYAK was roped in to carry on the voyage.
And the journey towards the sun is still on… you are welcome to join and be a part of history…………
Influences : Led zep , motor head, floyd , victor wooten , jaco ,
slipknot, korn , nightwish , tbone , bb king -- etc
Albums:
Cactus : self titled
Nil Nirjaney : Ost
Rajar Raja
· Allaince Francaise, Chandigarh
· Fete de la Musique, World Music Day 2001 concert, Delhi
· ETV Anandadhara Sharadotsav
· Indo-UK workshop on Cultural festivals and tourism, Kolkata
· Doordarshan New Year's Eve programme-2000-2001; 1999-2000; 1996-97
· Concert for Kargil
· ABP Barshabaran 2000, 1999
· Hero Honda/ Thums Up Bangla New Year
· Indo-Bangladesh rock concert
· Freedom 50 Concert
· Anandalok-Ujala Awards night
· Millenium Vishwa Banga Sammelan
· ATN World launch show
· Rockbaaji-----Patshala2.com & Britannia
· Bengal Film Journalists Association ( BFJA) Awards Nite
· Anando Award 'for music 2002
· Shalimar ABP 'Additiya Tour' 2003.
· Kalyani Black Label/ Pantaloons/ Pepsi - Cheer India World Cup series of seven concerts 2003.
· Kalyani Black Label's… Bangla Rock 2002 along with MIlLES(Bangladesh)
· ABP Aditiya 2003
· Haldia Utsav 2003 & 2006
· Kalyani Black Label's… Bangla Rock 2003, 2004, 2005…
· Concert …Done that
· Organised a 12 hour show Plug 'n Play, World AIDS Day Concert 2001
· Voted the best musical act of the year and won the Chancellor Anandalok Award for music 2001.
· The only band to hold a stall at the Bangla Sangeet Mela .
· The first Banglaa rock band to be featured on MTV in 1995
· Went live on Zee Music's COMPACT DISC
· featured on STAR TV's "Good Morning India"
· Channel V shot us for their "Campus" show
· Cut our debut album with HMV in May 1999
· The First Banglaa Band to feature and make music for the movie Nil Nirjone in 2002/03.
· AGAIN organized Plug 'n Play, World AIDS Day Concert 2003
· Society Magazine : Interior Exterior Award
CONCERTS with artist from other countries:
· Rock Jugalbandi
· Epar Opar concert
· Concert for Peace 2005
· Republic Rock 2006
Contact :
Please email : lettersandtomatoes@gmail.com for more details
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