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February 3. April 1.

2006. 2001.

Jethro Tull. Deep Purple.

It’s been five years since our last historic opening act.

When Deep Purple came to Bangalore, we opened with a pulsating all-original set.

But I, Bijoy Venugopal, wasn’t there. I had been exiled to the San Francisco Bay Area, on the eve of the dotcom bubble-burst. So I sat there with bated breath, mailing senti little epistles to my friends who were stirring in the garnish to make steaming hot history.

I wrote Bruce:

Bru bugger,

This one goes out to you before the big day, brudder!

I'm getting damn senti and all thinking about what a
kickass bugger you've turned out to be, da....Bruce
little boy...I always kept you out of the mess because
you were too precious to screw up...and after that
push-ups episode during Darpan when we first
encountered each other's petty egos, through all that
ethical heartburn... to all the
triumphs and scars of Thermal And A Quarter in its
many avatars...whew, we've come a long way,
bugger...and tomorrow you open for Deep Purple. Did
you ever dream that would be possible? Fuck...I'm
crying...ain't it justified?

I'm glad to say (and repose in the faith) that the guy
who plays guitar and sings for one of the world's best
upcoming bands is my friend...and he's opening for
Purple tomorrow...and singing songs he wrote. People
would die to be where you are today. Remember that.
And never, never stop kicking butt.

Kick ass, Bruce...tomorrow the world is at your feet.
Let Deep Purple go home smelling of Thermal And A
Quarter, with your songs on their lips.

I'd have loved to be there in flesh, but you can feel
me in spirit whenever you want.

love,
Beej

And Bruce wrote back:

dai petunia,

Thanks, da, just hang on a minute, there seems to be some dust in my
eye.

Wish you were here, man, but I know you are anyway. Got back real
late from soundcheck last night, didn't really get things the way we
wanted them - Peep Durple, you see, will have to set all systems the
way they want them, and we'll just have to use their settings. That's
ok. We're all theird werld countries, we solpa adjust madi. Did we
tell you Didier will be on the board for us? He decided to do the gig
for a song, literally.

Rajeev and moi had one of these conversations yesterday, man. There's
another chappie I seem to have grown up with, just like you. And if
it wasn't for you guys, I don't think I would have grown up like this
at all, and for that I can never be grateful enough.

Five years, and we're suddenly on a much bigger stage. There's just
nothing else I want to do, brother.

Romba nandri saaar, I hope I got the accent right this time..
(remember pondy?). Yes, I think we will be kicking some bums today...

Love you man,

tata
blum

Sniff… I get that old catch in my throat once again.