The history of rock music in Nepal dates back to the 1970s when there were a few acts influenced by Western bands such as The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, The Doors, and later Led Zeppelin, The Who, the Grateful Dead, Pink Floyd, Iron Maiden and Deep Purple. Bands in Kathmandu consisted mostly of local people from Kathmandu (a famous hippie destination during the 1970s), who got close with the hippies around the world to the extent that guitars and records were bought from them. There started the journey of rock music in Nepal. Newaz is considered to be the first hard-rock band formed in 1990 and released their debut album in 1991. They were active from 1991 – 1995.
Newaz played live shows in the pubs of Thamel, along with contemporaries who could be counted on fingers. From the early 90s, they also started doing outdoor concerts, which were more common in those days, performing for enthusiastic youngsters of Kathmandu. The band’s popularity was recognized by a group of Finnish filmmakers who made the documentary “Kathmandu Rock N Roll” based on the band members and their lives in Kathmandu. Newaz, supposedly a rock n’roll outfit, saw through and explored for themselves the transition of Kathmandu’s musical taste from heavy metal/thrash to rock to grunge.
The hard rock band – Newaz revived in 2013 with its original founder Satish Stapit and Roshan Kansakar on the bass. The band has since been performing original music and a few selected covers in shows and concerts in Kathmandu. Satish also started a home studio in the underground basement of his house in Lagan, the same room where he used to rehearse with his bands almost three decades ago.
NEWAZ- THE PIONEER OF HARD ROCK MUSIC IN NEPAL
