Press matters

By: Insiya Syed

January 29, 2006. The press is waiting patiently. Photographers are making sure that back-up batteries are in place. Two young girls are waiting with bouquets in their hands. The father of one tells me excitedly: “She was only 30 days old when she first attended a Bryan Adams concert.”

The crowd packed inside the hall at a local hotel for the press conference is abuzz with the anticipation of witnessing a special moment in music history. Also seated in the front row was Mariola, the lady who had made it all possible. Soon after, dressed in a crisp white shirt, dark shades in place, and two steps ahead of Shehzad Roy, Bryan Adams arrives to loud cheers from a crowd that had been waiting patiently for well over an hour to catch a glimpse of the Canadian rocker.

It was a scene that hadn’t been witnessed in a while as photographers, cameramen, the local and foreign press went wild taking pictures and odd shout-outs like “What’s up?” filled the room with laughter and smiles all around.

With an audience consisting of fans and journalists, and sporting buttons screaming ‘I Rock for a Cause’, the mood was upbeat. The question-and-answer session began right after a few speeches from the sponsors as Adams chose not to make a speech. Instantly, it became obvious that most of the people were there just to get an autograph, a picture or to be able to look at an internationally acclaimed rock star this up-close and personal.

Although by the end of the conference as well as the concert it became obvious that this was definitely not a once in a lifetime opportunity and that more bands and musicians would follow in Adams’ footsteps soon.

To the question put forth by a young lady representing a children’s weekly if he would have come to Pakistan to play had there been no calamity, Adams was most spontaneous when he replied with a smile, “Of course.”

Bryan was here to play a benefit concert for Shehzad Roy’s Zindagi Trust in an effort to raise funds for schools in Pakistan’s earthquake-affected areas. And it was only natural for someone to ask if he was charging the organizers for the performance. “Aren’t we already clear on this being a charity concert,” cross-questioned Bryan, taking a diplomatic route.

As he left the press conference, the audience said goodbye to the man they were to see perform the same night, the man that many among the audience had grown up listening to.


First Published in DAWN, Images - Sunday, February 05, 2006.