It’s the stuff of rock’n’roll dreams.
After being blown away by the Guns N’ Roses guitarist Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal during the band’s maiden gig on Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island in 2010, the Point of View lead singer Nikhil Uzgare sent the American musician a Facebook message congratulating him on his fantastic performance.
Not only did it kick off an online friendship, but also the barrier between fan and artist was finally broken in 2012 when Bumblefoot flew over to Dubai's Hard Rock Cafe to support the album launch of Point of View's grungy debut, Revolutionize the Revolutionary.
That life-changing performance brought its own share of thrills and relief for Uzgare. It was a confirmation that the Bumblefoot he had been chatting to online was the real deal.
“When I was recording the album, I was not really very sure that it was him because it was always happening on Facebook,” he recalls.
“When he gave us some strong opinions and advice about our music, that’s when I began to realise that it was actually him and not someone taking me for a ride.”
With Bumblefoot currently in Dubai on business, it made sense for the 44-year-old to hook up with his UAE friends for a gig.
Friday’s performance in Dubai’s The Music Room is not only to support Point of View, however – with both artists sharing the stage at all times, the Dubai crowd will also have the chance to listen to some of Bumblefoot’s solo material performed live.
It is a rare event in the region, Uzgare explains, due to the technical proficiency demanded from a backing band.
“His solo stuff is very guitar-orientated and virtuosic and is not really easy to pull off,” he says.
“He said our band’s two guitarists are the best he has heard in the region, so he think it’s cool to have a band that can also support him when he is here. We are planning to play some dates with him in Bahrain and a return to India.”
Point of View will also perform to their own legion of fans, who will be rewarded with the live debut of a new song, Miss Divine, from their forthcoming second album.
“The album is being written right now and we are looking to go to a studio to record from December onwards,” Uzgare says.
“When it comes to the second album, it will definitely showcase the different musical interests in the group. You will hear a lot of grunge, a lot of hard rock and metal. In some cases, everything will happen in one song.”
While he knows the majority of the crowd is coming to see Bumblefoot, Uzgare is not worried about his band being hidden in the shadows – Bumblefoot won’t allow it.
“He is so down to earth and humble,” Uzgare says.
“I have met a lot of people from the local rock scene here who have huge egos despite not having achieved as much as he did. It is really a testament to him as an individual.”
• Bumblefoot and Point of View are performing on Friday at The Music Room, Majestic Hotel, Mankhool Road, Bur Dubai, at 7pm. Tickets are Dh100 from www.platinumlist.net or on the door
[ sasaeed@thenational.ae ]
