‘The bass, the drums, you feel alive’
IT’S not every day that you hear of a local rock band still rolling after three decades. So, when the Tribune Herald got wind of Evil-Eye, we had to ask lead vocalist, Premchand Sonack Ramkissoon (popularly known as Kenty), the band’s secret to longevity.
“We are passionate about music. We play the Beatles, Fikezola, Luther Vandross and more. People love us.
“We have had fans keep us at events until the sun came up, because they wanted more music,” said 64-year-old Ramkissoon.
He said the original group started in 1967, but disbanded after a while. Then, years later, he got new musicians together and formed EvilEye.
Some 27 years later, they are still going strong, playing at prestigious events all over Durban. They are the resident act at Jason’s Party Palace in Montford, Chatsworth.
Evil-Eye have been doing a Friday night gig there for more than 15 years. Today, they will be in action at Ground Zero, Stella Road, Malvern, from 2pm.
The band’s name, was apparently derived from an old novel, written about a group of men, who had wandered deep into a forest, losing contact with humans until people assumed they were dead.
Ramkissoon said in this novel, the characters eventually emerged, but with wooden instruments created from trees in the same forest, bringing music to the people. In the book, they called themselves, EvilEye.
In 2006, he surprised friends and family, when he won the solo singing category in a North Beach talent contest. He achieved the same success during the Chatsworth’s Got Talent competition, in 2013.
Ramkissoon, father of Asha, Shubana, Yatheesh and Shahan, said to experience live music was incomparable.
“There is nothing like it, the sound of a live bass guitar, electric guitar or even live drums.
“There is just something in it that makes you feel alive,” he enthused.
When he is not playing at functions, the building contractor, by trade, loves his day job.
Reflecting on many years of being on the road and entertaining, Ramkissoon said it was his dream to become a recorded artist and even perform abroad.
“The market is open for local artists, the time and opportunities are here now. The youth should take the opportunity to get their names out there,” he said.
For more information, call 083 756 4233.