POST MARK – Remembered, Honored, Revived

By "Fans of Post Mark" *

In the late 1980s, a motley group of youngsters got together with a common love of heavy metal music. Apart from covering songs from the rock acts from the western world, Post Mark (as the group was later called) tried finding their own sound and style. This quest led them to experiment with Manipuri sounds. They introduced these unique sounds into their heavy metal compositions which the fans loved. They even used Manipuri motifs in their dresses as part of their stage gear. Needless to say, Post Mark were demi Gods for the metal heads of Manipur, however few in numbers they were.

The vocalist of the band met an untimely death in an automobile accident and the rest of the members have gone to different directions in life. None of them have played together since mid-1990s and many of them have not even touched the musical instruments with which they used to mesmerise the fans with.

Early in the year 2011, Metallica, whose songs that Post Mark popularised among young crowd in Manipur, declared that they would be touring India in October 2011. Around August 2011, an idea was born amongst some die-hard Post Mark fans to make Post Mark experience Metallica in Bangalore, as an honor. Fans spread across the country and abroad started a movement to garner support and resources for this cause through mailing-list and social media networking sites. The groundswell of support for Post Mark grew from strength to strength with team members based at Imphal reaching out to band members and others elsewhere reaching out to more fans through Post Mark Facebook fans group, and email group Rock-Music-Manipur (RMM), and reports in local and national dailies and other popular websites. All members were contacted but there was no trace of Imocha Phurailatpam, the lead guitarist and founding member of Post Mark. He happened to have relocated in Guwahati and saw the article carried by ‘The Telegraph’ (Kolkatta, India) about this fan movement and he reached out to the others. Finally existing members of the disbanded PostMark: Imocha Phurailatpam, Boycha Konjengbam, Ingocha Thingom, Bipin Sanjenbam and Paras Nongmaithem reached Bangalore on 29th October 2011.

The night before the Metallica concert, on 29th October, the fans had prepared a Jam session for them in Bangalore. At the jam session Ringo Pebam a die-hard fan of Post Mark said as Post Mark took the stage for the Jam, "We grew up seeing Post Mark performing on stage, it’s been 15 years and they have all parted ways and have not been playing the music we love. And to realize that they are here in Bangalore together, right in front of us to be performing again, makes my hair stand up. It’s an emotional moment, tu-chung-ngee!"

Post Mark performing on stage after many years

The fans, with their eyes fixed on them and with baited breath, watched PostMark walked up to the stage. Post Mark played so well, like the good old days, even though it was the first night they were playing together after so many years. Abungcha Kshetrimayum, the vocalist, was remembered and missed.

Deeparaj Oinam, a budding guitarist and a dental student in Bangalore said, "I was born in 1989, the very year Post Mark released 'Stamp on you' album, I never saw them perform live, but when I came across their music in 2011, I got a unique musical inspiration: Post Mark had merged our traditional folk music with metal, and showed it to the world. As a young artist, I just want to say that we should keep our traditional music alive like Post Mark did."

Before the jam session, during a meet and greet with the fans, Post Mark announced that they will be working on an album next year. Imocha Phurailatpam said "We had abandoned playing music a long time ago and thought that we would never play again. The music we created would have been lost had it not been for the unconditional support and encouragement of our fans that we have now resolved to revive our music. We will record songs again next year."

The members of Post Mark did not expect to be remembered in such a profound way. They didn't expect to meet their old band mates and be together again. Imocha Phurailatpam said that they will re-record their album ‘Stamp on you’ in international level with an energetic new vocalist next year.

Post Mark at the Jam sesssion, interacting with the fans

Romeo Chingakham who is studying engineering in Bidar (in Karnataka) came along with his friends for the Post Mark's Jam session said, "They are legends, and to interact with them in person and hear them play is a great feeling, I can't just express in words."

Eroz Laishram of the band Sandrembee said "I was shocked and amazed when I first saw 'Metal Age' video by Postmark some years ago. The significant and influential thing about that song is that it was composed and recorded in 1988/89. And ever since that day, they have been my Gods. Even though we gave tribute to the band through our cover on 'Metal Age', we didn't know how they reacted to that cover, because we didn't know them personally. So, when Post Mark came to Bangalore, we got to meet our icons live and see their reactions. And I'm not supporting Postmark for just being a band from Manipur; I support, love and respect them for their influential composition. We have come across many compositions from many bands, but few will remain inspirational and Postmark definitely stays on the top of that inspirational list. Anyone can make good music, but only few can make real inspirational music".

Post Mark with fans at Metallica concert

Manoranjan Haobam who was one among the front runners from the Post Mark fans home team said "When we went to give invitation to Post Mark members to attend the Metallica concert in Bangalore, I was not confident about how they would react because they are older now, with families, busy in their respective work, moreover they have lost contact from one another for quite a long time. It was a great experience to share their moment of joy and their reunion. I can still remember a few words from Tamo Boycha 'Tu chung ngi noigise'".

Post Mark with fans at Metallica concert

On 30th October, Post Mark with their fans was at Palace Grounds, Bangalore, watching their heroes Metallica perform live. "It was a privilege to be standing with Post Mark and watch Metallica perform. Most happy moment was seeing our Post Mark brothers head banging when Metallica performed the songs they often covered in Manipur and North East back then.", recalls Tikendrajit Moirangthem about the Metallica gig.

Watching Metallica perform

Bonet Sharma who had come from Delhi to Bangalore, to be with Post Mark, though Metallica was scheduled to play in Delhi as well said, "Post Mark was one of the loudest bands of Manipur. Who wouldn't like to watch Metallica long with them? The event was an overall effort of Post Mark fans from all over the world, and that was the reason I came to Bangalore. The day I reached Bangalore, my friends from Delhi called me and said Metallica’s concert in Delhi got cancelled. I am lucky that I came here, all for the love of Post Mark. "

Surchand Wahengbam, who is a childhood friend of Post Mark’s Bipin and Ingocha said, "Meeting my yesteryear cronies for a mega concert by one of the most influential bands of our times ‘Metallica’ and being part of the team to organize their (Post Mark’s) re-union in Bangalore, reminds me of all the hard days we all had to experience during our early teens, when we decided to embrace Heavy/Hard Metal genre. Each one of us had to fight a lot of odds at a personal level as we were always branded as a rebel those days as most people did not understand this kind of music and its associated paraphernalia. The very long hairs that looked so good on some of us were the object of intense scrutiny in the society… All in all, it’s not only the struggle about music alone but a lot of other devils that bands like Post Mark had to go through in the process of producing those very inspirational compositions that we all admire them about till today."

Post Mark with their fans at Bangalore

Post Mark thanked all their fans who have inspired them to come back to music. They left Bangalore with a happy heart, saying they are going home with a renewed energy to seriously look at their second coming to music while fulfilling their ongoing duties.

Uttam Chabungbam with a smile says, "All the efforts of the fans pay off. Post Mark was there at the Metallica gig. Post Mark has decided to play the music again, to go to the studio and record their album again. What more can one asks for?"

Post Mark with their fans at Bangalore

It has been a heady mix of Metallica and Post Mark for the fans with some even travelling to Bangalore to be present for this event. Many more supported giving constant ideas and advice through the facebook page and on emails and many silently worked for this unique get-together. In our state torn in strife, Music is one common language all understand, enjoy and get inspired. It is music and its meaning to each individual that brings them together and work for common causes.



This Press Release is made by Rock Music Manipur (RMM) & Facebook Post Mark Fans Group.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/postmark.imphal
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rock-music-manipur/
http://www.rockmusicmanipur.in/