Springboard for the Drummer
Current mood: blessed

This post has taken me a very long time to actually get the courage to write my experience.


I have to thank Sukhi who gave me the inspiration to write and who gave me a mountain of encouragement that got me through a very trying tour. I think that in a way I needed to get it out of my system and never really found a way to do it. I never told many people about it as I had trouble speaking about the whole situation. So here is an e-mail I sent to Sukhi. I found comfort in her e-mails and actually felt the blessings that came from them. Her Son who is a Monk also gave me advice and guidance. I was meant to have this experience in my life and I think this is what has kept me grounded for all these years.
Please forgive parts where I had to break away as I still see the images as clear as if it all happened yesterday.


Johnny Kalsi 1994. At the point of my touring career was about to propel forward, I was offered a workshop for children in Sarajevo, Bosnia. The project was half funded by WOMAD (World Of Music Arts & Dance) and half by the British Council. They only told me it was for orphaned kids. I took on the mission as it was paying well and not knowing what I was getting myself into. Bare in mind this was at the point my career was about to Spring Board upward. Arrived in Sarajevo, to a bomb shelled airport.


The remains of a passenger airplane, completely burned out are the reminders to arriving flights of what happened there. Three hours drive North was the institute for orphans. On the journey out of the city bombed buildings still remain. In the middle of them stands a bright orange bricked building that has a neon Holiday Inn sign. Yet another reminder of American Capitalism, in a place that is still shredded with wounds that are still very apparent. Tower blocks that are torn away down one side and on the other, residents still live.I look at them and can't help that wonder what it maybe like inside and how they all live.As I arrived at the institute it looked like a concentration camp with Barbed wire along the top of the 12ft high fence. Then another inner perimeter fencing.


I arrived inside with my drum and the children surrounded me with joy that could fill an ocean.I saw they were all disturbed little beings and the place had a half trained vet as a Doctor and 3 Part time nurses for 380 kids that they called orphans. They were actually Mentally and physically handicapped kids. The children that were given to the orphanage actually turned mental as the other kids were like that. So there were many kids in cots constantly rocking. I had not experienced this on such a scale and I asked to be let out instantly. I really couldn't handle it.


They let me just outside the main entrance I sat down on the hill looking out to hills and a huge cloudy sky.I put my head in my hands and wondered what the hell I was doing there and questioned my reason fro being there. As I looked down the hill I saw a small corner shop to my right and some kids playing soccer. I raised my head and the clouds parted at that moment and the beams of light spread across like nothing I had ever seen. As the shadow above me began to drift the beam hit me with the most intense heat. At that very instance I knew that nothing else mattered. I knew what I had to do.


I almost instantly stood and marched myself down that hill. The ball rolled towards me like it was another sign. I began teasing the kids playing with them and passing the ball to each of them. The joy on their faces that lit up almost like the sky had done moments before. I head into the shop and emptied my wallet of around £25 UK. I placed the notes on the counter and the guy said he would take them gladly as I didn't have the local currency. I filled 8 Carry bags full of sweets and chocolates. Grabbed everything I could for the money I had and got me back up to the gates.I was ready to begin. As soon as I entered again I was almost trampled on by 50 odd children in for the scrummage of each to their own and having to raise the bags to get some form of order. This was very difficult as the stampede was getting worse. I spotted the doctor shouting at me as I handed out the sweets and chocolates. the kids were going mad for them.When all the commotion was over, I went inside and he said I should not have done that as some of the children may have allergies. I tried to explain that my intentions were for the good only and that together with my presence I wanted to befriend them before I worked with them. I wanted their trust and attention. I sure got it in a big way.


The stench of human excrement was over-penetrating at first but soon passed as you got used to the smell. I almost did heave a couple of times. Children were dying everyday but they kept that quiet for the first couple of days until one of the 6 year olds collapsed & died in my arms. My feeling was..................


Sorry I needed to pause and break off for a bit..... I have never written about any of this before. Forgive me.


Over the next few hours I asked them to find small stones and requested the staff to bring some empty cans, plastic bottles, rice, dried corn lentils etc.. I showed the how to make shakers. This was the start. I then made drum sticks from twigs and wrapped tape to avoid splinters. With turn over buckets and pans we made drums.Card/Paper mounted on longer twigs we made a Sun, Moon Clouds we had a Lightning and Darker clouds on the other side of the lighter ones.The scene was "A Day". Shakers began very lightly and the moon was out. The bids through whistles were chirping and the Sun began to wake up. The clouds came in the path and the drumming became much louder. Then the lightning came as the clouds turned over and became dark. The drumming was Thunderous. The kids faces I still see when I think of this moment. I then conducted them to calm down and they responded as the clouds were turned around and then parted just as it had done for me when I wondered what I would do at the top of the hill. Then the Sun came out and began to fall from the sky to sleep again, as the moon woke up bringing the calm of the night. This whole process took around 4 days and on the 5th day we took it into town and performed the piece on the back of an empty UN truck with a generator for the lights & sound equipment lent to us by the German Army still stationed there.


On the grass there are explosion cardboard cut outs with the warning of land-mines. This is also a very distinct and clear daily reminder of where they are living and remains of history to tell their children. On speaking and living with the locals for a week I came to realize that no one had a clue what had happened there. The young girl I was talking to, was a Pork eating Muslim. (But thats because there is nothing else for them to eat. There are no cows, Goats or Sheep). In a conversation she broke down as she recalled walking to school with her best friend and how she was caught by sniper fire. As she also fell to the ground beside her to play dead and still she told be of the warmth that came over her body as she whispered to her friend wake up, she realized that the warmth was from her best friends blood which had pooled under her.This brings tears when I recall that face as she was telling me. I didn't know what to do and it was yet another moment that I could never understand about humanity. For a slice of land that innocent people have been killed for, we listened to stories with the greatest of hurt and frustration. Completely helpless and without a clue of what goes on or why things happen in this way. Later I recall a place named as "Sniper Alley" in the press. I guess I was not the only one to hear of it.


On my return I will always remember the distinct feeling of hatred towards everything around me. Men at the airport with briefcases, I wanted to kill them. People paying for lots of duty free booze I wanted to smash the bottles on their heads. I had nothing and wanted nothing to do with life. My life took a viscous turn and I just couldn't snap out of it. I took me two Months to recover and the depressing state I was in without treatment or therapy, only I knew. I had to deal with it all but managed to come through it and only now, am half able to share my story.


After about six Months I had learned that one of the guys looking after the place from the British Council had actually lost the plot and needed serious help. I was not surprised.This has been a challenge to write about this as I don't like to speak of it and memories like this will never fade or leave me.It was after a few years that my career as a touring musician began to lift. I was doing more tours and the Led Zepp II tour came along. My feet always remained on the ground. I know it was because of all this that had happened. I could have quite easily stuck my head up my backside. But that never happened thankfully. I have seen the best Dhol players from my own institute come, learn, get big headed and can't handle the glory that we expose them to. They leave thinking they can do the same. I think this experience (or something like it) should happen to everyone as it will remind them of what a fortunate World WE live in and the don't even know that such places exist.


I'm glad I was given the opportunity to experience this as I feel it made me a better person that what I could have become. I needed it and my Angels & God bought it in front of my life.


Johnny Kalsi June 2008

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TDF on a Mad Weekend

7th June and 20 Drummers were booked to fly to Dublin to open a Brand New Shopping Mall in County Kildare, Ireland. An ALL OUT event and no expences spared. Robbie Harris a long time friend of Johnny Kalsi's gave him the call in the hopes that he would come personally but Johnny was too busy as you'll find out as you read on.
An early flight for the boys left them drained but with plenty of time to rest and re-charge and with the look after with top hospitality they were geared to meet Robbie and have him co-ordinate the whole thing.
So the scene was set and Robbie kicked off and his Brazillian style Drummers kicked off a great groove. Sudenly from behind the crowed was a massive roar of drums from the Dhol Foundation. As they made their way through the crowed and while blowing peoples heads off, they ended up on to the stage. They then performed with them all building to a climax and the fireworks lit the sky in an amazing display of an exquisit erruption of color and bangs.
So also on the 7th June, Johnny Kalsi was requested to be at the Shefield Arena for the first rehearsal of th IIFA awards and none other than Abhishek Bachchan had asked Johnny to stay back and cancel his Ireland trip to be there with him and of course his lovely wife Aishwarya Rai. So the rehearsals were due to start around 4pm and they actually strted around 8pm so it was great that the boys actually got to see him and do a first run through on stage. Dips and Kalps wer with Kalsi and they all enjoyed being there watching the whole thing come together.
So Friday comes and the boys return from Ireland (Still drunk) and at Shefield the call time for the threesome was at 4pm. After breakfast Johnny was eager to get down to the Arena as he had also written the starting sequence for the awards. Together with Sandy and Marcus, Kalsi wrote the first half of the track and the Kaiser Chiefs track Ruby Ruby was mixed in and worked very well.
The Indian flute together wth the Silk dancers and stage dancers was well put togther and looked breathtaking with all the lights.
So then Came the show day and 40 more Drummers turned up for the big night. Of course there was alot of drummers that were star struck and sneaky picture taking was going on but if they had got caught they would have got sent off site.
Big Show Glitz and Glam with lots of stars from Bollywood. Being Bollywood it was all done in the way they all do things. Organised Chaos that just seems to fit together as a jigsaw that first had many pieces missing. Somehow it all happens on the night. 4 hours later and the show was done with a delay and over time by 45 mins. Darn site better than the one in Dubai that went up 4 hours late.
So all the Drummers had to leave after the performance as the coach was waiting. Was a shame as the dressing room got a knock around 45mins after they had left. Abhishek wanted to thank everyone for joining him on stage. I'm sure they'll get another chance. TDF would like to thank Mambo of Wizcraft for putting IIFA together and getting TDF involvled. A Long drive back to London for 1 hour and then on to Cornwall to check into a B&B that was booked for 20 Drummers ready for the next day.
11th June, The 20 Drummers selected for this even were the luckiest one of all. The wonderful Eden Project had invited Johnny Kalsi and TDF to join a very special event moving the Giant carved seed into place in the new Education Centre. The Granite piece of rock was 75 Tons and was making hisory as it was larger than the biggest rock in Stone Henge. TDF had to process with 500 kids from local schools that had made awareness figures for the planet and flags and all in regemented colours. The procession began from the top car park down through the walkway to center stage in front of the stage and for TDF to perform. Emma B at Eden was delighted and was a fabulous host in looking after us and taking care of all TDF's requirments.
The Zip wire was then offered to TDF members and 12 out of 20 took up the offer.
A very memorable occation was had by all members and TDF being official friends of Eden will ensure lots of people know about Eden and visit if ever they get the chance.
Thanks for taking the time to read this blog an we hoped you enjoyed knowing about the weekend.
TDF Admin/Management

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The Start of the Dhol in One life of Johnny Kalsi
Current mood: accomplished

This is to answer the question in your minds about what influenced me to begin to play the Dhol.

So the Story Begins......

During my child hood I was throwing up at the sound of Nai Zindagi Naya Jeevan every Sunday Morning (An Asian Programme on BBC, (Sunday Morning as they know there wouldn't be that many Brits up to watch it)). I was very much a Top of the Pops Lad and loved listening to Blonde, Cool and the Gang, Jackson five, Earth Wind & Fire. Generally the 70's stuff that was in mainstream media.
My Father who had about 15 Cousin Sisters (all around his age) were all lined up to be Wed. So (as some of you may not know) Indian Weddings begin preps about a Year before and the ceremonies can begin up to two months before. So, My elder sisters' and I were dragged along to the various doings of marriage prep.

The two week run into the wedding the house gets Packed full of family (More hazardous than anything, until trhe house is bursting from the bricks. Queues for the loo that go down the stairs parking problems outside kids running riot, including me.
Then the sound of loud laughter from inside and singing that was accompanied by the sound of clicking and a rather muffled bass and high pitched sound of rhythm. As I peeped round the door fighting my way through the crowds of family, I see one of my older aunties sitting on the floor with a drum in front of her. Some other lady whom I didn't know bashing the top of this drum with a sthingy. Singing in a high pitch that didn't really sound in tune but you got the jist of the melody. A verse sung by one and then into a chorus that almost everyone but me knew. Anyway, during a break and while everyone got up for dinner and more luscious Indian Sweets, I find the drum behind a turned over Sofa. So of course it was put there so the kids didn't play it and burst it. Yep, you guessed it, I got the drum out and began to play like there was no tomorrow. Not that I knew what I was doing but I had a sense of rhythm and I knew the general beats and had the ear for tone and left right co-ordination.

Someone came in and dragged my Auntie in to see me play. She sat down and said "Why don't you play when everyone comes back in? I was shocked to say the least but being the cheeky non embarrassed type of kid, I said YES I..d love to!
So I did. My arms would be in stiffness from not being used to bashing beats out and the demands from the ladies to keep going, faster and faster (I still get those demands on occasions....LOL) From that moment I was the 9 year old Dholki boy. I played at all of the weddings that followed. It was at one of these wedding receptions when I had my first exposure to the Dhol. My Dads Cousin Brother was the Dhol player for a very small Bhangra dance troupe he had together with two of his brothers and a few other local friends from "the Yard". They had amazing gadgets that they used during there act and it's one of those things that really sticks in my head. A bird like figure made of wood on a long pole with a string that when pulled snapped the beak shut. Another wooden thing that had hinges like a criss cross formation with handles either side that they opened and closed shut. But the drum was the main feature and I was very taken aback. The sound was the main thing. I was stolen completely. My soul was still my body was frozen. As a child I was attentive to each and every beat. I still never thought I would play one. I took no training for the Dholak but during my school years I did take some drum lessons and I learned to co-ordinate my feet together with my hands. This took the knowledge of my rhythm to another level. I wanted more and my parents thought it would be a good idea for me to take Tabla lessons. I went along to the local temple where they would teach young children the masterful art of playing Tabla. I was thought a 16 beat rhythm known as "TEEN TAAL". A very Classical Rhythm and as someone learning it, it becomes extremely monotonous. Being the Pop head that I was the Teen Taal would not have taught me how to play the Tabla with Duran Duran records.

I found some sanity in getting my drum sticks and sitting on a dads tight Leather couch facing the back and using the arms and the back bit as an imaginary drum kit. What a great sound it made and I played with all the correct tones of the chair emulating the different tones from a drum kit (without the cymbals). During my earlier school years (age11) I was also taking Harmonium lessons and singing religious songs (Shabads) and presenting them at our local temple. I guess that..s my first exposure of performing on stage.

It was only until I was sought out by a friend and was encouraged to join a local Bhangra band........as a Tabla player. That..s where I met a Bhangra Dance Group called "The Punjab Dancers" I was once again exposed to that familiar sound of the Dhol. This time I was not going to let it pass. I gathered together all my wages from the wedding gigs and purchased a really crap Dhol. Made of the crappiest wood and it had no tone what-so-ever. Still I followed my initial feelings of wanting to play this drum. My initial beats were obviously the chaal but this drum Didn't sound the way I had heard it previously. I wanted to have the correct sound. That high pitch that gave it the ping & the ring. When going through the loft I discovered an old Dholak that was ripped and discarded. I stripped this Dholak of it's hooks and the eyelets and bravely drilled holes in one end of my Big Bellied Dhol. I then mounted a 16" (God, I can't believe I'm telling you all this) Remo Pinstripe Floor tom Head. Completely the wrong skin for the tone I wanted. I put the hooks right through the skin and cranked them up as far as I could.
Something was wrong. I stood back and looked at this drum and it really didn't look right. I realised that the skin was wrong and that the drum actually was oversized all together.
At this point I began my Research.

I started to ask oldies why the drum was shaped the way it is and what was the difference. All people I asked were guys that knew a little about the Dhol but not really researched it. Some of them gave me the same answer but others just guessed or said they don't know. By the study and my research of this and other Indian percussion instruments I found that most if not all of them needed that Barrel shape or an influence to the barrel shape to them. ie. the Tabla Bass Side is shaped rounded then the skin is mounted. The Tabla Treble side is made Straight but then Big Tuning Pegs are wedged into the gut to create the dome shape and make the tuning process easier. The reason for this in the variety of drums was simple, To keep the gut or rope at tension. Keeping the skins tight and maintaining the consistent tension all the way round.

I realised the Dhol I was playing was the wrong shape for having the hooks. Once you have the hooks you eliminate the point of keeping the rope at tensioned. Therefore, I went on a mission, to re-design and create a unique shape Dhol. A Cylindrical Drum. Off I went to Pakistan with my Muslim (Punjabi) brother and we were in search of a guy to make me this new Dhol.
We found a guy Just outside Lahore but there was one problem, He had never made a Dhol in his life! He made Tabla Tops, Dholaks, and small wooden percussion. We asked for the best wood and the best person to carve and hollow the wood.

Tali was what I was after (Tali is a hardwood equivalent to Oak or Mahogany) and Jammu was the only place to get it. The short version (lol) of this story is that through the planes of Hyderabad and up towards Kashmir (Now it's a Bloody War zone even though you don't get to hear about it) Almost 3 days and £100GBP later we arrived in Jammu. Into a wood mill next to a forest that is Government protected. They harvest trees but plant more as they take the old ones down.
Bribery was unfortunately the only way this was going to happen and the term "Chai ke liey paissa ley lo Bhai" (here is some money for your tea) handing over RS300 at a time we managed to get a trunk that wood be suitable. Questions were asked that I didn't even know the answers to like the type of trunk old, new, dry or what. I had no clue. So back to Lahore we went after hiring a Bullock and Cart to get it out of Jammu then a Truck to get this thing down.

The trunk was de-barked (God I wished for an elephant) and then treated and prepped for surgery. Tools were set and the lath was adjusted to mount the trunk. The tool was larger than large and i was amazed at how this process was done. Precision cutting and the inside was taken out as a whole piece. The outside of the drum was then set and the lath handed to me to cut the rims out. I did not want any Symmetry in the cutting of the rings so I turned the small wheel driving the tool into the wood that was turning and a perfect line on the outside of the drum appeared. A Moving experience. The drum was then Buried in the dry sand to allow it to completely dry out.

On the way back to UK carrying the Hollowed out wood we were stopped while going into the Airport and asked what the hell this was we were carrying and my Muslim brother who was with me replied "It's a Plant Pot for his Mother". We got away with it. So here it is and it's the very same Dhol Drum you have all seen me play. Not your traditional shape Dhol but indeed the Very First Ever Straight Dhol Drum on the planet.

Shortly after my whole new Dhol Drum experience, in 1988, I joined the Super group "Alaap". This is the band that I had to now carry my 15kgs New Drum and strut my stuff. Learning beats and trying rhythms starting to feel the beat and dance to the music. A couple of years later, Alaap in Maple Leaf Gardens Indoor hockey Stadium Dhamaka '90 as it was known was the biggest crowed that saw me perform that year. I guess it goes on from there and the rest is History but I've not even STARTED playing Dhol Yet!!!!!! Summary: The reason I went in to depth with this was there was a whole article from confused and frustrated Dholis that couldn't believe this was true or not. So, the gossip began to flow and things got distorted as the truth often does. So Just for the record! This is a true story completely and soulfully my very own research and design and my inspiration. Mounting mikes inside my drum Lights, Fiber Optics and Strobes have all been done. My Experience is far more supreme than you could imagine while reading this. My Sweat and Blood has dripped on my Drum. This instrument is very much a Living entity and it provides and delivers. My Body and Soul are in this drum, I will take it with me when it's my time to go as Dhol is my life my Wife, and anyway................................. I can't play the Harp! LOL Johnny Kalsi .. The Dhol Foundation!

Out-Takes. I even thought of a double ended drum that comes apart and you can attach another end on it like a lens of a camera incase I burst a skin. Just change that end of the drum. But that never happened. As I gained more experience in my playing, my skins started to last much longer.

2:16 AM - 3 Comments - 8 Kudos - Add Comment