Damian's sound 0f music
by Farah Macan Markar
This singing guitarist
who's forty years of age,
born on the 27th September
Wikramatillake's his name.
Damian Wikramatillake
who performed with the then Purple Rain,
plus a Fire whose first name's-Wild
is having a rest from the game.
A career of 23 years
He's having a break from it all,
other than spots of voice advertising,
he hopes to go on his own.
"Music is my life
it's a gift given to me,
no one can take it away
I intend to make the best use of it".
A self taught musician
it has been in the family,
his brother's guitar Damian would play
at the age of five, with glee.
From "The Sound of Music"
Damian's best musical lesson came,
with its "Doe-Ray-Me-Far's"
he learnt of chords, harmonies and scales.
From school to a band called "Blaze"
then "Status"-"20th century",
to the Alps he next whizzed off
where "Rendezvous" came to be.
"Rendezvous" splitting up
he next joint "Friends",
"Purple Rain" and lastly "Wild Fire"
whom he quit at last year's end.
Now waiting to go solo
which he will in his own time, he says,
"Cause I believe in doing something worthwhile
instead of just for the sake".
"Playing music the best I can
changing it to suit my style,
do my own album, and have a studio
would be my ideal life".
The western music scene in Lanka?
"It has potential, now that there is peace,
everyone loves entertainment
and music brings it".
Greatest influence-"Don't have any
ever since dad died I've been on my own,
no one could control me
not even my elder brother at home.
I've learnt things through trial and error
done things my way,
which is how I got into music
my family wasn't happy about it", he says.
"They were worried I'd neglect my studies
which I must say I did,
but I've got far with music
cause I've stuck to it".
What does he look for in a girl?
"Simplicity and natural beauty" he says.
Greatest dislike - dishonest people,
he loves to laze, all day.
Of love, he says, "It's beautiful
if you accept the person the way they are.
Unconditional love - you only get from dogs
who are always there".
A jolly old man - singing away
is how he pictures old age.
Jeans and T-shirts he likes to wear,
dentists are his biggest fear these days.
So who is Damian?
"A laid back, easy going guy,
very close to earth,
patience's his strongest tie".
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