Dynamic in style

By Mahes Perera

'Bohemian Rhapsody', the ingenious composition of the pop giant Freddie Mercury and his group Queen, has always been drummer Donald Pieries' tour de force. His interpretation of this song kept audiences rooted, savouring every phrase, every note and applauding joyously at the end. Donald Pieries, leader of Mirage has for the past so many years seated on his drum stool, directed his band to achieve success with a charisma all his own. In a quick spool back, his career in music started in the late '60s when Tony de Silva - singer and bassist Benjy Ranabahu needed a drummer.

They recruited the young enthusiastic Donald to join them and they performed at gigs under several names! Donald for some time played with the Experiments and then decided to join Tony de Silva and Benjy Ranabahu, which saw the birth of Amazing Grace. "We rehearsed at Auggie Ranaweera's recording studio and I cannot pass by without saying that Auggie went to great lengths to help us which none of us will ever forget," said Donald.

As is characteristic of musicians, Donald left Amazing Grace and joined Lotus led by Raja Jalaldeen and Priyanthi; the other members were Harsha Makalande, Conrad Guneratne and Benjy Ranabahu. The band toured cities hitherto not seen by any other group.

They were a hit in East Africa, Brazil, Italy and on the return Donald and Benjy formed Orpheus to hold contracts in Europe. But Donald found himself once again on the drum stool for Amazing Grace who were then performing in Switzerland.

This was for a short while. Because the desire to have a new sound and a new band saw Donald Pieris form Mirage in 1988. This year with Benjy, Melantha, Shafi, Samantha and Manod, Mirage celebrates 25 years in the industry.

Question: As leader of the successful Mirage for the past 25 years and looking back on your career what is your highlight?

Answer: The best time we had was when performing as Mirage, we were playing in the Middle East. It became our second home. We were in Dubai for 13 years at the same hotel - something of a record in the Middle East. Initially the hotel belonged to the Novatel chain, it changed hands and was called Marco Polo.

We had an extremely good response there. We were allowed to have our families with us and I experienced the same happy feeling as when we were playing at the Little Hut before we left for the Middle East. It was there that we took part in the international competition Battle of the Bands in Dubai 2000 and in Bahrain 2005 and were placed on top. The competition was handled in a very professional manner.

Q: Do you believe in playing strictly according to the music of a hit song or do you indulge in your own expression when playing?

A: Initially it is good to listen and copy but at the same time no one can copy 100 percent. You have to ask yourself 'why do people like the song? When they listen to the song they have a nice feeling - they enjoy the groove. And when they listen to a band and if that band doesn't give that same feeling they feel disappointed. Some musicians say that they want to play it their own way - that's good. But if you can do it better than the original - that's even better.

Q: If it is your own expression would you advise up-and-coming drummers to follow their instincts? Would that not interfere in the technique of playing and upset the other musicians?

A: Lots of people are of the opinion that it is easy to copy. No! That's the most difficult thing to do. You have to have the patience to get it right. Then you have to have a good ear to get the correct phrasing. It's not easy. To do your own thing is no problem - you get the basic pattern and you work on it. But by listening then you know how the song goes, and you realise the colour and phrasing. That is why, I say that you should know the song inside out. Have patience. I have seen many a young talented drummer not disciplined when playing. They fail to realise that they have to back the singer. The bassist and the drummer are the foundation of the band. If they are not tight and do not play properly, then whatever the others do won't come off, because the foundation is not good.

Q: Aren't there drummers who do not realise the importance of playing as part of the group and not for their own ears?

A: I have heard drummers who are guilty of this trait and I have had the opportunity to meet them and tell them how important it is to keep the groove of the tune.

A drummer when he gets the chance, can show off. You cannot do it when you are backing a song. If you are playing jazz then you can do it in your solo but when you are playing pop you can't stray.

Q: Why aren't there drummers who are lead singers?

A: Well I'm a drummer and I'm a lead singer. In 1991 I won the Observer Golden Clef Award for Singer Of The Year - Male. When I started I never sang. Those days if you were a drummer or a guitarist you had to only play, you didn't have to sing. When I first joined a band there was a good singer. He used to sing in the styles of Trini Lopez and Englebert Humperdinck. But one day the Manager told me to sing some songs and that's how I started singing.

Q: During play if the tempo goes wrong how do you right it or do you go along with it?

A: Everybody makes mistakes. It happens. But I think you have to practise a lot, then you know how to cover up. If you are not rehearsed then you cannot cover up. It will be noticeable to the audience. Experience counts. If I make a mistake I know how to correct it then and there. The others will follow me, I'm sure of that.

Q: This year 2013 is a significant year for the band Mirage. You are celebrating 25 years in the industry, have you any special plans to make it memorable?

A: We had a preview recently of the show we will be having in December to celebrate the occasion. We have a good plan for the concert. It's a lot of hard work and we need sponsors and I hope we can make it. Twenty-five years is a long journey. We had our good times and the bad when we lost two of our members Hilmy Burah and Cumar Peiris. But we've come through.

Q: The early Mirage did not have a female vocalist, but recently we see you have acquired one. How did that come about?

A: Initially we did not want a female singer, it was not necessary. We were a six piece band and we had the voices. We did not want to play in Dubai because everybody said that to play in Dubai we had to have a female singer. So we forgot about Dubai.

When we were playing in Europe we used to go to Dubai. On our way back we played in Abu Dhabi just for two or three days. On one such occasion the General Manager of Novatel heard us and asked us to play at Novatel in Dubai. We said we had no female singer. He told us it was not necessary, and so we became the first all-male band to play in Dubai.

Q: Given a chance to relive your life, would you choose a music career?

A: Yes, I will be a musician all over again. I have no regrets. If I was not in music I would have looked different, because I wouldn't have looked after myself like how I am today. People look up to you and it is important for you to acquire a personality. Being a musician is no stress. There's nobody to dictate to you.

You have the opportunity to see the world and give of your best to your fans and your audiences. However, as a musician it is important that you know your limits.