Robin Tamang obituary: Loss of a rock legend

Nepali rock icon, singer and songwriter, actor and frontman of Robin and the New Revolution, Robin Tamang has died at the age of 60. For many who grew up during the nighties and the noughties, Tamang embodied the idea of a rockstar: a tall, swarthy fellow with a powerful voice and an undeniable stage presence. He inspired many youngsters to start a band of their own. Tamang was born in Bukit Timah, Singapore in 1963. He was the youngest son among the five siblings. He came to Nepal in 1996, and teamed up with Looza, one of the Nepali bands, to form ‘Robin N’ Looza’. Their first album ‘Nepal’ was released in 1998. It was one of the first blues-rock albums witn Nepali and English songs. Nepal’s rock music scene was still in its infancy at the time, and the music of Robin N’ Looza was loved by only select city crowds who attended concerts regularly and were devoted rock music fans. Many rock musicians of today attest to the fact that they would not have started a band had they not listened to Robin N’ Looza or seen them perform live during their teenage years. In 2006, Tamang formed Robin and the New Revolution, and the band was propelled to overnight success with hits like ‘Bhool Ma Bhulyo’, ‘Shine on Me’, ‘Keta Keti’ and ‘Dum Maro Dum’. Sunny Mahat, member of the blues-rock group Midnight Riders, says Tamang inspired and encouraged many upcoming artists and performers. “He was a rock legend, but he would often show up to see the live performances of bands that played their original songs to show his support,” says Mahat, who met Tamang for the first time almost two decades ago. Mahat remembers how overwhelming the meeting was for him. “But he was quite humble, and even offered me a drink,” he says. For Tamang, it didn’t matter if the band was new and not well-established, or if the songs they played were good or bad. “As long as the band was working hard to create something new, he was there to show his support,” says Mahat. “He loved music, traveling, motorbiking, and nature.” Before his passing, Tamang had been working on a new project. “It was something quite different from what he had been doing,” says Mahat of Tamang’s unfinished music project. Tamang’s demise was sudden, and a shock to the public and the people from the industry. He passed away on Tuesday at his residence in Budhanilkantha, Kathmandu. Fellow artists and fans have expressed their condolences in social media, remembering Tamang for the musical legacy he left behind. He is survived by his wife and two daughters.