‘Damage’ excels at ‘Battle of the Bands 2012’
Popular Sri Lankan band ‘Damage’ was selected as one of the Top 10 Bands performing in Dubai at the recently concluded ‘Battle of the Bands 2012’ in Dubai, UAE.
‘Damage’ adjudged to the Dubai Top Ten list after competing among hundreds of bands performing in the UAE at the concluded ‘Battle of the Bands 2012’, which was held in July this year.
Over hundred permanent performing bands based in UAE from the countries such as UK, Poland, USA, Hungary, Philippines, India and Thailand took part in this competition in the categories ranging from, Hard Rock, Jazz Funk, Pop, Dance, Old School and Hip Hop.
The band Damage is one of the oldest Sri Lankan bands surviving in Dubai. The boys started their stint in 2003 and still continues at the ‘Beyond El Rancho’ of the Marco Polo Hotel in Dubai
‘Damage’ won its first international award in a band competition in the year 2005, bringing honour to Sri Lanka by winning the prestigious title – ‘Best Band in The UAE’.
‘Damage’ also was the winners of 2 Golden Clef Awards in the year 2003, for the ‘Most Popular Band’ and for the ‘Promising Band’.
That was the first time ever that a Sri Lankan Band has won 1st place in an International Musical Competition.
Among the judges at the ‘Battle of the Bands 2012’ competition were, James Sinclair (drummer, writer, pianist and manager for the rock band ‘Juliana Down’ that opens the concerts for ‘Guns n Roses’, ‘Muse’, ‘Maroon 5’), Matt Faddy- partner of BKP studios, Sound engineer and music composer, who works with famous bands and artistes such as – Annie Lennox, Iron Maiden, Sting, Supergrass and Sinead O Conner.
‘We are privileged to have won the Studio Time Award from Matt Faddy at BKP Studios’ said Ashantha Perera, the proprietor/Manager of Damage.
The band Damage comprises Dinu (Female Vocalist/ Percussion), Hasi (Hasitha Samarakoon) leader of the band (Drums/Vocals/Percussion / Bass), Ash (Ashan Fernando) (Keyboards/ Vocals/Bass/Guitar), Danu-Dhanushka Jayesekera (Guitar/Vocals/Bass/Keyboards), Shean Dharmaratne (Lead Vocalist/Percussion) and Sunith John on bass/Keyboards/Guitar / Drums/vocals.
Dinu started her music career in the year 2005. A classically trained vocal degree holder started her debut western gig with the trio ‘Fantasy’.
She was invited by the band “Spark” to perform at the Palm Beach Hotel in Dubai. Thereafter, with the band ‘Blaze. She has been with ‘Damage’ for the past three years singing at ‘Beyond El Rancho’ at Marco Polo Hotel, Dubai. Dinu, is influenced by artistes Such as Adele, The Corrs, Shakira, Rihanna and Hill songs.
Hasi, a well experienced musician, has played with some of the best musicians and bands in Sri Lanka. The bands he has performed with since 1999 are Dream Team, Bottom Line, Cosmic Rays, Kings, Spark and now Damage. His skills with the drumming is overshadowed, when he turns to the microphone and sings in many styles, and is very famous for being a ‘Shaggy’ impersonator.
Ashan is the youngest from a family of musicians, and yet the most experienced and exposed member.
He started his professional career in 1998 with a new lineup of “Dream Team” as a keyboardist and support vocalist. His professionalism in his young age caught the attention of a lineup of veterans touring the Middle East. Benjy Ranabahu of “Aquarius” offered him a break to tour with his band. Hasi & Ash have been with Damage for 5 years and are two Original members of the Second Lin-up.
Danu was with the band ‘Aquarius’. For over 2 years Dhanushka has been contributing his versatile vocal styles and electrifying guitar playing to the band “Damage”
Shean is a Multi award winner and was the 1st runner up vocalist at the stars world international band showdown in UAE 2003.
Shean Started his career as a DJ in 1995 and went on to become a singing and rapping DJ by 1996, and had Played six nights a week as a DJ cum rapper singer while working as a Customer service executive at DHL. In the meantime joined his first band “Extreme” that played in beach resorts. His break came from Malcom Perera Manager of ‘Dream Team’, where Shean became a fulltime Vocalist in 1997.
Shean with “Dream Team” became house hold names in Sri Lanka at the time. In 2002 formed his own band “Revelation” and played at the “Horse Shoe” club at the Quality Inn, in Dubai. He joined ‘Damage’ as the front man of the group. John mostly known to his friends as Sunith, is a talented multi-instrumentalist who started as a drummer at the tender age of Seven with his family band.
He toured with many bands overseas and one of the hit bands was “Upekha” led by Manilal Perera. He joined “Dream Team” in 1998. He was offered a lucrative contract in Maldives by “Dream Team” management, where he performed for a few years. And his contribution to bands are too many to mention. The most popular bands he performed with are ‘Boomerang’ and ‘Soled Out’. He has been with ‘Damage’ for the past two years.
‘I am extremely grateful to Renhil Krishnan (F & B Director) and Sunil Marya (GM and Vice President) of Marco Polo Hotel, for their support and encouragement towards ‘Damage’ from its inception in 2003 to 2012. If not for them, this achievement wouldn’t have been possible’ Ashantha said.
The boys were in Sri Lanka for the Ramazan holidays and returned to Marco Polo for their regular gig on 13th August.
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