I am yet to come across a single person who doesn’t like KK and the songs that he has sung. Wearing a pair of jeans, a simple T-shirt and a leather jacket (in case of winter), KK used to perform every concert like it was his last. I’ve seen him live 3 times and I have never left the venue without feeling a sense of being one with his craft.
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That’s the kind of impact his voice had. His songs brought people together. Hence, it’s very difficult to not take the news of his demise personally. Whether it be singing ‘Yaaron dosti’ on Friendships’ Day or ‘Pal’ on the last day of college, some of our most integral memories of love, belonging, heartache, and friendship are tied to him.
Gautam Chikermane, an author and the Vice President of Observer Research Foundation, was in the same band as KK, where he was the lead singer and drummer. They used to study at Kirori Mal College, Delhi. In a touching Twitter thread, Chikermane shared memories of having known KK.
He was only 53.
He sang his last song.
And quietly passed away.
In music he lived life, in music he met death.
Sorrow is for the rest of us, for KK it’s possibly a Stairway to Heaven.— Gautam Chikermane (@gchikermane) May 31, 2022
KK was our lead singer and drummer.
With Julius, Franz, Tom, Sandeep and I, we were Horizon, the college band at KMC.— Gautam Chikermane (@gchikermane) May 31, 2022
They used to play at college fests including those of IIT Kanpur and Sri Ram College of Commerce.
We would go to all the college festivals and win prizes (mostly first, or second) for our music. IIT Kanpur and Delhi, SRCC and Hindu, we even played professionally at the Siri Fort Auditorium. We earned Rs 5,000 for the night and felt like we were kings!
— Gautam Chikermane (@gchikermane) May 31, 2022
Full of enthusiasm and creatively, KK was the energy of our band. Exceptionally talented, with a voice range unmatched, he was a natural singer. In college, he sang English songs, in Mumbai he shifted effortlessly to Hindi.
— Gautam Chikermane (@gchikermane) May 31, 2022
A few years later, I was in Mumbai and he came to see me. We walked all night on Marine Drive, reminiscing our days of youth, our journeys, our lives, wives, children, careers, hopes, dreams—and our music, old music, new music, future music the unsung songs, the unplayed notes.
— Gautam Chikermane (@gchikermane) May 31, 2022
In the past, KK went through a rough patch where he had to sell typewriters to make a living. But he couldn’t stay far from music for too long. So, he started from scratch.
He left the job and started singing in hotels. He said it was not a great experience to have people eating and drinking while the band sang. After 10 minutes or so, he said, “we would play for ourselves. That kept us going.”
— Gautam Chikermane (@gchikermane) May 31, 2022
Just like SRK, KK too had stood in Marine Drive and wondered if Bombay would ever give him space.
We stood at the end of Marine Drive and he said, you know I came here and stood exactly here on this spot and looked at these lights and wondered if Bombay would give me space.
It did—Bombay became Mumbai and our KK became India’s KK.— Gautam Chikermane (@gchikermane) May 31, 2022
He further went on to express how in each of KK’s songs, he became one with the music.
…or Tu Hai Asaman Mein, where you sense the depths of devotion…https://t.co/hodA8M02cU
— Gautam Chikermane (@gchikermane) May 31, 2022
You may read the full thread here.
This loss feels too deep. Rest in peace, legend.