Pacific Trends rocks India

  • Published
  • By Marine Cpl. Ashleigh Bryant
  • Air Force Print News
NEW DELHI, India --  For the Indian Air Force's 75th anniversary, the Pacific Air Forces rock group "Pacific Trends" joined military bands from India, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Thailand to perform at the Indian Air Force Platinum Jubilee Tattoo here March 17.

This was one of the final performances of Pacific Trends in India over their 12-day trip through the country.

As these military bands played in both marching and stage performances, one Pacific Trends' band member said this was a once in a lifetime chance to perform with international musicians at such a high-profile event.

"Working with other nations and building camaraderie with other military bands here in India is really a great experience that you just can't duplicate back at home," said Air Force Staff Sgt. Tim Rogers, lead guitarist for the band.

On top of the excitement of playing at the India Gate, listening to the other military bands gave him motivation for his own performance at the end of the night, said Air Force Staff Sgt. Chad Newman, the band's drummer.

The 42-meter high India Gate, also known as the "All India War Memorial," was constructed as a memorial to the 90,00 soldiers who laid down their lives during World War I, according to indiasite.com.

"The crowd response to the bands, and just hearing them play an Indian song and knowing we may play an Indian song tonight, just fires me up even more," Sergeant Newman said. "It's amazing to see all the different bands, all the different nationalities, different countries...politics set aside, it's all about music and just a great experience."

Pacific Trends wrapped up their performance with several classic rock 'n' roll selections from their set list, to include "Jailhouse Rock" and "I Feel Good" entertaining the tattoo's audience that spanned from the base of the India Gate monument back nearly 500 yards.