The Combustibles are featured in the August issue of Shindig! magazine and also in Shindig! Radio Broadcast#1. Here is an excerpt from the magazine:
“Highly explosive out of time garage-punk from India!”
“The fascination the Beatles had with India is part of music history. Far less is known about the thriving local rock scene in Bombay into which Robert Plant and Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin stumbled in the early ’70s. Their impromptu live jam in 1972 with local musicians at The Slip Disc club is now part of rock legend.
It was this live music scene that Nissim Ezekiel became an integral part in ’69, when invited to join The Combustibles on rhythm guitar. Amongst Indian bands, The Combustibles were unique in featuring original 
compositions in their live performances. Driven by the creativity of songwriter and vocalist Everett Perry, compositions such as ‘Watch Her’, ‘Some Peace Of Mind’, ‘There’s A Love’, ‘Hey Doc’ and ‘Cold December’ became a staple of the band’s set.”
To buy the August issue, click here.
6 comments
Enrico Rao (Rico)
Those were the days my friend (s).
Practice sessions on Sunday afternoons, at the Taylor residence, behind the Ratan Tata Colony near Bandra station, after the Gymkhana Housie (Bingo), playing Rummy or Flush, listening to “Hello Josephine” & other standard Combustibles’ tunes.
A smoke, a coke, a brief toke with Robert Plant & Jimmy Page behind the radio club near the Slip Disc, might have been late June & prior to Dark Side Of The Moon.
We thought they’d never end, they haven’t.
The Band
Wow, Rico…Great to hear from those who were in right in the beginning and the memories are indeed very special. If you remember “Hello Josephine” at the Taylor residence, you clearly are in the core group! Its great that the site may bring many of the old gang together – we look forward to hearing from many more. Thanks, my friend, and spread the word please.
Freddy Fernandes
I was a privileged listener at their earlier St. Paul’s Road residence. i used to service their amps till they stopped playing. Once I even had their amps for repairs, after it went for a swim in the Arabian Sea! The memories of all the boys who joined & left, like Max Crudguington, Chris Valles etc. is still vivid. They had a unique sound, and they were at the top among so many bands. I’d been trying to Google George, but got nowhere. I didn’t notice this link on the Harkit page. I’m available on ************. It’ll be great to hear from you.
Thanks for the memories, boys.
The Band
Hi, Freddy: This is Nissim and its great to hear from you. I do indeed remember the great work you did with our equipment so many times. However, the miracle repair you did on our old Vox AC30 after it fell in the sea after we came back from a late night show on The Dufferin training ship is absolutely amazing – there is no doubt the Vox sounded a hundred times better after you repaired it then it ever had before it fell in the sea!! I’m glad you were able to see some of the images of some of the original Combustibles such as Max and Chris – yes, they are all part of this fun Combustibles story. I have your email and also your phone number (which is deleted in the post above) and will soon be in touch directly and also share the info with the rest of the guys – including George and Godfrey who are very much in Mumbai. Take care and thanks for being an important part of our story.
Marissa Pereira nee Gomez
“Rock songs from the city’s 60s make a comeback” I was reading this article in the ‘Times of India’ March 19, 2014 page No. 8, I see no mention of Christopher Valles the Lead Guitar player who was also a great showman and also won the best lead guitar at the All India Simla Beat contest. I remember the band when I was a tiny tot and used to come to my grandmother’s house at 47A on St. Monica Road where the Band had their practise sessions in the neighbouring house. Recently I have seen some members play at the opening act of the Bellamy Brothers’ maiden concert here in Mumbai and still N-Joyed the music.
The Band
Thanks for your interest Marissa. Indeed, Christopher Valles is a major part of the history of The Combustibles and we are very much still in contact with him. The particular story in the Times of India that you mention focused only on the re-issue of our songs Watch Her & Some Peace of Mind (originally released in 1971). Chris had already left the band in 1969 and does not feature in that recording and was not a member of the band from 1969-72 when we disbanded. However, please check out the Gallery, and the section on The Band (Beginnings), where you will find a lot of photos with Christopher and a history of the band that includes his participation in the band before 1969 (including when The Combustibles had contracts in Calcutta, Kathmandu and Poona). I also hope you have had the chance to listen to our re-issued music via iTunes download. Keep Rocking! Everett, George, Lionel & Nissim