Paranoid Earthling

Paranoid Earthling is a Sri Lankan rock band from Kandy. Its music can be described as a blend of experimental rock, grunge, psychedelic and stoner rock. It was founded in 2001 by Mirshad Buckman (lyricist, vocalist and guitarist), Shanka Samarasinghe (drummer), Asela Bandara (bass guitarist) and Dhanushka Samarasinghe (guitarist). The band's EP Rock 'N Roll is My Anarchy[1] was released in 2005. In 2014, the band underwent a line-up change when Harshan Gallage joined as the drummer.

Paranoid Earthling
OriginKandy, Sri Lanka
GenresGrunge, experimental, psychedelic, stoner rock, heavy metal
Years active2001 (2001)–Present
Associated actsThriloka
Websiteparanoidearthling.com
MembersMirshad Buckman
Asela Bandara
Harshan Gallage
Past membersShanka Samarasinghe
Dhanushka Samarasinghe

About the band

A brain child of Mirshad Buckman and Shanka Samarasinghe: inspired to form a band after meeting in school and sharing similar interests in music, the band was put together with Asela Bandara and Dhanushka Samarasinghe as the original line-up. Asela Bandara named the band Paranoid Earthling.[2]

Appearing for a guest performance at a local college concert in late 2001, the band covered Nirvana which caught the attention of the youngsters and made a major breakthrough in the rock culture of Sri Lanaka. They have since appeared at numerous concerts with a few international tours.[3]

Central to Paranoid Earthling's music is the political economic and socio-cultural issues surrounding the day-to-day life of an average Sri Lankan youth. The composition derives from personal experiences as well as from contemporary political and social issues at large. Many youth have found refuge in Paranoid Earthling's rebellious song-writing as it gives them a voice. By questioning concepts such as democracy, violence, conflict, religion and social hierarchies, their music calls for social change and transformation.[4]

Influences

Alice in Chains, Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, Kyuss, Queens of the Stone Age, Fu Manchu, Rage Against the Machine, Red Hot Chili Peppers, At The Drive-In, The Mars Volta, Tool, A perfect circle, Marilyn Manson, Nine Inch Nails, Rammstein, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Jimi Hendrix, Family and The Doors.

Band Logo for Paranoid Earthling

The band's logo was created by Mirshad Buckman and depicts of an earthling emerging from two merged mohawk heads.

Releases
  • Rock 'N Roll is My Anarchy – EP 2005[5]
  • Play Time Music Bootleg – EP 2008
  • "Bringing Down The Sun" – music video released for the World Peace Day in 2008 produced by Young Asia Television (YATV)[6][7]
  • Ministry of Junk – EP 2010
  • "Reign" single released on 28 May 2011
  • "Deaf Blind Dumb" single released on 30 April 2014[8]
  • "Half Cast" single released on 12 May 2016[9]

Major appearances
  • 17–25 September 2009: Hard Rock Cafe – New Delhi, India; Kyra Theater – Bangalore, India; Turquoise Cottage – New Delhi, India; Flame le Club, Le Royal Meridian Hotel – Chennai, India;[10]
  • 12 December 2009: the band performed at the South Asian Band Festival held in Purana Qila, New Delhi, to a crowd of 10,000,[11][12] followed by a second performance in Chennai, India.
  • 19 December 2009: the band opened for As I Lay Dying and Nervecell from Dubai at the Vihara Maha Devi, Open Air Theater in Colombo, Sri Lanka.[13]

Equipment

The sound of Paranoid Earthling has been unique and its signature melodies have been best amplified through Marshall Amplification[14] except that each band member has a pick of his own gear.

References
  1. Daniel Cairns, "Paranoid Earthling - _Rock 'n' Roll Is My Anarchy", Chronicles of Chaos, 29 May 2009
  3. South Asian Bands Festival 2009
  4. "We are sick of asking for peace nicely, it is time to rise up and make a stand" – Mirshad Buckman (Frontman – Paranoid Earthling) Archived 20 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  5. Paranoid Earthling – Rock 'n' Roll Is My Anarchy by: Daniel Cairns (4 out of 5)
  6. "Bringing Down The Sun" official video released in 2008 for World Peace Day
  7. Bringing Down The Sun Official Music Video re-edited 2009
  8. High res download
  9. High Res Download
  10. Gods Gone Postal live performance at Flame le Club, Le Royal Meridian Hotel – Chennai, India September 2009
  11. In Black & White performed live at South Asian Bands Festival 2009
  12. Footage of the South Asian Bands Festival by NDTV, 12 December 2009.
  13. Live Coverage from As I Lay Dying tour of Sri Lanka 2009 Archived 23 July 2012 at Archive.today, 19 December 2009.
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