Origin:New Delhi, IndiaGenre(s):Garage rockPunk bluesIndie rockAlternative Rock
Years active:2002–present
Label(s):Unsigned
Website :www.thesuperfuzz.com
THE LINE UP:
EARLY YEARS
Sanchal and Nikhil met at St. Columba's School, New Delhi, sometime around 2000, before which Sanchal was studying at Sahyadri School in Pune, India. In high school, they would go on to form a 6-piece pop-rock cover band called Red Edge, with Nikhil playing guitar & Sanchal on vocals, which remained restricted to the jamroom. Later, Sanchal, who only sang until now, picked up the guitar, with Nikhil & Benjamin showing him the ropes. Early influences included Nirvana, The Beatles, Black Sabbath, and Led Zeppelin.
The Copperstoned Era: 2003 - August 2004
Copperstoned was a working name thrown around for the band in its early days. The band, who were schoolboys then, landed up at NSIT's annual rock competition, and on being questioned by the event volunteer as to which band they played for, Sanchal mumbled "Copperstoned" & the name stuck for a while. Copperstoned played a few battle of the bands & were runners-up at Pepsi Storm 2003 and Samsung digi-witz 2004. The lineup during this time was: Sanchal Malhar (vocals), Nikhil Rufus (guitars), Damian Souza (bass), Shannon Peter (drums). Other friends, like Amos Dennison & Benjamin Samte, also played guitar for the band at a few school festivals.
Copperstoned was a working name thrown around for the band in its early days. The band, who were schoolboys then, landed up at NSIT's annual rock competition, and on being questioned by the event volunteer as to which band they played for, Sanchal mumbled "Copperstoned" & the name stuck for a while. Copperstoned played a few battle of the bands & were runners-up at Pepsi Storm 2003 and Samsung digi-witz 2004. The lineup during this time was: Sanchal Malhar (vocals), Nikhil Rufus (guitars), Damian Souza (bass), Shannon Peter (drums). Other friends, like Amos Dennison & Benjamin Samte, also played guitar for the band at a few school festivals.
The Superfuzz Bigmuff Era: September 2004 - January 2006
After graduating from high school, Sanchal played a few gigs with Sumit (drums, Messiah) opening for local bands like Killer Tomatoes & Nakshatra. Later, on being contacted by organizers for gigs & without a proper band name as yet, Sanchal came up with Superfuzz Bigmuff, after the Mudhoney record. The band have said that they didn't give much thought to the name, believing that eventually it would "cease to matter", beyond the purpose of identification.
This incarnation of the band comprised Sanchal Malhar (guitars, vocals), Nikhil Rufus (bass), and Aman Gulati (drums). The band would go on to compete at the nationwide battle of the bands 'Campus Rock Idols' in 2004, where they were placed second. Soon, academic pursuits beckoned Aman to Ontario, Canada, and the band was without a drummer for a while. An acquaintance, Ankit Jena, would introduce them to their current drummer, Aditya Paharia. Sanchal, Nikhil, & Aditya jammed for a marathon 9 hours when they first met on 16th September 2005, which coincidentally was Aditya's birthday as well. The band, with this lineup, would go on to win the 2005 edition of Campus Rock Idols.
This incarnation of the band comprised Sanchal Malhar (guitars, vocals), Nikhil Rufus (bass), and Aman Gulati (drums). The band would go on to compete at the nationwide battle of the bands 'Campus Rock Idols' in 2004, where they were placed second. Soon, academic pursuits beckoned Aman to Ontario, Canada, and the band was without a drummer for a while. An acquaintance, Ankit Jena, would introduce them to their current drummer, Aditya Paharia. Sanchal, Nikhil, & Aditya jammed for a marathon 9 hours when they first met on 16th September 2005, which coincidentally was Aditya's birthday as well. The band, with this lineup, would go on to win the 2005 edition of Campus Rock Idols.
The Superfuzz: January 2006 - present
Soon after their CRI victory, the band would shorten their name to The Superfuzz, since it sounded simpler & more catchier. Copyright infringement, with reference to the Mudhoney album, was also a passing thought in their minds.
Their first performance as The Superfuzz was at the Great Indian Rock festival 2006, which they went on to win, and brought them nationwide attention among the underground rock scene & built the foundations for a fan-base.
To this day, the band exists with this lineup and name
Their first performance as The Superfuzz was at the Great Indian Rock festival 2006, which they went on to win, and brought them nationwide attention among the underground rock scene & built the foundations for a fan-base.
To this day, the band exists with this lineup and name
Hiatus: October 2006 - May 2007
In October of 2006, Sanchal moved to London to pursue a course in Guitar & Vocal Production at the London Centre of Contemporary Music, and the band didn't play any gigs during this period.
Comeback: May 2007
After Sanchal's return, the band got back to the gigging circuit, with their victory at [V] Launchpad 2007 adding another feather to their cap. During August & September of 2007, they played dates in all major Indian cities, as part of RSJ Pubrockfest 2007.
Equipment used
Sanchal Malhar:
GUITARS:
Givson GS1000 (in Copperstone & during the early days of Superfuzz Bigmuff)
Washburn HB30 (The Superfuzz c. 2006)
Fender Standard Telecaster (in Arctic White) (The Superfuzz c. 2007)
Pedals:The following pedals have been spotted in his pedalboard at various times.
MXRMicroamp
MXRMicroamp
Electroharmonix Holy Grail Reverb
Electroharmonix Deluxe Memory Man
Electroharmonix Small Stone Phaser
Boss TU-2 Tuner
Boss DS-1 Distortion
Boss BD-2 Blues Driver
Boss CS-3 Compressor/Sustainer
Boss NS-2 Noise Suppressor
Fulltone Supa-Trem
Amplifiers:
Marshall MG50DFX (only used at home/jams,
The Superfuzz c. 2005-2007)
Orange AD30R (The Superfuzz, c. 2007)
Nikhil Rufus:Nikhil Rufus plays a Fender Standard Jazz Bass through a Tech 21 Sansamp Bass Driver DI.
Future
The band now pursue music full-time & have completed recording a 4-track demo at Grey Studio (Anupam Roy's home studio), which can be heard on their Myspace page. They are playing regular gigs in India, and are scheduled to perform at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York City, in early 2008. A tour of the UK is also being planned, as part of the deal they won on their GIR victory
The band now pursue music full-time & have completed recording a 4-track demo at Grey Studio (Anupam Roy's home studio), which can be heard on their Myspace page. They are playing regular gigs in India, and are scheduled to perform at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York City, in early 2008. A tour of the UK is also being planned, as part of the deal they won on their GIR victory
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