Never mind the Taliban – Pakistan’s youth put their faith in rock’n’roll

Country's internal turmoil is feeding underground music scene and popular guitar school.

Declan Walsh in the The Guardian:

ScreenHunter_06 Sep. 04 10.34 Even in a summer of Taliban violence young Pakistanis are rocking on. An underground music scene is quietly thriving in the country's major cities, nourished by the internet and the passion of mostly amateur bands.

In Lahore a pair of unemployed rockers have tapped into that enthusiasm with a new school for rock'n'roll.

“We weren't getting a lot of gigs, and we needed to survive,” said co-founder Hamza Jafri. “So we thought we'd try this.”

The Guitar School, as it is known, has been surprisingly successful. Around 40 students have signed up, ranging from surly teenagers in drainpipe jeans to more practised musicians such as Ahsan looking to hone their skills. Classes take place in a small room lined with egg boxes; the school's teaching style is reflected in its motto: “Play it like you feel it.”

More here.