Recharging our Batteries

IF at first you don't succeed ... rock on! Bahrain's youngest rockers put aside the disappointment of being rejected from appearing at an annual show at the Crowne Plaza Hotel by getting down to some serious practicing ... so they could storm the rock and pop festival this year.

The Batteries Not Included band is made up of St Christopher's School Year 5 students Mohammed Jalal (known as MJ) lead singer and guitarist, Omar Al Kooheji, lead guitarist, Billy Mattar, bass guitarist, and drummer Daryl Egan.

The talented 10-year-olds are top of the class as far as their growing numbers of young fans are concerned and, of course, their families.

"It was surreal watching our young 'rock stars' bringing the house down," said Omar's mother, Jacqui. "They were so calm and laid back about it all ... I think we were more nervous than them."

The band got together last year when the members were all in Year 4 and after failing to be selected to perform at the festival they were determined to learn from the experience.

Instead of giving up on their dreams they hired a room at Room to Rock in Hamala and practiced every Saturday until they had perfected their sound and were chosen to perform the show's opening number this year.

MJ has been singing since the age of three and as well as guitar he also plays piano, has a brown belt in Shotokan Karate and represents St. Christopher's football team.

A natural showman, he loved strutting his stuff for the crowds of adoring fans at the festival, saying: "Being on stage was phenomenal! It was as if my best dreams were finally coming true!"

Omar's main passion in life is playing his guitar although he is also a keen sportsman and enjoys tennis and rugby. He described the show experience as "so awesome with all the lights and everyone screaming and shouting."

Bass player Billy is a promising sportsman who loves cycling, rugby and is another member of St Christopher's' football team. He stayed cool during the festival despite feeling a little nervous, saying: "The Rock and Pop festival was scary and exciting because it was the first time I had played in front of an audience."

Drummer Daryl, regarded as the band's joker, keeps the boys in high spirits during rehearsals. The gifted rugby player and footballer is a keen music follower and often introduces the act to new sounds. He said: "It's great to be in a band so young. Hopefully we will have a bright future."

The boys' love of rock is evident in their taste of music with major influences including Green Day, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Coldplay, Linkin Park and My Chemical Romance.

At the moment their repertoire consists of cover versions in homage to Green Day and My Chemical Romance as well as other hits by Oasis and McFly, to name but a few. However, they are beginning to work on writing some tracks of their own too.