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Mini, then an MTV VJ, had the privilege of interviewing Bryan Adams before his performance in Bengaluru.
Mini Mathur was gifted a plectrum inscribed with Bryan Adams’ name. (Photo Credits: Instagram)
Mini Mathur recently reminisced about her first meeting with legendary singer Bryan Adams, sharing a memory from 2001. That year, Bryan performed in Bengaluru to promote his album, Best of Me, becoming the first Western rock artist to headline a concert in the city. Mini, then an MTV VJ, had the privilege of interviewing him before the event. She admitted to feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness, unsure of what to expect from the iconic musician. However, Bryan greeted her warmly, his genuine enthusiasm putting her at ease. Following their interview, Mini received a thoughtful surprise — a plectrum inscribed with Bryan’s name, gifted to her by his manager while the singer captivated the audience.
Taking to Instagram, Mini wrote, “Find someone who looks at you like Bryan Adams looks at me here. It was 8th May 2001. Twenty thousand people turned up to hear Bryan Adams in Bombay on a Sunday evening. I was the MTV VJ designated to interview him just before he hit the stage. No amount of prep or trivia can ever help you when you face one of your biggest music icons. I was ready but you can never tell a performers mood just before a concert. Would he be- Dismissive? Disinterested? Or Worse, Patronising? We were getting an exclusive access to him and I was responsible to make it worth MTVs while.”
She added, “As I picked up the mike to say hello, he smiled, looked straight at me without a trace of urgency and said, ‘Hi Mini, I’m looking forward to this interview.’ I’m glad I didn’t pass out with relief & excitement but managed quite a cracker of an interview. He chatted with me ever so patiently, with humour and a hint of indulgence. Shortly after, the crowd went into a foot-stomping frenzy, matching Bryan Adam’s bar for bar as he belted out all his hits. As I was leaving backstage, his manager came up to me and said, ‘This is for you.’ He handed me Bryan’s plectrum with his name on it. What a win.”
Mini Mathur further shared Mumbai is lucky to have the artist performing again on December 13. She shared that MTV used to erase old tapes after a show aired back in 2001, so she doesn’t have any recordings, only this picture and her memories from that time.
Apart from his 2001 appearance, Bryan Adams has graced Indian audiences with his electrifying performances multiple times over the years. His first concert was at Mumbai’s Brabourne Stadium in 1994, then the Bare Bones Tour in 2011 and another show in 2018. Now, the iconic singer-songwriter is set to return to India in December 2024 as part of his So Happy It Hurts tour, with scheduled performances in Gurugram and Mumbai.
