Musicians on the importance of a fitness routine

You might not have realised this but being a musician can be hard work quite literally Some genres are so physically demanding when played live that it takes a serious toll on the artistersquos health Take M Shawn Crahan The percussionist for American heavy metal giants Slipknot recently tore his bicep tendon in the middle of a gig a bizarre video of the exact moment when it happens shows Crahan hammering a metal trash can with a baseball bat like an incensed man taking all his frustrations out on an inanimate object But itrsquos not just metal music Even punk or hard rock has the musicians jumping and prancing around on stage headbanging like therersquos no tomorrow and screaming their lungs out so much that itrsquos a wonder how their vocal chords arenrsquot torn to shredsArun S RaviLongterm problemsThis sort of physical expenditure can lead to serious ailments in the long run if treated in a cavalier manner warns Dr Sudipta Kumar Sen an internal medicine specialist He says that it can cause spinal problems lowerback pain tennis elbow frozen shoulders and all kinds of other issues ldquoThe musicians have to have tremendous flexibility because if you or I headbang the way they do we wonrsquot be able to move our necks the next day Thatrsquos why a routine of exercises is necessary to give the body that required fitnessrdquo Sen explains adding ldquoSome of them also take energyboosting or illegal stimulants which ultimately harm the body Thatrsquos why when you play a competitive sport you are checked for any artificial stimulants that can enhance stamina But there is no such regulation for musicians so they have to be careful that they donrsquot resort to that kind of stuffrdquoAsxem DleanBut what is it about these genres that make them so brutal on the system Arun S Ravi guitaristcumvocalist for citybased punk act The Riot Peddlers reasons that the musicians donrsquot have any clue what might transpire on stage when they have a live gig The 35yearold shares ldquoSay you have a certain amount of energy when you practise in the jam room Multiply that 200 times when you get up on stage because you donrsquot follow what you had planned earlier mdash you follow the energy of the audiencerdquoDr Sudipta Kumar SenA load off the backAsxem Dlean bassist of another citybased outfit Zygnema adds that another concern is that such bands often go on exhausting tours giving his own example of a 16day ninecountry European trip that metal monsters Zygnema had undertaken ldquoI was driving and it was a different city and country almost every day We had to load and unload all our instruments ourselves and the main concern was for the drummer who had to lug his kit all the way to the basement since thatrsquos where most of the venues were located My neck was really sore after the first two shows and I remember my fingers getting so immobile towards the end of one gig that I had to finish it by slamming the guitar with my handrdquo he tells us adding that thatrsquos the reason why he has a specific exercise routine before each time he gets up on stage Dlean 33 reveals ldquoI rotate each wrist 20 times and fold it up and down so that I can feel the pressure through my veins all the way up to my elbow I also rotate my shoulders and neck and do a bit of stretchingrdquoMetal musician Sujan Sengupta has a regular fitness routine to keep in shape PicSatej ShindeBreaking it downHe adds that a longstanding general fitness routine mdash which involves swimming yoga tai chi and callisthenics mdash has also had a positive impact on his music It helps him maintain optimal energy on stage something thatrsquos important because as Sujan Sengupta guitarist for prog metal act Almonds for Clarity puts it ldquoNo one pays to watch a tired musicianrdquo The 29yearold echoes Ravi in saying that the stage act involved in these genres demands that the musicians get the crowd into a certain zone and then resonate that same energy back to them He gives the example of breakdowns the part where a solo instrument takes precedence ldquoBreakdowns are present in all forms of metal music They are the part of the song with the biggest release the part where you headbang the most And headbanging is not just about your neck itrsquos about your entire body being synced in a consistent mannerrdquo Sengupta saysHe too has a regular health routine like Ravi and Dlean that entails running and exercising at home and does stretches before getting up on stage All these steps are essentially defence mechanisms that these musicians employ to remain in prime physical shape Some other artistes mdash singersongwriters who sit on stage with just a guitar for example mdash might afford to take it easier But for these performers itrsquos a whole different ball game Donrsquot believe us Just ask M Shawn Crahan