The News music band

Recently Vartan Tashjian had posted  about The News music band noting that Teardrops may be their most popular song (see below). I have reproduced Boghos Shahmelikian’s recollection of the band and its members from his book I translated into English, edited by my cousin Jack Chelebian M.D., as “Dawn of Armenian Pop Music”. The book was published by Hrach Kalsahakian and is available on Amazon. 

 Vahe H Apelian

 

"Without a doubt, The News was the most popular music band among the youth in Lebanon. Mike Postian and Jean Taslakian from the The Lawyers music band teamed with Jack Tamoukian and Ara Hajian from The Monks music band and formed The News. From day one they left their jobs and made their living through music. Almost all the members of the other music bands in the country had their day jobs.

All the members of the band were talented singers notably Mike who had the most songs in their repertoire. They had their own songs as well, which were mostly composed by their solo guitarist Jeas Taslakian. They produced a dozen or so records of their own compositions. They traveled to France and signed a contract with Polydor Records to produce their records with the famous recording company’s label. They yad , however, set their minds to make their mark on the British music scene.

At the times England was considered the world capital of pop music.  Many of the famous bands and world-renowned recording studios were in England. The News moved to London and in a relatively short period of time earned and enviable reputation by performing in famous nightclubs. Their unique genre was well received by the youth in England. They sang in English lyrics with Armenian melodies and rhythm. Some of the traditional Armenian instruments along with electric guitar, percussion drums accompanied their songs. They thus established their own distinct style that became very popular. 

As a testament to their musical achievements, they succeeded in securing a contract with EMI Music, which is one of the world’s leading recording companies where some of the most famous bands produced their records.

They were at the pinnacle of their careers with many promising possibilities awaiting them when the unexpected happened, Ara’s father passed away and his family wanted him to return to Lebanon to take charge of the family’s business. In 1971 The News returned, Avo who played the drums with The Dreamers replaced Ara.

Instead of going back to England, they signed a lucrative contract and moved to Djibouti, Africa, intending to return to England afterwards to produce their records.  Other enticing contracts soon followed one after the other and they traveled to other countries where they performed. Unfortunately, they could not fulfill the promise that awaited them in England.

After marrying Jack stopped performing on stage and settled in Los Angeles. I met him at different occasions. One day I heard the sad news of his untimely death due to heart attack. Dear Jack, may you rest in peace.

The News continued to play as a trio to make a living. Years later Jean Taslakian, whose wife is French, moved to France where he resides. He has formed a band by the name Want, whose singer and guitarist is he. 

Avo is married to an English woman and has settled in England. He has given up playing music on stage. 

Mike Postian is settled in Los Angeles and sings as a solo singer He has a number of CDs in different languages. I have been a friend to all the band members, particularly Mike, with whom I often meet.

The News band was a musical phenomenon in its days. No other popular music band from Lebanon, arguably from the Middle East musted the appeal to the youth and achieved the recognition in western capitals and elsewhere as well as The News did. 

Many decades later Armenian lads from Los Angeles formed another hugely popular, internationally famous band named System of the Down. The Armenian community welcomed the band. Musical tastes had changed. The emerging music bands of the 1960’s had paved the way to bring about the change."