The ancient archetype for proteges is to first imitate, and then surpass their idols. Come June, Gangtok-based heavy metal rock band Girish and The Chronicles stand a chance to try it with their teenage idols — Guns and Roses, as they open for the latter at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. “I sang Sweet child o’mine at school and college performances,” recalls Girish Pradhan, lead vocalist for the band.

While they were in talks last year, Pradhan says, “It sank in only last week. We used to cover their music, as well as Led Zeppelin and The Eagles. Playing Hotel California was proof of making it as a guitarist.” So, does playing in front of their idols sound intimidating? “The effort is always to showcase your best compositions, and doing that in front of Guns & Roses is something. But the key is the vibe of the crowd; we have to go with the flow and represent ourselves in the best way,” shares Pradhan.