Local musician Prasad Jayaruwan isn't singing the blues despite enduring what many rock fans deem one of the worst nights in Bahrain's history of hosting rock concerts.
His band, The Mushroom Massacre, was due to take the stage at the Rage to the Extreme concert at the Palace hotel, Adliya, on Thursday night, when he was taken away by CID officials who took exception to his T-shirt.
Mr Jayaruwan was amongst the 350 people at the concert sporting black T-shirts, a common element of rock concerts worldwide.
However, the guitarist's T-shirt was emblazoned with a caricature of a 'devilish' figure and the slogan "God's Busy ... Can I Help?'
He was called aside by CID officials while he was offstage and enjoying the performances of other bands, before they escorted him to the CID office in Adliya.
"They pointed at my T-shirt and they got really excited and whipped out their mobiles to call their superiors," he told the GDN.
"It was like they had found gold or something."
The concert was also called off, while the guitarist was taken away to be photographed wearing his T-shirt and ear piercings.
"On the way to the CID I was taking my piercings off, but the guy told me to put them back on even though I tried arguing with him," said Mr Jayaruwan.
The musician said he wasn't sure what officials were doing and saying, but felt humiliated that they were mocking him because of what he was wearing.
"They had these fake smiles and asked me if I was rock and told me to dance for them, so I just told them that there's no dancing in rock," he said.
"They thought I didn't understand Arabic, but they were telling each other 'look at this guy'."
"I was explaining to them over and over that it's just a T-shirt and not to make such a big fuss about it, but they didn't care.
"It was strange because they were trying to get me to give them my dad's phone number, but I just told them that I was an adult and they didn't have to do that."
Once he had been photographed, officials asked him to get someone to bring him a new T-shirt as they would confiscate the one he was wearing.
The guitarist suggested returning to the venue where his band members then furnished him with a T-shirt they had with them.
He was then released.
The event organisers, Bahrain-based Dallah Promotions, could not be reached for comments yesterday, but Mr Jayaruwan, who spoke to organisers once he was released said that even they were embarrassed about the night's proceedings.
"In the end, they (Dallah Promotions) suffered a huge loss too, and they got accused of something they had nothing to do with.
"They said they were accused of promoting Satanist activity and culture in Bahrain.
"They were cool for organising a metal gig and we were grateful for the fact that they got all the approvals from all the authorities for the show and that's why we were confident enough to play.
"But then a great night for everyone just got ruined."
Mr Jayaruwan, who attended the Dubai Desert Rock Festival (DDRF) in March said he couldn't understand why Bahrain faced such difficulties in promoting local talent in the metal genre, whilst Dubai seemed more accommodating and supportive of the younger generation's talents.
"We try so hard to organise a concert and promote our local talent, which is really good, and then people come in and spoil all that," he said.
"All those people who came and spent their money and time, they came here to play with us and for the fans, and in the end it was a disaster.
"The bands from other countries will go back home and tell their friends the gig didn't happen."
Meanwhile, young metal fans who attended the event voiced their anger and frustration at the affair on the Facebook website, calling the event a "disaster," and "a new low (for Bahrain)."
Mr Jayaruwan said he wasn't surprised that so many people were angered.
"Of course everyone's furious, not only the bands but the fans as well," he said.
"When it comes down to it, we are all fans of our music.
"I wasn't completely scared about being taken in but I was a little shaken.
"I guess you could say I am disappointed with the way things are going, especially just after an event like the Formula One."
Hotel officials refused to comment and Culture and Information Ministry officials could not be reached yesterday.
