Chitral Somapala – the Sri Lankan legend of rock and roll

Chitral Somapala – the Sri Lankan legend of rock and roll.

Chitral Somapala is a legend in his own rite. Born to a famous classical music family, Chitral has jammed his way through many musical endeavors and milestones since his teenage years. Having performed at many popular nightclubs in Colombo in an era when live entertainment was only just beginning to rediscover its appeal to the lifestyle of the young and the musically-crazed in Sri Lanka, Chitral also lent his talents as a bassist to a local band called Friends in the mid 1980’s, which was one of the few local outfits that toured internationally. Chitral during these early years played a very unassuming role, but the quiet storm of talent within, was beginning to gain gale-like force.

Chitral grew up to bludgeon the European heavy metal scene as he began a gripping pursuit of his original passion, hard rock and heavy metal. Joining various top metal bands in Europe, including Court Jester, Avalon and Firewind, Chitral quickly earned a reputation for being one of the most talented and creative musicians to enter the European metal scene. He is also the mentor for so many upcoming bands and artists in Sri Lanka and a living testimony, that even if you are born in a small country likeSri Lanka, if you follow your musical instinct, you can still make a thundering impression on the world around you.

Chitral is now fronting his band, Civilization One, which is back with a new line up, as a guest artist for the finals of TNL Onstage Season 10.