KATHMANDU: Legendary rockstar Robin Tamang is no more. He was found dead at his residence in Budhanilkantha on July 4 as per media reports. He was 60.

Sharing the news late on July 4, guitarist Hari Maharjan posted on his Facebook page, 'It's an ultimate truth, and inevitable. Sad but true, we, I have lost my dear friend/ brother Robin (Robin and the new revolution) today. It's indeed very difficult time for all of us and we are still awaiting for further details. As soon as we are informed by the authority, we will keep you posted. Please stay calm.'

A post was also updated on Tamang's Facebook on July 4 that read: 'Very sad news... Robin passed away today. We will keep you informed...'

His body was taken to the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital for postmortem, various media reports stated.

Born to Nepali parents in Singapore on April 17, 1963, Tamang was the youngest of five siblings of a British Army family. His childhood and youth were spent in several countries like 'Hong Kong, Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore, the UK among others'.

'My father was in the British Army and my mother also served as a nurse for the British forces. I used to move from one country to another with my father during his postings. After completing my Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering from University of Toronto, Canada, I came to Nepal in 1996 for the first time,' Tamang told The Himalayan Times in a May 2021 interview.

In the same interview, he said that he formed a band named Robin N' Looza in 1996, formally starting his musical journey in Nepal. The band 'broke up in 2005' and he founded a new band Robin and the New Revolution in 2006. The band released the album Keta Keti in 2006 which was a hit amongst listeners. Their last album was Muglan, released in 2019. Other albums of the band include Hamro Desh and 13000.

Bhool Ma Bhulyo is one of his popular songs that addresses the socio-political condition of Nepal. Tamang preferred to address such issues through his songs, like he said in a 2007 interview with The Himalayan Times, 'My music is usually about anti-establishment, social issues and topics on which people usually don't talk about. Being in music I think it's important to make people aware through it.'

Along with his band, Tamang also performed English songs like Shine on Me. Equally popular was their rendition of the Hindi number Dum Maro Dum, originally sung by Asha Bhosle, along with covering Nepali classics like Jati Maya Laye Pani (Arun Thapa) and Chiso Chiso Hawa Ma (Danny Danzongpa).

Along with music, Tamang was also attracted to the film world in the later years of his life. He has acted in films including Chhadke (2013), Mukhauta (2014), Naaka (2018) and Chiso Ashtray (2022), among others. He also appeared in the role of Yama Nadu in the Hindi series The Last Hour (2021).

Many artistes from the music and film world turned to their social media to pay their tribute to the late rock legend.

Sharing 'the last photo that I ever took' with Tamang on her Facebook post, singer Abhaya Subba Weise posted: 'The end of an era it is. He was the coolest Rockstar I ever knew. I have too many memories with him. This hurts so very bad. Thank you for everything you ever did for me Dai - I know that you will be as bad assed and cool in the other world as you were here where we were all blessed to be around your aura... rest in Peace da - you were sincerely loved and honored by all of us here.'

Singer Astha Raut wrote: 'My heart is hurt today...ResT in Peace Respected Robin Tamang. We shared Stage couple of Times Together but this was the most memorable Event we had in Melbourne, Australia. Robin Dada you were a Man with dignity & I totally loved your wonderful talent & personality. Can't believe you are no more. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.'

Singer Sanjay Shrestha posted: 'Not only me but the entire Nepali music world has become speechless with the news of the untimely demise of friend Robin Tamang.'

Singer Sabin Rai posted: 'Your soul lives on in the people you touched. Rest in peace dai.' Actor Karma posted, 'Hard to believe that just a few days ago, we were meeting at Vajra for Red Peter's last show and promising to meet each other in Paris this week. May your beautiful soul rest in peace. It was an honour knowing you dai.'

Parliamentarian and filmmaker Asim Shah wrote: 'Rest in peace Robin dai. Legend gone too soon !!'

'Robin Tamang dai-we will miss you a lot,' wrote Sumana Shrestha, parliamentarian.

Quoting lines from Tamang's song Keta Keti, another parliamentarian and General Secretary of Nepali Congress Gagan Thapa wrote, 'Aaaja Malai Unnati Bhayo, Khelyo Haamro Jindagi, Bhanana Malai Kaha Khelchha Hamro Keta Keti... Albida Robin dai!'

Rose Rana, who directed Tamang in 2016 film Jai Parshuram, wrote on his Facebook page, 'The entire Nepal has been speechless with the untimely demise of Robin Tamang dai. We had worked together in two films that I directed. We had talked about working together again, that remained incomplete.'

A version of this article appears in the print on July 6, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.