In 2020 when Newmag published Ara Tadevosyan's “Two Rock Stars, Two Girls, Not Counting Ararat” book it was impossible to organize a traditional presentation due to pandemic restrictions. A year later, the delayed presentation of the book took place in a symbolic place – Ararat Museum of Yerevan Brandy Company.
Photo: Mediamax
“In October 2009 with fantastic efforts of a group of devotees it became possible to host Ian Gillan and Tony Iommi in Armenia. 12 years ago they visited Ararat Museum, and today these bright and memorable moments are part of the history of our Museum,” Yerevan Brandy Company COO Serge Khachatryan said in his opening remarks.
Serge Khachatryan, COO of Yerevan Brandy CompanyPhoto: Mediamax
Ian Gillan welcomed the guests via video message.
Ara Tadevosyan says it is really symbolic to conduct the presentation at Ararat Museum.
“I have written about this episode in the book. I have always loved Deep Purple, and my wife is a big fan of Black Sabbath. Twelve years ago right here my wife first time met Black Sabbath founder, legendary Tony Iommi and looking in Anna’s eyes I understood what an incredible thing we had initiated.”
Ara TadevosyanPhoto: Mediamax
In 2009, Ara Tadevosyan and his friends “dared” to follow the dream that seemed impossible and invite world famous rock stars Ian Gillan and Ian Iommi to Armenia. The two lent a helping hand to Armenia after the Spitak earthquake. The difficult and nice story of fulfilling this incredible dream is presented in “Two Rock Starts, Two Girls, Not Counting Ararat.”
Photo: Mediamax
“12 years ago when our guests arrived in Armenia and it became clear that this initiative would continue, we would reconstruct Gyumri musical school, I understood that there were enough materials and it would be a pity to lose it, it should become a book. I started targeted writing 3-4 years ago. I wrote about 40 percent and stopped. There was always a wish to resume, but I reached the final phase in January 2020. The main part was written in 2 weeks.
Photo: Mediamax
The reality is that I wanted to write the book for my friends with who we passed this path for it to remain in our memories, because some episodes are being forgotten over time. But you shouldn’t be a rock lover to read this book,” Ara Tadevosyan says.
The book was published by Newmag publishing house. The author says it was important for him to trust the publication of the book to professionals.
Mark GrigoryanPhoto: Mediamax
“I think such examples when the author and the publisher do not have any conflicts and are on the same wave are very few.”
“The cooperation with Ara was exclusive and out of pattern. Usually everything ends in war with the authors,” Newmag founder and CEO Artak Alexanyan laughs.
Photo: Mediamax
“The book was published because it was the documentation of important events of 30-year old history of independent Armenia.
Photo: Mediamax
First, I decided to publish the book because it was really a unique story. Secondly, because it was written in the first person – the person who organized and saw everything. Thirdly, because our reality lacks successful stories. And the forth and the most important – when we were organizing the philosophy of promoting the book, we were doing it as a success story.
Artak Alexanyan
But now, I understand that it was unfair toward the book as it narrowed the objective very much. In reality, it is a part of our country’s history. All more or less known people who visited Armenia over the past 30 years came because they pitied us and wanted to help. While in this case for the first time world famous stars arrived because they were interested in Armenia due to Ara’s efforts,” Artak Alexanyan says.
Photo: Mediamax
Lawyer and artist Narek Van Ashughatoyan who anchored the presentation shared his impressions. He said he experienced different emotions while reading the book – he cried, laughed, became serious. But the most important is that Ara Tadevosyan presented in the book the classic model of “soft power.”
Photo: Mediamax
“It is a story how an enthusiastic person, with his enthusiasm, warmth, love thinks of inviting important people of great reputation and present our country in a way to touch their hearts with this warmth. And they, in fact, involuntarily became the “ambassadors” of our country. During many different occasions these people spoke about our country, the impressions they got here.”
Gohar GasparyanPhoto: Mediamax
“It is with these steps that the image of our nation, state, country grows, and we are becoming more presentable. It is not only diplomatic, “suit and tie” relations that solve this issue, but there are also such personal relations filled with warmth which sometimes solve even greater issues than official meetings and visits,” Narek Van Ashughatoyan notes.
Photo: Mediamax
The book is in Armenian, but its main hero Ian Gillan read it in English translation and shared his impressions:
“It is a lovely personal journey through music, history, passion and politics, describing the ups-and-downs whilst overcoming the bureaucratic frustrations. And now we all understand the value of mulberry vodka, eh?!”.
Lusine Gharibyan
Photos: Elen Gasparyan
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