Artist
The Raptures
Tehran band formed in early 1960s by Kourosh Yaghmaei, named after The Ventures. The 1967 lineup featured Yaghmaei on lead vocal and guitar, Bahram Saeedi on electric guitar, Kamran Khasheh on organ, Jahangir on bass, Viguen on drums. Covered Beatles, Kinks, Monkees when equipment was so scarce their bass player used the fifth and sixth strings of an electric guitar. Performed in the 1965 Golden Microphone contest. "They began to play surf rock when Kourosh was studying sociology in Iran National University," as one account noted. Established proto-scene foundations before the psychedelic explosion, proving young Iranians could play western rock even in isolation.