Rock & Roll 500: #280 Bob Seger – Katmandu
Bob Seger in London at the start of a British tour with his group, the Silver Bullet Band, 12th October 1977.
Kathmandu is the capital of Nepal. In the ’60s, as many Americans were searching for enlightenment, the city was seen as a panacea for the ills of Western culture. A remote and exotic location, it was also seen as the ultimate getaway, which is how Seger used it in this song.
Seger took a humorous tone, singing about his desire to disappear for a while after dealing with constant touring and record company politics. For him, Katmandu is used to represent a place far away where no one will bother you.
Listen to the “Rock & Roll 500”, this Memorial Day Weekend on 94.7. WCSX to hear this song and 499 others that have stood the test of time.