The Yellow Dogs future in doubt after bandmates’ murders

The surviving members of Iranian rockers The Yellow Dogs are struggling to contemplate a future without their two murdered bandmates, insisting their deaths have left a “gaping hole” in their hearts. Guitarist Soroush Farazmand and his brother, drummer Arash, were among the three people killed in the early hours of Monday (11Nov13) in the Brooklyn, New York home they shared after suspect Raefe Ahkbar opened fire before turning his gun on himself.
The third murder victim, musician Ali Eskandarian, was a close friend and occasional collaborator, and now Siavash Karampour and bassist Koory Mirz have poured out their feelings about the shocking shootings.
A statement released by the duo reads: “We’re still here, still breathing but with a gaping hole in our hearts. For now it’s impossible to even imagine a future without our friends, and no explanation can make sense or begin to justify what has happened to our lives. To say we are heartbroken does not come close…
“These are the darkest hours of our lives, we are in shock, awe, blinded with rage and paralyzed with grief.”
The emotional statement follows a brief message Karampour and Mirz had posted on the band’s Facebook.com page on Tuesday (12Nov13), when they thanked fans for their outpouring of support.
The incident, which left another artist wounded, is still under investigation, but police believe Ahkbar embarked on the shooting spree after becoming embroiled in a heated argument over money with a member of his former band, Free Keys.