A Trailblazer Who Filled Indian Stadiums
Mahesh Tinaikar, the founding guitarist of pioneering Indian rock band Indus Creed, died in Mumbai at the age of 63. His bandmates confirmed to music publications that the veteran musician passed away following a suspected heart attack. In the late 1980s, an homegrown Indian rock band filling a massive sports stadium seemed almost unthinkable. Tinaikar helped turn that dream into reality through his blazing guitar work and relentless dedication to original music. Tributes poured in quickly from across the Indian independent and film music communities on Friday morning. Pentagram frontman and Bollywood composer Vishal Dadlani hailed Tinaikar as a true legend who lit the path for others. Dadlani noted that every rock musician in India owes Rock Machine and Indus Creed an immense debt of gratitude.
From Rock Machine To Indus Creed
Raised on classic British rock acts like Deep Purple and The Who, Tinaikar co-founded Rock Machine in 1984. He teamed up with vocalist Uday Benegal, keyboardist Zubin Balaporia, Mark Selwyn, Jayesh Gandhi, and drummer Mark Menezes. The band toured across India tirelessly and released India's first major English rock album, *Rock ’n’ Roll Renegade*, in 1988. By 1989, Tinaikar proudly told international reporters that their concert crowds had grown from 800 fans to 10,000. Following their 1990 album *The Second Coming*, the band renamed themselves Indus Creed and wove traditional Indian instruments into their sound. Their 1993 breakout single "Fireflies" and their 1995 self-titled album defined an entire generation of Indian youth culture. Tracks like "Trapped" and "Pretty Child" earned international music video rotation before the group disbanded in the late 1990s.
A Lifelong Dedication To The Guitar
Tinaikar launched a vibrant second act in 2009 by forming the acoustic outfit Whirling Kalapas with Benegal and Sankarshan Kini. A year later, Indus Creed reunited with drummer Jai Row Kavi and bassist Rushad Mistry to record their 2012 album *Evolve*. Nearly four decades after first plugging in his amplifier, Tinaikar remained a beloved mentor, collaborator, and guitar hero. Read tributes and stories celebrating the artists who shaped modern music and culture. Visit The WAU for more entertainment features.
Share This Post
