It was a question waiting to be answered: Are Western artistes really superior to Indians?
This writer doesn’t know if he has found an answer, but the recent spate of “reunions” in the West makes this writer wonder whether retirements are genuine or just a marketing ploy to make money for the retirement years (see Can band reunions be successful?, July 10, 2012).
However, let us discuss the Indian psyche here. I don’t recall a single band or singer ever announcing their retirement. Although there are some who just fade away or, as the case is, should fade away, artistes continue to remain part of the industry, commencing from launching solo albums after whi-ch, if lucky, the Bollywood music industry beckons th-em. But their touring never stops, including performing at private functions...
But a band that made a deserved comeback is Indus Creed, the erstwhile Rock Machine. It seems just like yesterday when this writer heard the band’s self-titled debut album but, alas, it was back in 1994. Cut to 2012, and Indus Creed is back, and how…
But Indus Creed, among Indian bands, is not alone in re-forming. Born in the early ’90s, Mumbai-based Brahma has been one of India’s more prolific metal bands, having released two albums: The World Beyond in 1998 and Reborn in 2003.
Thereafter, members embarked on independent careers following 16 years of being together, re-forming in October 2011 by headlining Independence Rock XXVI at the Chitrakoot Grounds in Mumbai. The band is currently writing songs for Brahma 3, due for release by Universal Music at the end of the year.
Then there is Nandu Bhende, one of the stalwarts of the Indian rock industry and, if one can say so, a founding father, who has sung in various bands of the ’70s such as Velvette Fogg, and Atomic Forest.
Nandu remains firmly entrenched in music and runs his own recording studio in Mumbai, InSync, while providing support to his son, Akshay, who is just embarking into the world of music. “It would be a pleasure for me to revive my bands of the past,” says Nandu, “but everybody seems to be looking at me for leadership.”
“I don’t mind discussing a reunion,” Nandu adds, “but I only want to follow, if someone else takes the initiative.”
He is clear, though, that he does want to continue doing what he knows best and, that is, to sing. In fact, this writer was in his school days when he first heard Nandu as part of Atomic Forest, belting out, among other rock classics, the Moody Blues’ Nights in White Satin. If a re-formation did become a reality, Nandu would truly teach the current generation of rockers about the genesis — and the true meaning — of India’s very own rock and roll.
Similarly, singer, record label veteran, and another of the founding fathers of Indian rock, Bashir Sheikh, cherishes the thought of re-forming his band from the past, The Savages. For the trivia-minded, their name arrives from an instrumental performed by Cliff Richard’s backing band, The Shadows. The Savages, formed in 1967 by Bashir Sheikh, eventually went beyond playing cover versions when they started writing their own material, and began participating in pan-India music contests.
The most consistent and well known line up of the band featured Bashir Sheikh (drums and vocals), Ralph Pais (bass guitar), Hemant Rao (lead guitar), and Prabhakar Mundkur (keyboards and vocals), all of whom got together at Hemant’s daughter’s wedding on December 28, 2010 in Dubai, and performed rock classics of yesteryear then. This, however, was the second time that the Savages reunited following a performance at Mumbai’s then Not Just Jazz By The Bay in 2008, which Bashir reminisces “went down a storm”.
Bashir looks forward to another opportunity of re-forming the Savages, but regrets that it will never be the same with guitarist Hemant passing away last year due to cancer. But Bashir is not going to wait for the re-formation of the remaining members to happen forever, although, in the heart of hearts, he wants it to. In the meantime, Bashir continues to pursue his passion for music, preparing for the re-release of an album recorded 25 years ago, Golden Memories.
Against all odds, Indian musicians still want to make an effort for their talent to be heard and, be it as a new initiative or as a comeback/reunion, Indus Creed and, since, Brahma appear to be leading the way!
The writer has been part of the media and entertainment business for over 23 years, still continues to pursue his hobby, and earns an income out of it