The Great Indian Rock Story

Although there is a huge demand for Indian rock; the rock performances are limited to college fests, says Puja Goyal

(c) Puja Goyal

Indian Rock Bands from Moksha and Parikrama to Indus Creed have played in most College Cultural Festivals; this could be owing to the huge fan following; or because every Cul-Fete needs a grand pliable Finale.

Although there is a huge demand for Indian rock in India; the rock performances are limited to College Cultural Festivals. Consumers might enjoy the concert but are very apprehensive about buying Indian Rock music. The audiences still want to listen to covers of Iron Maiden and Metallica.

When Moksha played at St. John's Medical College's "Muse Festival" two years ago; they were bombarded with requests for covers. The crowd got violent when Moksha played originals instead of heeding to their demands. The crowd consisting of college students; medical and all, threw bottles and food on the stage. A drunken student even climbed up the stage and lashed out obscenities (verbally and physically) at Leon Ireland (Late Lead Singer- Moksha) before he was dragged of by security.

The step motherly treatment that Indian Bands are meted with is atrocious. Leon adds, "…as long as recording companies don’t throw their weight behind rock bands, Rock will never attain the status that foreign bands do." Most Indian Rock Band members agree that good marketing by music companies would really help their band morale.

"Marketing could be a possibility, but marketers complain that there is "no demand" and the concert goers do not want to take it further and buy an album", reflects Anish (Music producer- name changed). While Indian Rock is waiting for support, they are making the gravest mistake; playing covers.

Indian concert goers on the other hand mostly want to "have fun". Ritesh (Commerce Student) says "We like to go to concerts to enjoy ourselves and have a blast. If we don't recognize the music we are listening to, then we will not be able to relate to it."

Most concert goers are insatiable audiences. Natasha (Final yr Science Student) elaborates, "Concert going takes a lot of preparation. My friends and I make an attempt to go to all the concerts; they are different experiences. If we know Areosmith or Enrique is coming to town, we listen to, and understand their music properly so we can sing-a-long." It is important then, that the music is available in the market for the audience to get acquainted with.

Most Concert goers get perturbed by Indian bands playing originals because they cannot relate to their music and style; this could be one of the reasons why the band is not able to promote its own music and ends up performing covers. Sid adds, "you know what is worse than listening to an Indian Rock Band play original… playing a bad cover of an original we like. That just about kills it!!!"

Indian fans are made of a different mettle compared to their western counterpart. While the western audience is ever-willing; the Indian counterpart is choosy and particular… If the Indian band sold the music they played on the stage; they would be selling covers… why would anyone want to buy a cover when the original is available? On the other hand, if the original was played, no one would buy it anyway because consumers are unfamiliar.

Chitan Kalra of Parikrama leaves us on a more positive note. He believes that there always will be an "audience" for Indian Rock. He says, "You will always find an audience in each and every city u can pin on the map. We can swear by it… and besides, ROCK fans run on dynamos… and we feed off their energy"