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As the legendary band Indus Creed gears up to perform at the 30th edition of Mahindra Independence Rock, lead vocalist Uday Benegal reflects on their journey from Rock Machine in the 80s to the pioneers they are today.
Indus Creed, India’s pioneering rock band, returns to the stage at Mahindra Independence Rock’s 30th edition.
With the 30th edition of Mahindra Independence Rock on the horizon, legendary Indian rock band Indus Creed is ready to once again rock the stage and remind fans why they’re considered pioneers of the country’s rock scene. From their roots as Rock Machine in the 80s to their reformation in 2010, Indus Creed has lived through—and helped shape—the evolution of Indian rock. As they gear up for this milestone event, lead vocalist Uday Benegal reflects on the enduring appeal of rock music, the legacy of festivals like Independence Rock, and how the band has navigated changes in the music industry without losing their signature energy.
In this exclusive interview with News18 Showsha, Benegal shares how Indus Creed has adapted from small club gigs to massive festivals, the challenges and joys of reuniting after years apart, and why songs like “Top of the Rock” continue to resonate with new generations. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to their music, Indus Creed’s story is a testament to passion, resilience, and the raw power of rock ‘n’ roll. As they step back onto the Independence Rock stage, they’re not just performing; they’re celebrating a legacy that’s as alive and electric as ever.
Here are the excerpts:
Q: As a band that has witnessed the rise of India’s rock scene firsthand, what significance does the 30th edition of Independence Rock hold for Indus Creed?
Uday Benegal: Mahindra Independence Rock’s 30th edition speaks for the audience’s enduring and undying love for rock music. While the versions of rock music cover a wide swathe of styles, the fundamental pillars of guitars, bass, drums, keyboards, and searing vocals continue to hold up the fort of rock ’n’ roll.
Q: How do you see the role of festivals like Mahindra Independence Rock in shaping the future of Indian rock music?
Uday Benegal: Festivals like Mahindra Independence Rock are vital in keeping alive not just the spirit of rock but the very lifeblood of independent music in India. These festivals provide a platform for bands to showcase their work, connect with fans, and cultivate a live music culture, which is essential for the growth of any music scene. For Indian rock, events like Independence Rock are crucial because they give bands visibility and offer fans a space to come together and celebrate the genre.
Q: Indus Creed has a rich history, from your days as Rock Machine in the 80s to the reformation in 2010. How would you describe the evolution of the band’s sound over these decades?
Uday Benegal: I wouldn’t describe it because the music speaks its own language. The best way to understand the evolution of any band is to listen to its music in chronological order. I recommend doing that with our albums too if one truly wants to understand the trajectory and journey of our music. Each album represents a phase of who we were, what we were feeling, and what influenced us at that moment.
Q: What inspired you to regroup Indus Creed after the 1997 split, and how has the journey been since your reunion in 2010?
Uday Benegal: I had moved to the US in 1999 and spent nine years there before unexpectedly returning to live in Bombay in 2008. When I got back, I naturally reached out to my Indus Creed brothers, as I always did during my annual visits to the motherland. This time, though, the conversation went more from, “What have you been up to?” to, “Now that you’re here, let’s start to make some noise together again.” 2010 marked the commencement of some of the most fun we’d had in a long time.
Q: Your songs like “Top of the Rock” and “Pretty Child” remain iconic in Indian rock. What do you think gives these tracks their enduring appeal?
Uday Benegal: Now that’s a question for the audience. Bands can at best write, record, and perform songs that come to them from a feeling of love and authenticity. Then you hope that other people dig it too. I think what has made songs like “Top of the Rock” and “Pretty Child” stick around is that they were created with sincerity, and that resonates. But ultimately, it’s the listeners who make a song endure.
Q: When Indus Creed disbanded in the late 90s, you and Jayesh Gandhi moved to New York with Alms for Shanti. How did that experience abroad shape the music of Indus Creed when you reunited?
Uday Benegal: It’s not just that experience that informed Indus Creed’s second avatar. Every experience a musician has plays a role in the way that musician feels, thinks, works, and creates. The experiences I had with my brother Jayesh Gandhi in Alms for Shanti worked their way into my soul and psyche, inevitably affecting the music we created afterward. Our album Evolve tells the story best. That album carries echoes of those experiences and perspectives we gained abroad.
Q: The Indian music industry has changed significantly since your early days. How do you navigate these changes, and what challenges do you face as a veteran rock band in the current scene?
Uday Benegal: The fundamentals of making music remain eternal—experience life, go within, observe without, reach deep inside, and express yourself in the way that your own voice (which could also be an instrument) feels compelled to. The mechanics are just that—systems to harness and exploit to further the ends of creating and distributing your creations. The post-internet world launched a dramatic shift in the mechanics; we just tried to learn those new systems and utilize them as effectively as we could to get the music out. With digital platforms, social media, and streaming services, the ways to reach audiences have multiplied, but so have the challenges, especially when it comes to standing out.
Q: Your 2012 album Evolve was your first in 17 years. What was the creative process like after such a long hiatus, and how did it differ from your previous albums?
Uday Benegal: It differed quite a bit in that the songs on the earlier three albums—two under the name Rock Machine and one as Indus Creed—featured a number of songwriters. For Evolve, I became the principal songwriter. I would come up with songs and take them to the band to build on them and co-create them into the sound that we were becoming. I co-wrote a couple with the band and with Mahesh. Evolve also had two new, very young members—the amazing Jai Row Kavi on drums and the wonderful bassist Rushad Mistry—who brought in a whole new range of influences and styles that really blended beautifully with the styles that Mahesh Tinaikar, Zubin Balaporia, and I had honed together over the years. Those lads really uplifted our sound in remarkable ways.
Q: The band’s 2010 reunion was a pivotal moment. What brought you all back together, and how did it feel to perform again after over a decade?
Uday Benegal: It felt great! We really never thought we’d ever play together regularly as a band again. The decision to reunite came together quite quickly, actually. I think it was Mahesh who suggested, “Since I had moved back to Bombay, why don’t we get together again?” It was as casual as that. But while the decision to reunite was quick, the logistics took a little while: Zubin was snowed under at the time with some personal stuff, so we needed to gently coax him back to the rehearsal room. Once he agreed, it all just coalesced rapidly. We missed our original bandmates Mark Selwyn, Jayesh Gandhi, and Mark Menezes, but were also very happy to have those two youngbloods in the band.
Q: Evolve marked a new chapter for Indus Creed. How did it feel to win multiple awards at the Jack Daniel’s JD Rock Awards in 2013, and what did that recognition mean for the band?
Uday Benegal: I’ve got to say this about awards: We really don’t take them seriously. Now, that’s not to say that we aren’t grateful that someone thinks we should be heralded and commended for our music. But its real value is in keeping you in the consciousness of the wider public and, therefore, creating potentials to grow your music in bigger ways. When you start to value your creativity by the number of awards you’ve been given, that’s when your real value—your true inner creativity—starts to diminish.
Q: In your post-reunion lineup, you brought in new members like Rushad Mistry and Jai Row Kavi. How have their contributions shaped the band’s music and dynamics?
Uday Benegal: Refer to my earlier response about Evolve. Jai and Rushad brought a fresh perspective and energy to the band, which gave us an edge in creating a modern sound while still honoring our roots. They’re both extraordinary musicians who seamlessly blended their own styles with our established sound.
Q: Indus Creed’s influence on Indian rock is undeniable. How do you see your legacy impacting the newer generation of musicians and bands in the country?
Uday Benegal: “Legacy”—now there’s a word that’s as perilous as the trophies you place on your bookshelf for all to see. We began as a bunch of lalloos deeply in love with rock music—filled with wonder and naivety but pigheaded and determined to get onstage and crank it out loud and hard. We may be slightly less lalloo and a teeny bit less naive, but the love and the wonder haven’t gone. We don’t think in terms of legacy; just opportunities to get on stage and play it loud and hard.
Q: As a band that has played both small venues and large festivals like Independence Rock and the South Asian Bands Festival, how do you adapt your performances to different audiences?
Uday Benegal: We don’t! We just play our songs. On a bigger stage, we have more room to move; on smaller ones, we cozy up. The energy is always the same, and we connect with the audience the same way. We’re there to play our music and give our all, no matter the size of the venue.
Q: The 2010 Reboot Tour included performances across the country, from Meghalaya to Delhi. What were some of the most memorable moments from that tour?
Uday Benegal: That was 14 years ago! We’ve played so many gigs over so many years that recalling the best moments is near impossible. But Zubin has the funniest stories to tell—you’ve got to ply him with some tasty single malt first, though. Then prepare to be regaled for the rest of the evening.
Q: Looking back on nearly four decades of music, what do you hope to achieve with Indus Creed in the coming years?
Uday Benegal: More music, plain and simple! We’re here because we love making music, and that’s what we want to keep doing. There’s no end goal other than to keep creating, keep performing, and hopefully continue to connect with both old and new listeners. As long as there’s more to say and sounds to explore, we’ll be here making music.
Q: Can fans expect any new music or collaborations from Indus Creed in the near future?
Uday Benegal: Maybe. Likely. Inevitably. There’s always something brewing, and we’re constantly inspired by what’s around us and what we’re experiencing. So, yes, our fans can expect new material, but we’re not in a rush. We want any new music to come naturally, to resonate with what Indus Creed stands for now.
