What wouldn’t one give to see Led Zeppelin, The Police or Pink Floyd reunite? For Pink Floyd, of course, it would require a wakening from the dead. And if one is talking about bands reuniting, after defying death, fans would like to see The Beatles please! From those who are still living, it would be good to see Sting patch things up with The Police.
Closer home, the reunion of — what is dubbed as — India’s premier rock band, Indus Creed, was received with great enthusiasm.
Subir Mehta, of Indian band Parikrama, says enthusiastically, “Their reunion is such good news to rock aficionados like me.” Indus Creed that started out as Rock Machine in the 80s, broke up and re-formed in 1993 under their current name. Band members Mahesh Tinaikar, Zubin Balaporia and Uday Benegal, pursued solo music careers after Mark Menezes left the band. The band recently began their second innings in Mumbai with new members Jai Row Kavi and Rushad Mistry.
Can a band rekindle their chemistry and make magic in their second innings? Indus Creed that broke up because of the dismal rock scene in the country is upbeat. Front man Uday Benegal is optimistic. “The band came together when all of us were very young. Bonds that are formed at a young age seldom break. All of us are good friends and there is a comfort level we enjoy,” says Uday.
Singer Anaida says, “Musicians make music in a certain time and space that is harmonious. People change with time and their sound evolves. It’s not always easy to bring back that old harmony.” The singer, who sees The Eagles as a reunion that worked, says, “The best of bands are the ones that have stuck together despite the odds.” The Eagles, who broke up in 1980, reunited in 1994 and have toured intermittently ever since.
Well, not all bands have it that good. The Police were never able to reunite because Sting and drummer Stewart Copeland were never able to bury the hatchet. Neither were bassist John Paul Jones and the rest of Led Zeppelin able to ever work things out. As a result, the world may well be deprived of greatness.
Subir, who confesses to wanting to see Pink Floyd back on stage, says, “The concept of a band coming together after a break of 20 years, is not always a sound one. Sometimes everything changes and all you have is a khichdi on your hands. After a ‘break-up’ everyone should just do their own thing.”
Despite all the precedents, Uday Benegal is not just hopeful but is kicking with positivity. “I am not nostalgic about the good old days of yore — when our hair was big and long. Our music now will be more contemporary. But we will retain our essence of high energy rock.”