Indus Creed Guitarist Mahesh Tinaikar Passes Away In Mumbai

Mahesh Tinaikar, the Mumbai-based guitarist best known as the lead guitarist of Indian rock band Indus Creed, has died following a suspected heart attack. His band members confirmed the news to Rolling Stone India.

Tinaikar was a guitarist and music teacher who played a significant role in shaping India’s rock music scene. In 1984, he co-founded Rock Machine, drawing inspiration from international rock acts such as Deep Purple and The Who.

The band released its debut album, Rock ‘n’ Roll Renegade, in 1988, featuring tracks such as “Top of the Rock” and the title song. It followed this with The Second Coming in 1990, further establishing its presence in the Indian rock landscape.

Rock Machine later changed its name to Indus Creed, marking a new chapter in its musical journey. In 1995, the band released its self-titled album, which featured a mix of hard-hitting rock and introspective songwriting. Tracks such as “Trapped” and “Pretty Child” became notable entries in its catalogue.

As a guitarist and educator, Tinaikar remained closely associated with the evolution of Indian rock music, contributing to a musical legacy that helped bring the genre to a wider audience in the country.

His death marks a loss for the Indian rock community, particularly for fans of Indus Creed and the musicians who grew up listening to the band’s work.