Indian rock guitarist Mahesh Tinaikar, co-founder of the bands Rock Machine and later Indus Creed, dies at 63. Reports say he passes away on Thursday following a heart attack. Tributes follow from fellow musicians and prominent artists.
Tinaikar is described across outlets as a key figure in India’s rock scene. Rock Machine forms in 1984 in Mumbai and later becomes Indus Creed in the 1990s. The band is credited with popularizing songs such as “Pretty Child” and “Trapped,” and with gaining wider recognition for its music, including appearing on MTV Asia and winning an Asia-wide MTV Viewers’ Choice award for “Pretty Child.”
Outlets also highlight Tinaikar’s career beyond performing. He works as a songwriter and composer and later takes up music education, including teaching at the True School of Music in Mumbai. The reporting notes that fellow guitarist Allan Ao confirms the death, while artists including Vishal Dadlani acknowledge Tinaikar’s influence and legacy in public tributes.
