Indian rock musicians are clearly a pioneering group. From the days of cassettes and CDs to the days of Youtube and Spotify, these Indian bands have ruled our hearts! Rock bands have long been an integral part of music around the world. Indians followed many western rock bands. Recently rock bands have reached the youth, and now we have many best and top Indian rock bands. Top 10 Famous Rock Bands of India
Some of them have found their way into top rock bands in India and gained international fame. Seeking international exposure and loyalty to the Indian sound, they find unique ways to blend global music with India’s diverse cultures.
Here are the top 10 Indian rock bands:
Table of Contents
Euphoria
Euphoria is one of the top 10 famous rock bands in India. Based in Delhi, Euphoria was formed in 1988 by a medical student and some friends, originally as an English band. It is one of the best-selling bands in India, with over 20 years of tradition. The group has released 7 studio albums and is one of the best-selling artists in India and the fastest-selling group in history.
They released 16 singles using the DIY method and embraced the digital revolution of the music industry. Ten years later, they released the Hindi album “Dhoom” and became the pioneers of Hindi rock and became the most popular video on television screens in that decade.
They were one of the first bands to establish an uncompromisingly independent identity to the classical and cinematic genres that are the mainstays of Indian music in general. All of Euphoria’s songs have always appealed to listeners as they deal with themes of love, loss, and other emotions.
They also have a knack for longevity, with managing to stay grounded in the music scene and finding the pulse of their listeners. Together with Junoon from Pakistan, they were the first group to appear at the United Nations General Assembly in 2001. In 2011, the group released their fifth studio album titled Item Euphoria also appeared on the Indian edition of MTV Unplugged the same year, performing the song “ITEM” and “CU. No wonder they are one of the top famous rock bands in India.
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is one of the top 10 famous rock bands of India. They are an Indian rock band formed in New Delhi in 1990 and are widely credited as pioneers of the fusion rock genre in India. The Indian Ocean originally grew out of a musical friendship that began in the 1980s between Asheem Chakravarty, who played table and drums, and Susmit Sen, who played guitar.
Lately, they’ve also been working on offbeat and eclectic tracks like ‘s “Tandanu” from their 2014 album of the same name. The album shows them as the most versatile and virtuosic. It features lyrics in five languages and Indian instruments such as tabla, kanjira, and a unique Indian slide guitar.
They are also part of the world’s first music personalization initiative, where DRP is one of five featured artists. In the 2014 “Top 25 Indian Rock Songs of the Past 25 Years” list, “Rolling Stone India” included two songs, Ma Rewa and Kandisa, from the album Kandisa. Moreover, they are one of the top famous rock bands in India.
Motherjane
Motherjane is one of the top famous rock bands in India. The band consists of John Thomas (drums), Clyde Rozario (bass), Niranj Suresh (vocals), and Anubhav Langthasa (guitar). This band from Kochi was first formed in 1996, performed at university festivals, and played at the local restaurant The Ancient Mariner.
They continue to be one of the best bands in the Indian rock scene. They have released a total of three studio albums and five singles. The band released its debut album, Insane Biography, in 2002 under Kan & Wants records. The songs “Maja” and “Soul Corporations” had strong Indian musical elements that carried over to later albums.
Since their inception, genres such as progressive rock and Carnatic music have influenced their music. The sound they are famous for combines progressive rock and English lyrics with Carnatic rhythms and melodies like “Fields of Sound”. The Indian influence is most evident in the Baiju Dharmajana guitar, which flexes and moves to create the sound of Indian strings.
Vivek Thomas’s voice also refers to Indian classical singers. The melodies are often indecisive in character, evoking alternately piercing, rebellious and daring moods. Now with some new members, Motherjane leans towards post-rock and folk influences. Over the years, the bands have continued to being on top in India.
Silk Route
Silk Route is one of the top famous rock bands of India. It was a soulful trio of musicians with impeccable songwriting and pleasing tones. The group is highly regarded for the song Dooba-Dooba from their acclaimed debut album Boondein in 1998.
The band has always given their music a distinct twist, using acoustic guitars, talking drums, and harmonicas, and most notably utilizing the recorder, a 17th-century European folk musical instrument played by Kem Trivedi.
The band broke up in early 2000. They currently have over 55,000 monthly Spotify listeners with Apple Music and editorial Spotify playlists under their name. Overall they are one of the top famous rock bands in India.
When Chai Met Toast
Ever-growing Indian band When Chai Met Toast is one of the top famous rock bands in India. Formed in 2016, When Chai Met Toast consists of vocalist Ashwin Gopakumar, guitarist Achyuth Jaigopal, keyboardist Palee Francis and drummer Pai Sailesh, who met in the music circles of Kochi Kerala.
The band has officially released its debut EP, Joy of Little Things, with multilingual lyrics and infectious choruses. Over the next year, they created the hit “Khoj ” from their 2018 breakout sophomore album Believe, which was acclaimed by both critics and audiences.
They continued to pioneer the sound with an eclectic yet accessible brand of pop music that made them festival favorites nationwide. The collective grew quickly, and their energetic live performances drew crowds around the world.
The follow-up to the two EPs, the band’s debut album When We Feel Young features electric guitars, synths, and pop while retaining some of their earlier English folk sounds. That’s why they are one of the top famous rock bands in India.
Parvaaz
Parvaaz is one of the top 10 famous rock bands in India. It is an Indian contemporary music group whose four members have absorbed various influences from international progressive/psychedelic rock, but their expression itself has roots that make their sound unique.
The current line-up (as of 2021) consists of Khalid Ahamed (vocals), Fidel Dsouza (bass), Bharath Kashyap (lead guitar), and Sachin Banandur (drums and percussion). They mainly sing in Kashmiri and Urdu, and their background reflects the diversity they come from.
Their debut album Baran was released in August 2014 with eight tracks. Their second single, Khufiya Dastaan, was released in 2013. Parvaaz has over 45,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, and Kun is her latest album, released last year.
Parvaaz graced the cover of Rolling Stone India in the May 2018 issue stating, “It is undeniable that Parvaaz holds an unprecedented place in Indian independent music. Their music is unique, specific and cinematic, and no other band is quite like them. No doubt, they are one of the top 10 famous rock bands in India.
Parikrama
Parikrama is one of the top 10 famous rock bands in India. The band has been from Delhi, India, since 1991. The band is considered one of the biggest rock bands in Asia. They have several live performances and original songs to their name. “But It Rained” is one of their most famous songs dedicated to the kidnappings that took place in the Kashmir valley in the 90s.
The band often combines Indian classical musical instruments such as the mridangam, tabla, and flute with conventional rock instruments such as the guitar, drums, and keyboards. Parikrama toured internationally with Iron Maiden in 2007 and played at the Download Festival in England.
Known for their energetic live performances, the band has released numerous singles throughout their three-year career. They had millions of downloads from their website and other related sites. In 2001 they released a free media CD featuring their singles and music videos.
In 2007, the band garnered attention when the legendary metal band Iron Maiden helped the band open up to them. This is a historic occasion for India’s burgeoning rock and metal scene, as it will be the first time an Indian rock band has performed at a major music festival outside of India. No wonder they are one of the top famous rock bands in India.
Indus Creed
Indus Creed is one of the top famous rock bands in India. It is an Indian rock band from Mumbai. The band formed in 1984 as Rock Machine and changed its name in 1993. In 1993, Rock Machine changed its name to Indus Creed. They began experimenting with Indian instruments such as the tabla and sarangi.
They started out as a cover band, playing a mix of traditional rock and hard rock by Thin Lizzy, UFO, The Who, Deep Purple, Van Halen and Rush. Rock Machine was one of the first bands in India to tour extensively around the country, performing at colleges and independent rock festivals.
In 1988, Rock Machine released its first album, Rock ‘n’ Roll Renegade. Hailed as India’s first all-original rock album, it was a huge success. Indus Creed released its first album under a new name in 1995. They split in 1997 to regroup in 2010 with a new lineup.
Indus Creed was the big winner of the 2013 Jack Daniel’s JD Rock Awards at Mehboob Studios in Mumbai, taking home the Best Band, Best Keyboardist and Best Drummer trophies for the album Evolve.
In their 2014 list of “Top 25 Indian Rock Songs of the Last 25 Years”, Rolling Stone India magazine ranked the band’s songs as “Top of the Rock” (1988) and “Pretty Baby” (1990). Moreover, they are one of the top famous rock bands in India.
The Local Train
Local Train is one of the top famous rock bands in India. It is a Delhi-based Indian rock band known for its hard-hitting lyrics and youthful sound. The quartet released their debut album Aalas Ka Pedh in 2015, which became one of the best-selling independent albums of the year.
“Choo Lo” from the album is the most streamed song, with over 7 million streams on Spotify. More than just a band, they convinced teenagers that Indian music is more than Bollywood music.
After its release, their music spread all over the world, especially Chris Hesse, the drummer of ‘Hoobastank’, mixing and mastering your music. Since then, they have performed at several famous music festivals in the country. Overall they are one of the top famous rock bands in India.
Swarathma
Swarathma is one of the top famous rock bands in India. It is an Indian folk fusion band from Bangalore (India), formed in Mysore in 2002. The current line-up consists of Vasu Dixit (vocals and rhythm guitar), KJ Pavan (drums and vocals), Varun Murali (guitar and vocals), Sanjeev Nayak (fiddle and vocals), Jishnu Dasgupta (bass guitar and vocals) and Joel Milan Baptysta. (Drums).
Swarathma is best known for the many, often impromptu collaborations the two go out and perform live. Swarathma has released two full studio albums titled Swarathma (2009) and Topiwalleh (2012), as well as several singles and music videos. They appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine’s Indian edition and in their list of 25 Favorite Indian Bands.
They won the 2009 Jack Daniels Indian Rock Awards for Group, Song, and Album of the Year. The group was nominated in three out of eight categories at the 2008 Jack Daniels Indian Rock Awards, including Best Vocalist, Best Song, and Best Album/EP. Moreover, they are one of the top famous rock bands in India.
Faq relates to the top famous rock bands in India:
Who is the 1st rock band in India?
Moheener Ghoraguli
Who is the best music band in India?
- Euphoria
- Swarathma
- Parvaaz
Who is the king of rock?
Elvis Presley
Who is India’s biggest rockstar?
Indus Creed
Who is the father of Indian rock?
Wakankar, popularly known as Haribhau
Which is India’s biggest rock competition?
Independence Rock
Who is the best male band?
- The Jackson 5
- Backstreet Boys
- Boyz II Men
What is Indian rock music called?
Raga rock
Who is the most successful boy band?
Backstreet Boys
Who is the most famous rock band?
The Beatles
Conclusion
As for the conclusion, these are some of the top 10 rock bands in India. These bands have produced some of the best songs and albums. They were able to connect with the audience with their songs. The bands have tons of fans and listeners, keeping the band on top.
