Mahesh Tinaikar death: The Indian rock legend who shared the stage with Bon Jovi and Slash

Mahesh Tinaikar, the celebrated guitarist of Indus Creed, helped take Indian rock music beyond domestic stages, performing alongside international acts such as Bon Jovi, Slash, Europe and Uriah Heep. The musician, who died aged 63 reportedly following a heart attack, was part of a generation that helped establish India’s rock movement through original compositions and ambitious live performances. His death has prompted tributes from musicians, including Farhan Akhtar and Vishal Dadlani, who remembered Tinaikar as a pioneering figure whose influence extended across generations of Indian rock artists.

Mahesh Tinaikar’s Bon Jovi and Slash connection

Indus Creed counted its performances alongside international rock acts among its biggest career milestones. In a response to a question about the band’s greatest achievements, the group recalled playing alongside Europe, Bon Jovi, Uriah Heep and Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash before an audience of more than 40,000 people.

The band also took pride in releasing four albums of original music. Rather than relying on covers, its members wanted to create songs that reflected their own musical identity and the passion behind their work.


Indus Creed also opened for Bon Jovi during the latter’s performance in India. The group became the only Indian band to feature on MTV Unplugged, adding another milestone to its journey.

How Rock Machine became Indus Creed

The band’s roots go back to 1984, when Uday Benegal joined a young campus rock group called Rock Machine. The outfit developed its identity over the years and adopted the name Indus Creed in 1993. The group became known for its original songs, including Pretty Child and Trapped. It also explored a distinctive blend of rock and Indian musical influences through Alms for Shanti, featuring tracks such as Superbol and Kashmakash.

Indus Creed helped introduce Hindustani classical elements into rock music. Pretty Child was described as the first Indian rock song to feature a tabla, bringing traditional instrumentation into a genre largely associated with Western sounds.

The band also established several milestones, including producing music videos, undertaking what was described as the first international tour by an Indian rock band, and helping expand the possibilities of Indian rock.

Uday Benegal on the band’s reunion

Indus Creed disbanded in 1999, but the prospect of returning to the stage remained appealing to its members. As per reports by Hindustan Times, Benegal recalled that the band had always considered getting back together if an opportunity arose. The attraction of performing live ultimately proved difficult to resist. Benegal also reflected on the band’s influence on the fusion music scene. He recalled guitarist Jayesh Gandhi, the band’s original lead guitarist, sometimes hearing an average fusion performance and thinking about what their own experiments had helped start.

Benegal said the group believed Indian instruments brought considerable value to its music at the time, explaining why the musicians had incorporated them into their compositions.

Farhan Akhtar and Vishal Dadlani pay tribute

Tinaikar’s death prompted an emotional response from actor, filmmaker and musician Farhan Akhtar. Sharing a monochrome photograph of the guitarist performing on his Instagram Story, Akhtar paid tribute with the message, “RIP brother”, alongside the hashtag #maheshtinaikar.

Singer and composer Vishal Dadlani also mourned the loss, calling Tinaikar a true legend. In his tribute, Dadlani said generations of rock musicians owed Rock Machine a debt of gratitude for helping create a path that others could follow. Dadlani described Tinaikar as an inspiring, pioneering musician who had consistently stood on the right side of things. He also recalled the opportunity to perform with Indus Creed and publicly thank the band for its contribution.

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Reflecting on the loss, Dadlani said he could barely imagine what Tinaikar’s bandmates and close associates, including Uday Benegal, Mark Selwyn, Zubin Balaporia, Jayesh Gandhi, Shantanu Hudlikar and Farhad Wadia, must be feeling. He extended his condolences to Tinaikar’s family and the wider music community.