Rock Machine's first made their mark by bucking the cover-band trend in India. They are considered one of the principal forces responsible for overcoming the bias against original music by bands in India. Based in Bombay (now known as Mumbai), Rock Machine was one of the first Indian rock bands to develop an extensive fan base across the country, a region they toured relentlessly.
In 1988, the band released "Rock 'n' Roll Renegade", India's first all-original rock album. The album was hugely successful among Indian rock fans and Rock Machine's touring made them very popular among college audiences. The band stood out for their slick, well-produced and highly dynamic live performances.
The early 1990s saw a major shift in the entertainment landscape in India. The arrival of MTV made new American and British music more accessible to Indian rock listeners. Rock Machine became a favorite on MTV when their first video "Top of the Rock" became a spectacular hit. Their Seeking to shed their college-band name and image, as well as mould their sound into a more mature and evolved one, the band decided to change their name—a radical move considering that by this time Rock Machine was the first name on practically every Indian rock fan's lips.
Indus Creed came into existence in 1993. Gone were the 80s-style clothes and songs. The band adopted a name that signalled a more global and hip image. Their sound changed, with the band incorporating softer, more acoustic instruments, including a tabla player. Their third album, titled Indus Creed, was promoted extensively on MTV and Channel V, which gave heavy airplay to each of their artistically shot videos, including "Pretty Child", "Trapped" and "Sleep". "Pretty Child" created history by winning an Asia-wide MTV Video Music Award (Asian Viewer's Choice) in 1994. Indus Creed had truly arrived.
Other notable achievements of the pioneering band included touring the USSR, the UK and the Middle East; playing to over 50,000 people in Bombay when they opened for Bon Jovi; and being invited to jam onstage with GN'R guitar player Slash for MTV India's launch in Bangalore.
Mark Menezes left the band in 1992 and was replaced by Bobby Duggal, who left in 1995 and was replaced by Adrian Fernandes. Indus Creed disbanded in 1999, when Uday Benegal and Jayesh Gandhi moved to New York City with their new Indo-rock band Alms For Shanti. Alms For Shanti released two albums—the first one was self-titled; the follow-up, a Hindi-language version called "Kashmakash".
Uday Benegal moved back to Bombay in 2008. He regrouped with Mahesh Tinaikar and Zubin Balaporia in 2010 to relaunch Indus Creed along with two new recruits—Rushad Mistry (bass) and Jai Row Kavi (drums). The reunion was met by fans and the media with massive enthusiasm, which was quickly followed by a tour called "The Reboot Tour."
Indus Creed are currently working on a new album which they plan to release sometime in 2011.
Best Friend
Indus Creed Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
"you're gonna waste away
if you don't get your fill
won't mince my words
you need a change from beat-a-root
find a good woman, anything more substantial
You need to sink your teeth right in"
There she was, pretty as a pitcher
quench my thirst, I love this see food diet
almond eyes, love me tenderloin
and lips that barely have to move
to scream let's try it
She was my best friend
how could i've had her for dinner
she was my best friend
how could i've had her for dinner
till she said, turn on the hear until i simmer
When it was time to make my move
she sighed, "slow down boy, don't rush in
ease into my groove"
slid out of her clothes, smiled a bon appetit
right in the raw, good enough to eat
Condensed chocolate cup creamed
as i reached above a spare rib
the cauldron boiled over
now my favourite part
marinated, unconsummated, i popped her in
slammed on the lid
tonight baby, its a-la-carte
She was my best friend
how could i've had her for dinner
she was my best friend
how could i've had her for dinner
till she said......
My very best friend
how could i've had her for dinner
oh my best friend
how could i've had her for dinner
till she said, "right upto boil until i simmer"
The lyrics of Indus Creed's song 'Best Friend' are somewhat cryptic and suggest a macabre tale of cannibalism. The song seems to be narrated from the perspective of a person who is advised by a friend to "sink your teeth right in" and "find a good woman, anything more substantial". The singer then meets a woman who is "pretty as a pitcher" and describes her using food-related metaphors that suggest a strong desire for her. However, the chorus then takes a dark turn when the singer realizes that the woman in question was actually his best friend (or possibly metaphorically the female gender as a whole) and wonders, "How could I've had her for dinner?"
The lyrics of the song seem to draw a parallel between the singer's romantic/sexual desire for a woman and his eating habits. He describes himself as being on a "see food diet" and refers to the woman's body parts in food-related terms. The chorus suggests a sense of guilt or remorse for having consumed a woman (or women as a whole) in this way, as if he has realized too late the value of what he had in his possession. The final line, "right up to boil until I simmer", could be interpreted as a metaphor for the moment when desire becomes overwhelming and explodes into action, leading to regret.
Line by Line Meaning
Staring at the ceiling from that couch, he said
He was sitting on the couch and looking at the ceiling when he said
"you're gonna waste away
He said that you will become unhealthy and deteriorate
if you don't get your fill
You need to satisfy your hunger and desires
won't mince my words
He won't use polite or vague language
you need a change from beat-a-root
You need something more exciting in life
find a good woman, anything more substantial
Find a woman who is meaningful and fulfilling
You need to sink your teeth right in"
You need to fully embrace life
There she was, pretty as a pitcher
He saw a woman who was attractive
quench my thirst, I love this see food diet
He is finding satisfaction in indulging in pleasurable experiences
almond eyes, love me tenderloin
He is admiring her features and comparing her to food
and lips that barely have to move
Her lips are so seductive that she doesn't need to say much to arouse him
to scream let's try it
She is silently communicating to him that she wants to have sex
She was my best friend
The woman was a good friend of his
how could i've had her for dinner
He regrets eating her
till she said, turn on the hear until i simmer
She instructs him on how to cook her
When it was time to make my move
When he decided to have sex with her
she sighed, "slow down boy, don't rush in
She warns him to take things slow
ease into my groove"
She wants him to match her pace
slid out of her clothes, smiled a bon appetit
She undressed and invited him to have sex with her
right in the raw, good enough to eat
She was naked and physically attractive
Condensed chocolate cup creamed
He enjoyed having sex with her
as i reached above a spare rib
He was metaphorically reaching in to grab a piece of her
the cauldron boiled over
Things got out of control
now my favourite part
He enjoys this part of the experience
marinated, unconsummated, i popped her in
He had foreplay with her before having sex
slammed on the lid
He is closing himself down emotionally
tonight baby, its a-la-carte
He was only interested in sex and not a relationship
My very best friend
He has a deeper connection with her than just sex
oh my best friend
He loves and cares for her
till she said, "right upto boil until i simmer"
She has control over the situation and gives him instructions
Contributed by Samantha N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.