He has seen the Indian Rock Music industry more closely than anybody else. He has been in the industry of Indian Rock music much more than many of the band groups playing around. And yet he cares less than how profitable the industry has become over the years. He is Amit Saigal, the editor of Rock Street Journal.

The first issue of RSJ was born in the family printing press of Mr. Saigal and was a collection of his own articles. Out of the 2500 copies printed he managed to sell only 6 subscriptions in the college festivals of LSR, BITS Pilani etc. The rest was distributed for free among close circle of people who are interested in Rock Music. This was way back in 1993. But time has changed for this man today and also for Rock Street Journal, the most popular magazine in its section. But one thing that hasn’t changed is his passion. Passion for music, passion to stay involved. Today the RSJ website is a comprehensive database of nearly all the band groups in the subcontinent.

The story of RSJ is no less thrilling than the journey of a rock band. The man behind it all speaks to Sudipta Sengupta, Citizen Journalist.

 

You want a scientific equation to “exactly define rock”? The difference between Metal, Jazz and Death Metal “ etc “ could be the spelling perhaps.

 

If you really do what you want to do, or get inspired to do, then you don’t think about “mass appeal” or success or failure. You just follow a mad inner urge and do your thing.

 

Cricket is not a game of Indian origin. Why the hell do so many Indians play it?

 

We have not had any members in a band in India named John, Ringo, Paul & George. That’s why.

 

By and large, the form is the same, though some bands like Mrigya, Orange Street, Advaita to name a few have been creating a sound that is unique, its identity and different from the general Indian rock scene.

 

 

Rock & Jazz musicians form a significant part of Bollywood already. Look at Shankar, Loy, Ehsaan or Paresh & Naresh Kamath, Louis Banks, Carl Peters, Ranjit Barrot, KK, Vishal Dadlani… these are just a few names that are making Bollywood music for a living.

 

In only that they sing in easy urdu, which is basically integrated into the Indian mainstream anyway.

 

Talk sense man!