Mumbai: Mahesh Tinaikar, the influential guitarist and founding member of the pioneering Indian rock band Indus Creed, formerly known as Rock Machine, died Thursday, October 15. He was 63.

Tinaikar, whose powerful guitar playing helped shape India's rock music scene for more than four decades, reportedly died following a heart attack. Fellow guitarist Allan Ao confirmed his death, prompting tributes from musicians and members of the entertainment industry.

A key figure in India's early rock movement, Tinaikar was among the musicians who helped bring Western-style rock music to mainstream audiences at a time when the genre had a relatively limited following in the country.

Born and raised in Mumbai, then known as Bombay, Tinaikar developed an interest in rock music at an early age after being introduced to international bands through records brought home by his elder brother. He began learning the guitar at 18 and went on to establish himself as one of India's most respected rock guitarists.

His musical journey gained momentum in 1984 when he helped establish Rock Machine in Mumbai. The band's original lineup included Tinaikar on lead guitar, Ian Santamaria on vocals, Mark Selwyn on bass, Aftab Currim on rhythm guitar and Suresh Bhadricha on drums.

The group later underwent lineup changes, with vocalist Uday Benegal and keyboardist Zubin Balaporia becoming central figures in its rise.

Rock Machine emerged as one of India's leading rock acts during the 1980s, performing at college festivals and major music events. Its debut album, Rock 'n' Roll Renegade, was released in 1988, followed by The Second Coming in 1990.

The band's popularity grew with songs such as Pretty Child, Top of the Rock and Trapped, which became favourites among Indian rock audiences.

In the early 1990s, Rock Machine adopted the name Indus Creed as the group sought to establish a broader musical identity and reach international audiences.

The band subsequently toured several countries, including the United States, Russia and the United Kingdom, helping introduce Indian rock music to audiences overseas.

Indus Creed released its self-titled album in 1995 and became a prominent name in India's independent music scene before going on a hiatus in 1997.

Following the band's break, Tinaikar continued working as a guitarist, composer and music producer. He collaborated with singer Gary Lawyer and was also associated with Whirling Kalapas, an acoustic music project led by Benegal.

In 2010, Tinaikar reunited with his former bandmates to revive Indus Creed. The group released Evolve in 2012, marking its return to recording after a prolonged break.

The band continued performing at major concerts and festivals, sharing stages with international rock acts, including Santana and Def Leppard.

Beyond his performances, Tinaikar was known for mentoring aspiring guitarists and sharing his knowledge with younger musicians.

His death drew tributes from across the Indian music and film industries, including singer-composer Vishal Dadlani, actor-filmmaker Farhan Akhtar and guitarist Ehsaan Noorani.