Rock 'n India

The first Rock 'n India festival was held on 14 March 2008. It included Indian bands such as Keinan and Sai, in addition to heavy metal headliners such as Megadeth and Machine Head. Over 14,700 people attended, exceeding expectations.{{Citation needed|date=December 2013}} The festival used two separate stages: "Stage A," the main stage for the headline acts, and the smaller "Stage B" for the opening bands. The headlining act by Megadeth was criticised for poor sound quality.{{Citation needed|date=October 2013}} Rock 'n India was the first Indian rock festival to have an air guitar contest podium.

Iron Maiden headlined the second festival on 15 February 2009, as part of the last leg of their Somewhere Back in Time World Tour. This was the band's third visit to the subcontinent, having held the first concert of this tour, as well as a performance on the last leg of their A Matter of Life and Death Tour, in Bangalore. The 2009 festival had attractions similar to those of the previous year, with the addition of a tattoo bar and an exhibition by the Force India Formula 1 team. The festival promoter was criticised for not making tickets available outside of Bangalore, which was cited as a major cause for the event's low ticket sales compared to its predecessor.{{Citation needed|date=December 2013}} Only an estimated 17,000 people attended. To compound the issues, the festival promoters were unable to obtain licenses for pyrotechnics and smoke machines.

The headliners for Rock 'n India 2010 were the Backstreet Boys, Richard Marx, Jayce Lewis, Prime Circle."[http://www.indiecision.com/2010/01/26/rock-in-india-acts-finally-confirmed/ Rock In India Acts (Finally) Confirmed]". www.indiecision.com, 26 January 2010. Retrieved on 1 February 2010.

Rock 'n India 2011 took place in Bangalore on 30 October{{cite news|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report_heavy-metal-heaven-as-heads-bang-in-bangalore_1605359 |title=Heavy metal heaven as heads bang in Bangalore |work=DNA |date=31 October 2011}} and was headlined by Metallica,{{Cite web| url=http://www.metallica.com/news/20110501_news.asp | title=Uncharted Territory | accessdate=2011-06-12 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130101170603/http://www.metallica.com/news/20110501_news.asp | archive-date=1 January 2013 | df=dmy-all}} supported by Biffy Clyro. This was Metallica's first performance in India. The Indian bands Guillotine and Inner Sanctum also performed. Attendance for the event was reported at around 29,000.{{cite web |url=http://www.bangaloremirror.com/index.aspx?page=article§id=10&contentid=2011110120111101005500501443879bb |title=Rude shock for Metallica fans, News - City - Bangalore Mirror, Bangalore Mirror |website=www.bangaloremirror.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111101193533/http://www.bangaloremirror.com/index.aspx?page=article§id=10&contentid=2011110120111101005500501443879bb |archive-date=2011-11-01}} Earlier it had been reported that the 2011 Rock 'n India would be cancelled.

The 2012 festival was a low-key affair which featured Slayer performing on 20 October, and Carlos Santana on 26 October. Each concert only garnered a few thousand people. This edition would turn out to be the last as major sponsor pullouts and declining attendance figures resulted in the festival being retired; the Rock 'n India name has been retired according to the sponsors.

{{reflist}}

[http://metalbase.in/no-rock-n-india-in-2013-says-dna/ No Rock N’ India in 2013 says DNA.]

1. [http://dnanetworks.com/rock-n-india/ DNA Networks webpage for Rock 'N India]
2. {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20111108090433/http://www.efi-news.com/2011/10/candid-chat-with-bruce-lee-mani.html Interview of Bruce Lee Mani of Thermal and A Quarter – EF News International]}}
3. [http://www.myspace.com/brandonashleyandthesilverbugs Brandon Ashley and The SilverBugs on MySpace Music - Free Streaming MP3s, Pictures & Music Downloads]
4. [http://www.myspace.com/cyanideserenity CYANIDE SERENITY | Listen and Stream Free Music, Albums, New Releases, Photos, Videos]
5. [https://web.archive.org/web/20130820035841/http://www.poetsofthefall.com/tourdates/ Poets of the Fall - Official Website - Tour Dates]

Category:Rock festivals in India