Heavy metal music in India
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Heavy metal began in India a little later than it did in the West. The channels of cross-cultural osmosis were slow and adynamic. Millennium holds a special place in Indian musical history as it was the first "Heavy Metal" band to emerge locally, in a society much more alienated by western music and artforms than it is today. Founded in 1988 by lead guitarist Rio Golesorkhi, drummer Nader Mohandese, and vocalist Vehrnon Ibrahim, Millennium became the living symbol of metal music in India gradually spawning many other bands with their grassroots success.
Millennium's "Spirit of Iron Maiden" tribute concert was the largest metal offering of it's type, leading to larger and larger crowds and venues as the phenomenon of "headbanging" spread throughout the college scene. 1990 found some changes in the band's line-up with guitarist Cecil replaced by Blake Peterson and bassist Stanley Joseph replaced by luthier Malcolm Greig. The addition of a publicist and manager, Adam Kadmon gave the band a new media presence and they began to make headlines and airwaves. His trained road crew headed by Viji Solomon made sure the equipment, instruments and lights made it to and from every show and safely back to Bangalore HQ.
Executive Producer/Environmentalist Smita Shah and Videographer Clay Kelton shot some very intense, arty black and white chiaroscuro videos for the band. These music videos, "Peace Just In Heaven," (1990) and "Only Be One" (1991) were in regular rotation on MTV's Headbanger's Ball, winning the band the "SkullKrusher award" in 1991. Touring India in small buses and luxury airliners, the band epitomized the lifestyle of 'life on the road'.
Millennium has opened for other acts visiting india like Deep Purple and The Power Onions. Kadmon left in 1992 to manage Sandeep Chowta and Pulse. Mohandese and Peterson left at the same time, going abroad for work.
Another video, 'Rainmaker,' shot in 1993, directed by media mogul R.S. Naman was more sensitive and attempted poignancy and social responsibility, as well as introducing Sharmon Ibrahim as guitarist and Roberto Narain on drums. With this new line-up and Clay Kelton's production work, "One concept" was their only BMG release.
In the words of guitarist and composer Rio "We made the music for ourselves and some people liked it. That is how metal is to us." Adds lead vocalist and lyricist Vehrnon: "We had a small following of self-organizing cells of heavy metal maniacs who called themselves the 'Metal Army' after one of our songs - this was our fan base."
Millennium disbanded in 1994.
