The time is ripe for rock n’ roll to make a comeback – CNBC TV18

HomeLatest NewsFeaturedLive TVCNBC-TV18CNBC AwaazCNBC BajarMarket LiveMinisPodcastsCNBC-TV18 SpecialsGlobal Leadership SummitYoung TurksFuture Female Forward11:11 Newsletter Nivesh Ka Sahi KadamPhotosSectionsMarketGlobal MarketsStocksMoneyCompaniesEconomyTechnologyCryptocurrencyTerms and ConditionsDisclaimerTerms of UsePrivacy PolicyHomeEntertainment NewsThe time is ripe for rock n’ roll to make a comebackThe time is ripe for rock n’ roll to make a comebackThe needle is swinging back. And if the signs are to be believed, the stage is being set—globally and in India—for a massive, thundering return of rock ‘n’ roll.By Mangalam Maloo   May 19, 2025, 11:23:02 AM IST (Updated)6 Min ReadSomewhere between the programmed perfection of electronic dance music and the glitz of K-pop choreographies, the gritty growl of a guitar solo got drowned out. After ruling the global soundscape for decades, good old-fashioned rock ‘n’ roll seemed to fade into the background post-2010. Not because it lost its soul, but because the world, for a while, was obsessed with sheen over substance.

But something has changed. The needle is swinging back. And if the signs are to be believed, the stage is being set—globally and in India—for a massive, thundering return of rock ‘n’ roll.

The Lost Decade of Rock:

From the late ’60s to the early 2000s, rock music wasn’t just a genre. It was a movement. The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Queen, Nirvana, U2, Guns N’ Roses—these weren’t just bands, they were culture-defining phenomena. Stadiums shook. Guitars wailed. Lyrics sparked revolutions.

Then came the 2010s. With no new “once-in-a-generation” rock bands breaking out, the genre lost commercial momentum. Hip-hop surged to the top of the charts. Electronic music brought with it a fresh spectacle—a DJ could now fill a stadium. K-pop exploded with its slick synchronisation and powerful fan culture. Rock started sounding a little… analogue in a digital world.

But the World Is Ready Again:

What the world has witnessed in the last few years is a saturation of sonic perfection. Auto-tuned vocals. Loop-heavy production. Ultra-stylised, CGI-backed concert experiences. Music became, in many cases, a visual medium first and auditory second. In chasing virality, we lost vulnerability.

But we’ve emerged from a pandemic that stripped our lives of artifice. There’s a new hunger—for connection, for rawness, for rebellion. A hunger for real instruments, real mistakes, real music. There’s something magnetic about five people on a stage, each contributing to a sound that’s alive, evolving, human.

In a world riddled with political extremes, social unrest, and the cloud of war—rock music’s DNA feels more relevant than ever. Rock has always been born of rebellion. Today, with at least three wars raging, movements surging from campuses to capitals, and culture wars playing out on global stages, the angst is palpable. The canvas is ready. The amplifier just needs to be plugged in.

Axl, Slash, and 25,000 Voices in Mumbai:

This very article was sparked by what unfolded on the night of May 17th in Mumbai—when Guns N’ Roses lit up the stage at the Mahalaxmi Race Course. It had been over 12 years since the band last performed in India, and this time, they came back with every bit of the fire that made them legends.

Axl Rose may have aged, Slash may have mellowed offstage, but when November Rain poured out into the Mumbai sky, 25,000 fans sang every word like they’d waited their whole lives for that moment. Phones were down, arms were up. It was raw. Emotional. Electric. The concert wasn’t just a nostalgic throwback; it was proof that this music still means something—maybe even more than ever before. That night confirmed what many of us have felt quietly for years: the world is ready again for Rock.

The Global Stage Is Buzzing Again:

The biggest signal that the tide is turning is coming straight from the heart of the genre. Black Sabbath—pioneers of metal—will take the stage together for the first time since 2017 for what promises to be a historic final show in July 2025. A farewell? Perhaps. But one that features legends like Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, Gojira, Alice In Chains, Halestorm, Lamb Of God, Anthrax, and Mastodon. This isn’t nostalgia—it’s a statement.

Speaking of Metallica, their May 7 performance of Enter Sandman during the M72 concert literally moved the Earth. More than 100,000 people jumped in unison, causing seismic activity measurable a mile away by Virginia Tech’s Seismological Observatory. That’s not just a concert. That’s a quake of cultural resonance.

Bands are touring with new geographies in mind. They’re hungry. And the world is responding.

India: A Loud, Eager Audience

India has emerged as one of the world’s most exciting live music markets. Not just in terms of size, but diversity. And interestingly, rock has found new roots here.

BookMyShow Live, India’s largest entertainment platform, is also our most influential live event producer. They’ve brought in legacy rock acts like Guns N’ Roses, Green Day, U2, Imagine Dragons, Deep Purple, and Goo Goo Dolls to Indian shores in just the last few years. Their dedicated rock IP—Bandland—has already delivered two electric seasons, combining headbanging nostalgia with the adrenaline of discovery.

The momentum doesn’t end there. Coldplay, Ed Sheeran, the Backstreet Boys—some of the biggest names in global music—have performed for packed Indian crowds recently, proving that the appetite for world-class concerts is not a trend, it’s a reality.

But here’s where it gets more exciting: the ecosystem is now being rebuilt from within.

Rock, Reborn in India

Independence Rock—India’s most iconic rock festival, which began in 1986—was revived in 2022 after nearly a decade of silence. This wasn’t just a comeback; it was a cultural reset. With the Mahindra Group backing the revival, the festival now serves as a launchpad for emerging Indian bands. And they’re not just mimicking Western sounds—they’re forging their own, singing in regional languages, blending folk with metal, and creating a new sound of rebellion. Regional rock is no longer a niche. It’s a movement.

In many ways, India is becoming to modern rock what Japan was to metal in the ’80s—a loyal, ever-growing, deeply engaged fanbase that gives bands a second wind.

The Sweet Spot: Demand Meets Demographic

There’s another interesting trend working in rock’s favour. The original fans—those who grew up on cassette tapes, MTV, and the thrill of discovering albums—are now in their 30s, 40s and 50s. They have the time, the money, and most importantly, the nostalgia to attend concerts.