Chronicle: How The Simla Beat Contest documented India's rock revolution
By the late 1960s, electric guitars, organ, drums and amplified bass had found their way into clubs, college halls and hotels across India. In Bombay, Calcutta, Madras, Bangalore, Delhi and Shillong, young musicians were forming bands and building repertoires from the Western records they could find.
Then came the Simla Beat Contest.
Sponsored by the Imperial Tobacco Company’s Simla cigarette brand, the competition brought together young bands through regional rounds before the national finals in Bombay. Held at Shanmukhananda Hall, it gave musicians from across the country a rare national platform.
The 1970 edition produced Simla Beat 70, recorded in Calcutta. The LP captured a young Indian rock scene finding its own voice, combining Western covers with original compositions. The Dinosaurs, Great Bear, The Confusions and other groups brought beat, blues, rock and psychedelia into the studio, creating one of the earliest recorded snapshots of India’s emerging rock culture.
The following year, The Fentones from Shillong won the national contest. Their victory made them the first band from the Northeast to take the title. They appeared on Simla Beat 71, alongside bands including Hipnotic Eye, The Brood of Vipers and The Dinosaurs.
The contest continued until 1972, when Frustrations Amalgamated from Madras won the final edition. They recorded at Royal Gems Studio, but their material was never released.
The end came as quietly as it had begun. The contest was closely tied to the Simla cigarette brand, and when the brand disappeared from the market, so did the competition.
What remained were two remarkable LPs documenting a generation of Indian musicians experimenting with rock on their own terms. Today, Simla Beat 70 and Simla Beat 71 are both sought after by music enthusiasts, for preserving a rare chapter in India’s early rock history.
The Simla Beat 70 LP (reissue) is available for purchase at The Revolver Club.
Comments
Martha —
I don’t have time beating around the bush, instead I go straight to the point…. So to you doubters I ain’t expecting you all to believe my testimony but only the few chosen ones by God. In a short summary, I’m here to tell the whole world that I recently got cured from my long term herpes disease, both the HSV1 and HSV2 through the assistance of Herbalist doctor Oyagu I pray God continually blesses Dr Oyagu in all he does, because he is indeed a very good, nice and powerful doctor. I’m cured of herpes disease at last! Wow I’m so much in great joy because I’ve never in my life believed herbs works, but meeting doctor Oyagu was an eye opener and he made me believe that herpes truly got a complete cure. I used the doctor’s herbal medicine for just two weeks and I was totally cured from both my HSV1 and HSV2. I’m so excited. For help and assistance in getting rid of your herpes virus you can Call/WhatsApp doctor Oyagu on his telephone number: +2348101755322 or for more inquiries you can as well contact the doctor on EMAIL: oyaguherbalhome@gmail.com
Evelyn Lawson —
Nothing is impossible if you truly believe you can achieve it. I have been trying to expand my wine business in my hometown, White Plains. For the past eight years, I had played the lottery in my spare time, but on one blessed day, I came across an article about Priest Alaska’s lottery-winning spell. I contacted Priest Alaska to see if it would work, and after agreeing to his terms and conditions for the work, he used his magical powers on my behalf; he provided the numbers I needed to play, and I followed his instructions. At the store, I discovered that I had won a $123 million jackpot. For a moment I felt uncertain, but I looked again and saw that it was real. My life has taken an extraordinary turn going from nothing to prosperity and I have come to realize that life has a spiritual dimension; with Priest Alaska’s spell, winning the lottery is truly possible. Priest Alaska’s contact details are as follows: email alaskaspellcaster44@gmail.com or his website https://dralaskaspellcaster.mystrikingly.com.
Katie Edgar —
Lord Bubuza is a GOD on Earth, His lottery spells are 100% active, He is real and can perform miracles with his spell. I am overwhelmed because I just won 336,000,000 million Euro from a lottery jackpot game with the lottery number he gave me after casting his lottery spell. I contacted Lord Bubuza for help to win a lottery via WhatsApp: +13658085313, he told me that a spell was required to be casted so that he can reveal my winning numbers, I provided his requirements to casting the spell and after casting the spell he gave the lottery numbers and I played and won 336,000,000 euros. How can I thank this man enough? His spell is real and he is like a God on Earth. Thank you for changing my life with your lottery winning numbers. Do you need help to win a lottery too? contact Lord Bubuza via WhatsApp: +13658085313 or e-mail: Lordbubuzamiraclework@hotmail.com …..
Katie Edgar —
Lord Bubuza is a GOD on Earth, His lottery spells are 100% active, He is real and can perform miracles with his spell. I am overwhelmed because I just won 336,000,000 million Euro from a lottery jackpot game with the lottery number he gave me after casting his lottery spell. I contacted Lord Bubuza for help to win a lottery via WhatsApp: +13658085313, he told me that a spell was required to be casted so that he can reveal my winning numbers, I provided his requirements to casting the spell and after casting the spell he gave the lottery numbers and I played and won 336,000,000 euros. How can I thank this man enough? His spell is real and he is like a God on Earth. Thank you for changing my life with your lottery winning numbers. Do you need help to win a lottery too? contact Lord Bubuza via WhatsApp: +13658085313 or e-mail: Lordbubuzamiraclework@hotmail.com …
Bull John —
RECOVERY LOST BITCOIN FROM TRADING PLATFORM CONTACT: WIZARD GEO COORDINATES RECOVERY HACKER
I would love to extend my gratitude and utmost appreciation to Geo Coordinates Hacker for helping me recover my money back. They helped me recover my stolen money, 634,000 dollars worth of bitcoin effortlessly. Their service is not only quick but professional and reliable. As someone who was skeptical about the process, I was pleasantly surprised to see my bitcoins returned in such a swift and hassle-free manner. Geo Coordinates Hacker truly goes above and beyond to ensure their clients’ satisfaction. I would highly recommend Geo Coordinates Hacker for all your cryptocurrency recovery, digital funds recovery, hacking, and cybersecurity-related issues. Without a doubt, they are the best and I am very grateful to them for helping me recover my money. In case you have the same issues related to mine do not hesitate to reach out to them through their email Contact;
Email: geovcoordinateshacker@gmail.com
Website; https://geovcoordinateshac.wixsite.com/geo-coordinates-hack
Telegram @GeocoordinateshackerWhatsApp +1 365 342-0460
Bull John —
RECOVERY LOST BITCOIN FROM TRADING PLATFORM CONTACT: WIZARD GEO COORDINATES RECOVERY HACKER
I would love to extend my gratitude and utmost appreciation to Geo Coordinates Hacker for helping me recover my money back. They helped me recover my stolen money, 634,000 dollars worth of bitcoin effortlessly. Their service is not only quick but professional and reliable. As someone who was skeptical about the process, I was pleasantly surprised to see my bitcoins returned in such a swift and hassle-free manner. Geo Coordinates Hacker truly goes above and beyond to ensure their clients’ satisfaction. I would highly recommend Geo Coordinates Hacker for all your cryptocurrency recovery, digital funds recovery, hacking, and cybersecurity-related issues. Without a doubt, they are the best and I am very grateful to them for helping me recover my money. In case you have the same issues related to mine do not hesitate to reach out to them through their email Contact;
Email: geovcoordinateshacker@gmail.com
Website; https://geovcoordinateshac.wixsite.com/geo-coordinates-hack
Telegram @GeocoordinateshackerWhatsApp +1 365 342-0460
Martha —
I don’t have time beating around the bush, instead I go straight to the point…. So to you doubters I ain’t expecting you all to believe my testimony but only the few chosen ones by God. In a short summary, I’m here to tell the whole world that I recently got cured from my long term herpes disease, both the HSV1 and HSV2 through the assistance of Herbalist doctor Oyagu I pray God continually blesses Dr Oyagu in all he does, because he is indeed a very good, nice and powerful doctor. I’m cured of herpes disease at last! Wow I’m so much in great joy because I’ve never in my life believed herbs works, but meeting doctor Oyagu was an eye opener and he made me believe that herpes truly got a complete cure. I used the doctor’s herbal medicine for just two weeks and I was totally cured from both my HSV1 and HSV2. I’m so excited. For help and assistance in getting rid of your herpes virus you can Call/WhatsApp doctor Oyagu on his telephone number: +2348101755322 or for more inquiries you can as well contact the doctor on EMAIL: oyaguherbalhome@gmail.com
Martha —
I don’t have time beating around the bush, instead I go straight to the point…. So to you doubters I ain’t expecting you all to believe my testimony but only the few chosen ones by God. In a short summary, I’m here to tell the whole world that I recently got cured from my long term herpes disease, both the HSV1 and HSV2 through the assistance of Herbalist doctor Oyagu I pray God continually blesses Dr Oyagu in all he does, because he is indeed a very good, nice and powerful doctor. I’m cured of herpes disease at last! Wow I’m so much in great joy because I’ve never in my life believed herbs works, but meeting doctor Oyagu was an eye opener and he made me believe that herpes truly got a complete cure. I used the doctor’s herbal medicine for just two weeks and I was totally cured from both my HSV1 and HSV2. I’m so excited. For help and assistance in getting rid of your herpes virus you can Call/WhatsApp doctor Oyagu on his telephone number: +2348101755322 or for more inquiries you can as well contact the doctor on EMAIL: oyaguherbalhome@gmail.com