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Variously described, widely admired, often imitated and never confined to the limitations of genre, Thermal And A Quarter (TAAQ to the impatient) is a pioneering Indian Rock Band. Founded in 1996, TAAQ brings together the talents of Bruce Lee Mani (guitars, vocals), Rajeev Rajagopal (drums), and Prakash K N (bass). Encompassing styles as diverse as Carnatic to Jazz-funk, Thermal And A Quarter has recorded and released four studio albums and performed hundreds of live gigs in India, the UK and the Middle East.
Widely respected for its socially relevant irreverence and musical commentary on issues and causes, Thermal And A Quarter has advocated a fierce and resilient independence, leading the way for independent music in India. The band has maximised the use of online media to promote and distribute its music and all its studio albums Plan B (2005), Jupiter Café (2002) and Thermalandaquarter.com (2002). HeartCave Sphurana, an experimental jam-rock VCD, was released in 2003.
2009 has already seen TAAQ win the 'Guitarist of the Year' Award at the annual Rolling Stone/Jack Daniels Rock Awards. In 2008, Thermal And A Quarter was ranked #48 in Blender Magazines 100 Ultimate Rock Bands You Must Listen To alongside Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Red Hot Chili Peppers, etc. Previewing This Is It in 2008, Rolling Stone magazine accorded it a 3 ½ star review for new album and identified Bruce Lee Mani as one of Indias Best Axemen.
In 2007, TAAQ won the WorldSpace Award for Outstanding Contribution to Indian Rock (other honorees include Johnny Cash, Baba Maal, Lionel Ritchie, The Who, Jay-Z, etc.). In 2005, National Public Radio (www.npr.org) prominently showcased Thermal And A Quarter, interviewed by Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers, on its flagship show All Things Considered the first such acclaim for an Indian band. Hindustan Times, New Delhi recognised TAAQ as one of the Best Indian Bands in 2006. RSJ magazines nationwide readers poll named TAAQ as one of the biggest Indian bands in 2004.
Thermal And A Quarter became one of the first young Indian bands to support a major international rock act on tour with its performance ahead of Deep Purple (2001). Since, TAAQ has supported Jethro Tull (2006), as well as Machine Head and Megadeth (2008).
Travelling one step ahead of the band, Thermal And A Quarters music has won a large number of international fans. The band toured the UK in 2006, with multiple performances in London and Glasgow. In June 2007, the band toured the Middle East, performing in Dubai and Bahrain. In India, TAAQ is a popular headlining act at top-notch collegiate festivals, corporate events and music festivals.
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