Thermal and a Quarter (often abbreviated as TAAQ) are a rock band from Bangalore, India. Formed in 1996, they describe their music as "Bangalore rock" - rooted in a classic rock idiom while Indian in "subtle, inescapable ways".[1] TAAQ had released seven studio albums by their 20th anniversary in 2016[2] with an eighth released in 2020.

Thermal and a Quarter
Also known asTAAQ
OriginBangalore, Karnataka India
Genres
Years active1996 (1996)–present
Members
  • Bruce Lee Mani
  • Rajeev Rajagopal
  • Leslie Charles
  • Tony Das
Websitehttps://www.thermalandaquarter.com/

Show openers

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TAAQ opened the show for Deep Purple in 2001, when they performed in Bangalore.[3] The band also opened for Guns N' Roses in 2012.[4]

Band members

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The current members of TAAQ are:

  • Bruce Lee Mani (guitar and vocals)
  • Rajeev Rajagopal (drums)
  • Leslie Charles (bass) and
  • Tony Das (guitar).[5]

Discography

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The albums released by the band included

  • Thermal and a Quarter (2000)
  • Jupiter Café (2002)
  • Plan B (2005)
  • This Is It (2008)
  • 3 Wheels 9 Lives (2012)
  • The Scene (2015)
  • No Wall Too High (2015)[4]
  • A World Gone Mad (2020)[6]

Awards and honours

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TAAQ was featured on The WorldSpace Honours 2007 for their outstanding contributions to Indian rock scene with interviews with other Indian band members, an extensive play-through of their work by RJ Hari, and an Interview with the band themselves about "10 years of TAAQ".[7]

Mani won Guitarist of the Year at the Jack Daniels Rock Awards in 2009 and 2012.[8][4] He also won the "Leon Ireland Outstanding Vocalist Award" at JRO 2011.[9]

Music School

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In 2010, TAAQ opened a music school in Koramangala, Bangalore, called the "Taaqademy".[10] A branch in Whitefield was opened in 2014.[11]

References

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  1. ^ Niyogy, Kingshuk (20 March 2015). "Q&A: Thermal and a Quarter". LiveMint. Archived from the original on 9 January 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  2. ^ B., Roshne (13 February 2016). "TAAQ Hits 20; Releases 7th Album With 10 Songs". The New Indian Express. The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 17 August 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  3. ^ Joshi, Bharath (22 January 2016). "Opening for 'Deep Purple' launched our careers: Bruce Lee Mani about his band". Economic Times economictimes.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  4. ^ a b c "Thermal And A Quarter". Rolling Stone India rollingstoneindia.com. 17 September 2013. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  5. ^ "Thermal on a mission". The Hindu. 19 October 2016. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  6. ^ Tagat, Anurag (27 March 2020). "Thermal and a Quarter's New Album 'A World Gone Mad' is Apt for the Times -". Rolling Stone India. Archived from the original on 21 October 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  7. ^ "The WorldSpace Honours 2007". The WorldSpace Honours 2007. WorldSpace. Archived from the original on 3 March 2007.
  8. ^ Indiecision Staff (23 February 2013). "JD Rock Awards 2013 Winners". NH7. Archived from the original on 25 February 2013.
  9. ^ Oomen, Saroop (3 August 2011). "Inspiring notes". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 20 September 2022. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  10. ^ Ramdev, Darshana (18 October 2018). "'TAAQ That!' Bengaluru gets world-class academy". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  11. ^ "Thermal and a Quarter's Taaqademy to add new Indian music courses". RnMbiz radioandmusic.com. 24 June 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
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