Alejandra13P at 15:35, 31 December 2025

2025-12-31T15:35:26Z

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{{Short description|Indian rock band}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Atomic Forest
| image =
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| landscape = 
| alt =
| caption =
| alias =
| origin = [[Bombay]], [[India]]
| genre = [[Psychedelic rock]], [[Hard rock|heavy Rock]]
| years_active = 1971–1981
| label = [[Music India]], [[Now-Again Records]]
| website = 
| current_members =
| past_members = * [[Neel Chattopadhyaya]]
* [[Madhukar C. Dhas|Madhukar Dhas]]
* [[Keith Kanga]]
* [[Valentine Lobo]]
* Jerry DeMoss
* Abraham Mammen
* Glen Gilbanks
* [[Dheena Chandra Dhas]]
* Jimi
* Ritchie
* Cedric
* Bosco Monsorate
* Rajneesh Duggal
* Dhanraj Skau
* Zubin Balaporia
* [[Bunty Duggal]]
* [[Nandu Bhende]]
| module =
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}}

'''Atomic Forest''' was a popular Indian psychedelic and hard rock band from [[Mumbai|Bombay]], active in the 1970s, formed by Neel Chattopadhyaya, with Keith Kanga, Valentine Lobo and [[Madhukar C. Dhas]]. The band's lineup changed over the years, as members left and others took their place. It was thought that they had recorded a single album, ''Obsession '77,'' However, since 2011, two new LPs have been reissued by Now-Again Records, Obsession,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rathbone |first1=Oregano |title=FALLOUT BOYS - Record Collector Magazine |url=https://recordcollectormag.com/articles/fallout-boys |website=Record Collector Magazine |publisher=Record Collector Magazine |access-date=26 September 2023 |language=en}}</ref> and Disco Roar (a rediscovered first-album).

==Background==
Atomic Forest only recorded one album, which was not released until after the band had dissolved, in 1981.<ref>''[[The Caravan]]'', 1 July 2012 - [https://caravanmagazine.in/lede/flashback-forest-sound Flashback | Forest of Sound<br>An author reflects on hazy days in the Bombay rock scene - Simon Frank]</ref>
''Obsession 77'' was re-released in January 2011 by [[Now-Again Records]], a Los Angeles-based label. It caught the attention of collectors<ref>{{cite web |last1=Egon |title=Unearthing Five Lost Gems From Psychedelic India |url=https://www.npr.org/2011/02/02/130588826/unearthing-five-lost-gems-from-psychedelic-india |website=NPR.org |publisher=NPR Music |access-date=23 November 2021}}</ref> as it was the only psychedelic rock album that was ever produced in India.<ref>''[[The Hindu]]'', 28 December 2012 - [https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/atomic-forest/article4248851.ece MUSIC, Atomic Forest - By JANAKI LENIN]</ref>
The group also featured in Abhimanyu Kukreja's rockumentary, ''Evolution of Indian Rock''.<ref>{{cite news | publisher=scroll.in | url=https://scroll.in/reel/934324/rockumentary-film-chronicles-the-highs-and-lows-of-indian-rock-through-eight-decades | title='Rockumentary' film chronicles the highs and lows of Indian rock through eight decades | first=Devarsi | last=Ghosh | date=24 August 2019 | accessdate=2 January 2023}}</ref> The band is also famously known for performing with English rock band [[Led Zeppelin]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=July 2015|first=Rob Hughes 23|title=Led Zeppelin in India: the true story behind the secret Bombay sessions|url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/passage-to-india-the-true-story-of-zeppelin-s-secret-bombay-sessions|access-date=2020-08-01|website=loudersound|language=en}}</ref>

==Members==

=== Original Atomic Forest line-up ===

* '''Neel Chattopadhyaya:''' guitars
* '''Madhukar C. Dhas:''' vocals
* '''Keith Kanga:''' bass
* '''Valentine Lobo:''' drums

=== First phase of subsequent members ===

* '''Glen Gilbanks''': vocals
* '''Keith Kanga''': bass
* '''Jerry DeMoss''': drums
* '''Abraham Mammen''': guitars

=== Second phase of subsequent members (around 1976) ===

* '''Dheena Chandra Dhas''': vocals
* '''Abraham Mammen''': guitars
* '''Jerry DeMoss''': drums
* '''Keith Kanga''': bass

=== Third phase of subsequent members (until around 1979–1980) ===

* '''Dheena Chandra Dhas''': vocals
* '''Jimi''': guitars
* '''Ritchie''': bass
* '''Cedric''': drums

This lineup would later change their name around 1980, to become the band "Hope" and they became backing band for the rock opera "Tommy", in which Dheena would also act.

=== Other members ===

* '''Bosco Monsorate''': guitars
* '''Rajneesh Duggal''': Drums.
* '''Dhanraj Skau''': Guitars
* '''Zubin Balaporia''': Keyboards
* '''Bunty Duggal''': Rhythm Guitar & Vocals
* '''Nandu Bhende''': vocals

=== Notes ===

* '''Keith Kanga''': Stopped playing after finger paralysis, continued exclusively as the band's manager.

[[Madhukar C. Dhas|Madhukar Dhas]] joined the band in 1971.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Breznikar|first=Klemen|author-link=Klemen Breznikar |date=10 September 2012|title=Atomic Forest interview with Madhukar Dhas (aka Madooo)|url=https://www.psychedelicbabymag.com/2012/09/atomic-forest-interview-with-madhukar.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170426113028/http://www.psychedelicbabymag.com/2012/09/atomic-forest-interview-with-madhukar.html|archive-date=26 April 2017|access-date=24 December 2020|website=[[It's Psychedelic Baby! Magazine]]|language=en-US}}</ref> Also that year, Jazz musician Joe Alvarez played with the band at Blow-up in the [[Taj Mahal Palace Hotel]].<ref>''[[Mid-Day]]'', 30 Apr 2015 - [https://www.mid-day.com/articles/mumbais-jazz-musicians-recall-their-first-performances/16175160 Famous Personalities, Mumbai's Jazz musicians recall their first performances, Joe Alvarez by Suprita Mitter]</ref>

[[Nandu Bhende]], a former member of the group, died of a heart attack on 18 May 2014.<ref name=":0" /><ref>''Mid Day'', 19 May 2014 - [https://www.mid-day.com/articles/the-rockstar-a-tribute-to-mumbais-rock-legend-nandu-bhendu/15224095 The Rockstar: A tribute to Mumbai's rock legend Nandu Bhendu]</ref><ref>Indian Bands Hub - [https://indianbandshub.blogspot.com/2018/10/atomic-forest.html Atomic Forest (1)]</ref><ref>DAS FRÖHLICHEWOHNZIMMER - [http://www.dfw.at/1/dinosaurs.htm Dinosaurs: "Sinister Purpose" (1970)(3)]</ref>

==Discography==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|+ Albums
|-
! scope="col" class="unsortable" |Title
! scope="col" | Label
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes #
|-
! scope="row" | ''Obsession '77''
| [[Music India]] 2392 580
| 1981
| LP<br>Produced by [[Sharon Prabhakar]]
|-
! scope="row" | ''Obsession''
| [[Now-Again Records]] NA 5087
| 2011
| 2LP<br>Compilation
|-
! scope="row" | ''Disco Roar''
| Now-Again Records NA 5188LP
| 2019
| LP
|-
|}
<ref>[[Discogs]] - [https://www.discogs.com/artist/1079846-Atomic-Forest Atomic Forest, Discography]</ref>

==Further reading==
* ''[[It's Psychedelic Baby! Magazine]]'', 10 Sep 2012 - [http://www.psychedelicbabymag.com/2012/09/atomic-forest-interview-with-madhukar.html Atomic Forest interview with Madhukar Dhas (aka Madooo) - Interview made by Klemen Breznikar]
* ''Rolling Stone'', ''India'', 21 Apr 2012 - [https://rollingstoneindia.com/seventies-obsession-mumbais-atomic-forest-and-the-original-hipster-era/ Seventies Obsession: Mumbai’s Atomic Forest And The Original Hipster Era by Rahul Verma]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.nowagainrecords.com/atomic-forest-disco-roar/ Now-Again Records: Atomic Forest - Disco Roar]
* [https://www.nowagainrecords.com/atomic-forest-obsession/ Now-Again Records: Atomic Forest - Obsession]
* [https://indianbandshub.blogspot.com/2018/10/atomic-forest.html Indian Bands Hub: Atomic Forest]
* [https://www.discogs.com/artist/1079846-Atomic-Forest Discogs: Atomic Forest]

[[Category:Indian rock music]]
[[Category:Indian rock music groups]]
[[Category:Indian psychedelic rock music groups]]
[[Category:Indian progressive rock groups]]
[[Category:Indian musical groups]]
[[Category:Culture of Mumbai]]
[[Category:Now-Again Records artists]]

Atomic Forest - Revision history

Alejandra13P at 15:35, 31 December 2025