I heard MLTR in the early 1990s and the first thing that struck me was they had an ultra-polished and slick pop rock sound. I really dug their disciplined pop song craft and I think they have some really catchy tunes. We often cover their song Someday. It’s the best soundcheck song because the levels of all instruments can be checked accurately due to the nature of the song arrangement featuring a balanced and full instrumentation. We play this song at all Krosswindz soundchecks. 
— Vikramjit ‘Tuki’ Banerjee, guitarist

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was always a fan of ’80s pop, and when the’90s kicked in, all of a sudden the quality dropped remarkably. MLTR was a pop band which sounded incredible and their production and the thought behind their arrangements is what sets them apart. It was very fresh... my favourite song was Someday (which is one of their greatest hits) and that guitar solo is still one of my favourite pop/rock ballad solos. I liked Sleeping Child as well. The musicianship is completely precise and pristine and to the point of perfect application. They have impeccable tones and the best part is their choice of chords, which is not too simple but exactly what the song demands.
— Bodhisattwa Ghosh, guitarist

 

 

 

 

 

I first heard MLTR in school in 1990. The songs were catchy, and had beautiful melodies. They were well sung. The songs were essentially similar with simple tunes but somehow they had great hooks. It was very romantic for a schoolboy in his early teens. That’s exactly why Someday or 25 Minutes or Complicated Heart or Love Will Never Lie always sounded ethereal. 
— Neel Dutt, music composer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MLTR revived the old, informal structure of recording real-stage sounds with real instruments. It was all about soul. I would often play their cassette and play piano with it. Sleeping Child is also a favourite.... Their interpretation of modern pop has influenced our (Sourendro-Soumyojit) arrangements. One of my fave MLTR songs is 25 Minutes. — -- Sourendro Mullick, pianist 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are quite a few great love songs by Michael Learns to Rock. I was drawn to their music during my schooldays because of their beautiful sing-along tunes and also their extensive use of vocal harmonies. That’s Why (You Go Away), Someday, Paint My Love happen to be my favourites. I have sung many of their songs to my girlfriend Tapasi. So yes, I know quite a few of their songs by heart. You know, songs by Elton John, Bryan Adams, MLTR and The Beatles always come in handy! 
— Nabarun Bose, keyboard player

 

 

 

 

 

My brother introduced me to their music. I was in Class V or VI when it all started, and I have spent a fair share of my school life with MLTR. I loved their melodies… Paint My Love is one of my favourites. The innocence, melody and the lyrics appealed to me back in school. And yes, the chorus for all their songs is very catchy. There’s simplicity and that always creates a long-term impact.
 — Anushree Gupta, vocalist

 

 

 

 

 

MLTR makes good pop music, and I love the song The Actor. In fact I discovered MLTR when I wanted to know more about the creator of The Actor. And I remember, after I started playing bass, Someday hit the charts. Over the years I’ve covered Someday in hundreds of dance gigs. The Actor is still my favourite because of the  chord progressions in the song. 
— Mainak ‘Bumpy’ Nag Chowdhury, bassist 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I first heard them probably in 1994-1995  and they sounded great! I bought all the CDs available back then. Their songs were very addictive... and still are. I used to cover their songs like Someday, Paint My Love, 25 Minutes, That’s Why in school fests. What makes the music timeless? The melody. The songs are so hummable.  
— Rishabh Ray, guitarist

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I first heard MLTR’s music from a friend who had bought their cassette. I was in high school then. Their songs were sweet and emotional, and one could follow the lyrics. It is very important for me to understand the meaning of a song or its essence, and I could get that from an MLTR tune. One of the first numbers I heard was That’s Why (You Go Away)... (hums the tune)... see I still remember it! Since I was in high school I could easily connect with the emotions and the romance in their songs like Sleeping Child and Paint My Love.

 — Abir Chatterjee

 

 

 

 

 

 

What: Michael Learns To Rock Live in Calcutta, as part of THE Festival Chapter IX in association with t2
Where: CC&FC
When: December 17, 8pm onwards.Gates open at 4pm
Tickets: Log on to www.bookmyshow.com. CC&FC members can buy tickets from the venue. Non-club members can buy tickets from the venue December 15 onwards.
Price: Upwards of Rs 2,000