Love Runs Blind
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| Love Runs Blind | |
|---|---|
| Origin |  Chittagong, Bangladesh |
| Genre(s) | Alternative rock, Rock, Pop[1] |
| Years active | 1991 – present |
| Website | [1] |
| Members | |
| Ayub Bachchu Romel Swapan Mass (Masud) |
|
| Former members | |
| Tutul Riad Milton Akber Hablu Shumon |
|
Contents |
[edit] See also
Official Website of LRB [2]
 |
This article on a Asian band or other musical ensemble is a stub. You can help by expanding it. |
Love Runs Blind (LRB) is a Bangladeshi electronic rock band, which was started in 1991 by guitarist Ayub Bachchu. LRB originally stood for Little River Band, but this name was taken by an Australian band and the band name was changed to Love Runs Blind."[2]
[edit] History
Bachchu was born in Chittagong, Bangladesh. He started his music career with a band called Feelings. Then Bachu spent fifteen years with a band called Souls, which was one of the first Bangladeshi rock bands. At Souls, Bachchu played a key role in writing songs and having them performed. Souls originally was based in Chittagong but later moved to Dhaka, which is the capital of Bangladesh. Souls was started in 1972 and its first gigs where performed in hotels where they did reproductions of American pop music. Bachchu joined the Souls band as lead guitarist in 1976 and left the band in 1991 to start LRB. During this time period, Souls produced five albums and performed in about 4,000 concerts, mostly in Bangladesh. Souls is noted for Super Souls, which was the first rock album released in Bangladesh. A song from this album, “Mon Shudhu Mon Chuyecge”, remains popular in Bangladesh. Although Souls still exists as a musical group, the founders have all started their own musical groups.
[edit] Band Group
The original band members of LRB were Ayub Bachchu (vocals and lead guitar), Shahidul Islam Tutul (guitar and backup vocals), Joy (drums), and Shawpan (bass guitar). The band members changed several times. The current line-up since 2003 retains Ayub Bachchu (vocals and lead guitar) in the lead role and now includes Masad (guitar), Swapon (bass), and Romel (drums). Shamin Ahamed currently is the band manger. Ayub Bachchu’s western musical idols are Jimi Hendrix, Carlos Santana, Joe Satriani, and Richie Blackmore. Bachchu also played with Departo in the United Kingdom. Bachchu owns his own music studio and has a reputation for wearing a headdress at concerts."[3]
[edit] Music and Tours
LRB released their first album in 1992 and has released 10 albums through year-end 2007 with an eleventh album expected shortly. Also, Ayub Bachchu has recorded six solo albums. These albums include Amader, Bishwe, Ferari Mon (unplugged), Ghumonto Shohore, Hokaar, Iochena Jibone, Mone Achhe Naki Nai, Shopno, Shukh, Tobuo, Swapna, and Collection of LRB: Music and Lyrics. LRB’s top hits in Bangladesh are "Cholo Bodle Jai","Ghumonto Shohore",“Rupali Guitar”, “Ghum Bhanga Shohore”, “Hokar”, “Mahdhobi”, “Ekhon Onek Raat”, "Hashte Dekho","Raater Tara","Chand Mama" and “Ghor Chara Ek Shukhi Chele”. LRB prefers to sing about problems in the world such as love, being lost, and life problems in general. LRB prefers not to focus on one issue because they want to relate to a wide audience, from the older generation to teenagers. Recently, LRB composed two songs in English that will be released soon on an English speaking album and music video; the two English songs are “Hold On” and “Look at Me”."[4]
LRB has performed over 1,000 gigs that have included extensive performances in Bangladesh as well as tours in Asia, Europe, and the United States. Their first show outside country was held in India in 1997 at Jadavpur University, where Ayub Bachchu was invited as a judge at the rock fest held in M. Joka. In 1998, LRB went for their first international tour in United States, where they played in seven states. In 1998, the group also played in Qatar, Abudhabi, Japan, Germany, Austria (Vienna), and Italy. The group played a second tour in the United States in 2000. The group had a European tour in 2002, which included Austria, United Kingdom, and Australia."[5]
From 2003 through 2006, LRB performed twice in Italy (Rome) and Belgium. They also performed in many sites in India as well as Germany (Frankfurt), Singapore, Hong Kong, and Wembley Arena in London. LRB performed at Singapore and Hong Kong. At Singapore they performed at Fort Canyon Park stage. In 2005 and 2006, LRB performed in Salt Lake Stadium (Rock Jugalbandi Part 1 & 2), Science City Theater, Alpha Bangla, ETV Bangla, Najrul Manch, Rabindra Shorobor, Guru Nanak University (Jodhpur), Haldia Utshab, and Durgapur University. LRB has performed in Wimbleton Stadium in London, Madison Square Garden in New York City twice, and Ellin Garden in the United Kingdom."[6]
LRB also has used its music to support social causes in conjunction with other Bengali rock groups. Recently, LRB performed in support of children endangered by the recent tsunami. Also, LRB has performed in support of campaigns to Say No to Drugs, Save Motherhood Project (Organized by Northern Light), and Victims Against Non-violence.
[edit] Influence of Bengali Music Tradition
Although LRB is a pop group, they owe their musical heritage to a rich Bengali musical tradition. In general, music in Bangladesh has been used as a communication device to relay stories from one generation to the next, and to encourage the population to adopt specific ideals towards how they lead their lives. Bangla music fits into five genres, many of which reflect the core values of the musical approach taken by LRB:"[7]"[8]"[9]
• Classical: Based on musical modes called raglas. All Bengali music has some basis in classical music. LRB’s reliance on classical instruments (guitars and drums) demonstrates training in classical musical technique. However, Bachu picked up his training of classical technique not through education but rather through years of experience performing pop and western music.
• Rabindra sangeet: Based on the works of Nobel laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore, who emphasized a common theme of philosophy and love. Music was influenced by western styles of the late 1800’s after Tagore visited England. Note that the title of LRB band pays homage to the Tagore philosophy towards love. Also, similar to many pop songs, many of LRB’s songs deal with the concept of love.
• Nazrul sangeet: Based on the musical works of Kazi Nazrud Islam who was the national poet of Bangladesh during the Indian independence movement. Islam disseminated his revolutionary ideals through his music, which was a fusion of West Indian ghazals and traditional Bengali classical music. LRB has used its music to support the populace during a recent tsunami, which reflects the political use of music to reach a social end.
• Folk: Ayub Bachchu, the leader of LRB, prefers not to use folk music in his songs. Insteads, he writes his own lyrics and remixes old folk songs to give it a modern vibe, although he does use the themes of old folk songs.
• Modern music including pop and rock: Bengali pop and rock music was heavily influenced by Western music styles. Recent pop musicians have access to modern technology and attempt to use their own talent to make their music unique. LRB is an example of a pop music group. Recently, Bengali music has moved to other modern music genres such as heavy metal.
Similar to other Bangla music groups, LRB's musical style is heavily influenced by western pop music. In the case of Ayub Bachchu, he started his musical training with the Band, Souls, which initially played the cover songs of famous western pop music in hotels while they developed their own songs and musical styles. It took this group eight years (from 1972 to 1980) to release its first album, Super Souls. LRB frequently bases its songs on an underlying folk background, but then remixes them so that they are unique to the band so that the actual folk song is not in the LRB lyric.
[edit] Musical Approach
The influence of the western pop music carried over to LRB. LRB uses all of the traditional pop music techniques:
• Instrumentation: Similar to many western pop bands, the band uses guitars, a bass, and drums. The band does not use traditional Bengali musical instruments such as the sitar, sarod, sarangi, or tabla. This instrument choice provides a western music sound rather than musical motifs of traditional Indian or Bangladeshi music. However, the band does not use an electric keyboard.
• Lyric writing style: As with most pop music, LRB lyrics for a specific song focus on a simple theme. Also, LRB tends to use a strophic or chorus form, where a section the music is repeated, similar to repeated stanzas in poetry. LRB frequently uses a verse-chorus structure, where the chorus serves as a contrast to the verse especially with regards to greater use of instrumentality, and uses a refrain or chorus to repeat a central theme of the song."[10]
• Pop and rock music techniques: LRB uses many of the musical techniques pioneered by earlier western bands. For example, LRB uses phasing and polyrhythms where the same part is played by more than one instrument, either out of or in phase, in order to provide greater musical variety. Bachu is an expert guitarist and has used many rock and roll techniques with his his guitar such as Legato, two-handed tapping, sweep-picking, volume swells, harmonics, and extreme whammy effects.
LRB uses theses pop and rock musical techniques to express musical themes of importance to the Bengali populace. Similar to pop groups in other countries, this technique coupled with the guitar skills of Ayub Bachchu led successfully the building of a strong fan base. LRB then attempted to export their interpretation of pop music to Europe and the United States through their international tours.
[edit] Interview with Ayub Bachchu
Selected Notes From Interview with Ayub Bachchu:
Interview took place on January 18th, 2007 at 7:00 a.m. East Coast Time (6:00 pm Bangladeshi time)
LRB’s top hits in Bangladesh are Thro Pali Guitar, Khom Bhangra Sherora, Kep Hokar, Mahdhubi, Haken Anak Rut, Mona Asa Mik, Pashow, Rator Thora, and Shugchi Gaui.
LRB has performed in Wimbledon arena and played twice in Madison Square Garden in front of 10,000 people. Also, (LRB) played in Ellin Garden in the U.K. for three hours. There were also lots of people and we enjoyed it immensely. I would love to see Bangla music become popular in the Western world and internationally but it is hard to gain popularity because it is not spoken as much as Hindi or another language. Would love to see Bangla rock and kick in the U.S. and U.K.
I didn’t have any professional training but learned it myself by hearing Jimmie Hendrix, Carlos Santana, and Richie Blackmore. I was also friends with Departo and played with them in the U.K.
I have always looked forward to playing rock n’ roll and wanted to play a different type of music. I played with Soul for ten years before creating LRB. Soul had different type of music than LRB. LRB is my own band. LRB is the only legitimate band in Bangladesh since 1991. We play in lots of concerts throughout Bangladesh and will perform the song (soon) Pashow in Chittagong.
We play about problems in the world, love, being lost … life problems in general. We don’t focus on one issue because we want to relate to a wide audience from the older generation to seventeen year olds.
I don’t just pick the guitar but also (use) my soul when I play. I don’t follow musical instructions in books but make my mind free and play from within myself because I also want the audience to enjoy what I play.
We use to practice 10 hours a day but now we practice 4-5 hours a day, 4 days a week. It is very common for us to practice this many hours a day and a must to perform well. As we practice together we also learn more.
(Band group members are) Shamim is the manager, Swapon is on Bass, Romel is on drums, and 2nd guitarist is Masad (who is back-up guitarist).
We have supported many humanitarian causes: Say No to Drugs, Save Motherhood Project (organized by Northern Light), and Victims Against Non-violence. We also play for people that may go through some day-to-day hardships such as a guy who was in an accident at Bhuit University. When the country needs help for any kind of humanitarian causes, the bands in Bangladesh are the first to help out.
Unfortunately, there are groups in Bangladesh that play together, but the leader singer does not give the other members credit. The main player carries himself as being solo and gives no recognition to the other band members.
All of us have a good friendship (with other bands) because we have the same background and are from the same society. All the bands are there for each other. Personally there is no competition but of course, musically there is competition on how I can make it better than someone else.
The lyrics from our band is Bangla, but it is my own lyrics. Folk music has been around since the birth of Bangladesh. Even when I recover folk music, I turn it into a remix but it still has an underlying folk background. I love Bangla folk music, but we do not use folk music for our lyrics. The lyrics I have written myself is 100% my own composition.
Most of us (LRB) use the same rhythm and use the same type of guitar but no usage of keyboard. There is no reoccurring pattern in our (LRB) music style but to make it loud and proud.
We have composed two songs in English. There will be an English album on our site by next week. Two songs are Hold On and Look at Me. I will shortly put up an English music video on our site.
Piracy is a problem in Bangladesh. Most popular companies because of piracy can’t work anymore. This creates tension for new upcoming bands – it will be like this for years – people will copy music all the time. [3]
[edit] Notes
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen. Prato, Greg. All Music Guide - Guns N' Roses. All Media Guide. Retrieved on 2007-08-04.
- ^ Ayub Bachchu was interviewed for this entry on January 18th, 2007
- ^ LRB
- ^ LRB
- ^ LRB
- ^ LRB
- ^ Music of Bangladesh - Biocrawler
- ^ http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Bangladesh
- ^ Reginald and Jamila Massey, The Music of India (New York: Crescendo Publishing, 1977)
- ^ http://en.wikapedia.org/wiki/Strophic_form
