Love Runs Blind (LRB)

Love Runs Blind (LRB)
Origin Dhaka, Bangladesh
Genres Hard rock, alternative rock, soft rock
Years active 05 April 1991 – present
Website www.ablrb.net
Members Ayub Bachchu
Swapan
Masud
Romel
Past members Joyy, Tutul, Milton Akbar, Riyadh, Shumon

LRB (Love Runs Blind) is a Bangladeshi rock band founded in 1991 by guitarist Ayub Bachchu.[1] The group consists of Ayub Bachchu (lead vocal and guitar), Swapan (bass guitar), Masud (guitar) and Romel (drums).[2]

Name

The acronym LRB originally stood for Little River Band, but since another Australian band already had that name, Bachchu changed it to Love Runs Blind.

History

Bachchu was born in Chittagong, Bangladesh. He started his music career with a band called Feelings. Then Bachchu spent ten years with Souls, the legendary Bangladeshi rock band. At Souls, Bachchu played a key role in writing songs and having them performed. Souls was originally based in Chittagong but later moved to Dhaka, which is the capital of Bangladesh. Souls was formed in 1972 and its initial gigs were in hotels where they covered American pop music. Bachchu joined Souls as lead guitarist in 1976 and left in 1991 to start LRB. During this period, Souls produced five albums and performed in about 4,000 concerts, mostly in Bangladesh. Souls caught a huge break with the album Super Souls, the first rock album released in Bangladesh. Mon Shudhu Mon Chuyeche was the most notable track of the album. Although Souls still exists as a musical group, the founders have all started their own musical groups.

Band group

The original members of LRB were Ayub Bachchu (vocals and lead guitar), Saidul Hasan Swapan (bass guitar), Shahidul Islam Tutul (keyboard and backup vocals) and Joyy (drums and back up vocals). The band went through changes in personnel a few times in its history, but Bachchu and Swapan never left. Shamim Ahamed is the current band manager.

Drummer

The following drummers were with the band in the past:

Ayub Bachchu's western musical idols are Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Joe Satriani, Ritchie Blackmore and Brian May. Bachchu also played with Departo in the United Kingdom. Bachchu owns his own music studio named AB Kitchen and has a reputation for wearing a headdress at concerts."[3]

Music and tours

Ayub Bachchu performing in the grand finale of Emami Fair and Handsome: The Ultimate Man.

LRB released their first double album in 1992 and has released 10 albums through year-end 2007. Also, Ayub Bachchu has recorded six solo albums. These albums include Amader, Bishwe, Ferari Mon (unplugged), Ghumonto Shohore, Hokaar, ochena Jibone, Mone Achhe Naki Nai, Shopno, Shukh, Tobuo, and Collection of LRB and their last album 'Sporsho'. LRB is the only band in Bangladesh to have the credit of releasing two double album among which one was their debut album. LRB has also got the credit of releasing an unplugged album 'Ferari Mon' for the first time in Bangladesh. 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”, "Mon Chaile mon Pabe", "Baro mash", . 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”."[3]

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 LRB was to perform. But they organiser was little bit doubtful about the quality of the band. After their performance they request LRB to act as a judge which Ayub Bachchu agreed to comply with. 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."[3]

From 2003 through 2006, LRB performed twice in Italy (Rome) and Belgium. They also performed in many cities in India as well as Germany (Frankfurt), Singapore, Hong Kong, and Wembley Arena in London. 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, Durgapur University, Kalyani, Govt Engg. College in their college fest(EXOTICA '08), and recently at NRS Medical College & Hospital,Kolkata in their college fest (ECSTASY 2k13). LRB has performed in Wimbledon Stadium in London, Madison Square Garden in New York City twice, and Ellin Garden in the United Kingdom."[3]

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 & Sidr. 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. In 1998 Ayub bachchu released a Single album 'Bachao Bidhata' for the aid of the flood-stricken people of the country.

Influence of Bengali music tradition

Although LRB is a Rock 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:[4]

Classical

Based on musical modes called ragas. 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, Bachchu 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 emphasised a common theme of philosophy and love. Music was influenced by western styles of the late 1800s 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 Nazrul 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 prefers not to use folk music in his songs. Instead, 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.

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.

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, bass and drums. The band does not use traditional Bengali musical instruments such as the sitar, sarod, sarangi, or tabla. This choice of instruments provides a western music sound rather than musical motifs of traditional 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 of 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.

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, to provide greater musical variety. Bachu is an expert guitarist and has used many rock and roll techniques with his guitar such as Legato, two-handed tapping, sweep-picking, volume swells, harmonics, and extreme whammy effects.

LRB uses these 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 to 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.

Full discography

Studio albums

Live album

Compilation albums

Mixed albums

See also

References

  1. ↑ ""Even the gentle breeze is my source of inspiration"—Bachchu". The Daily Star (Bangladesh). 10 May 2005. Retrieved 5 March 2009.
  2. ↑ "Biography – Band Line-up 2003–2007". Retrieved 12 November 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Band Profile". LRB. Archived from the original on 7 June 2008.
  4. ↑ Reginald and Jamila Massey, The Music of India (New York: Crescendo Publishing, 1977)
  5. ↑ "LRB's Juddho now at Banglalink Music Station". Retrieved 12 November 2012.
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