Ayub Bachchu (16 August 1962 – 18 October 2018, mostly known as AB[1]) was a Bengali guitarist, composer, singer and songwriter, who was a member of the Bangladeshi rock band LRB. He earned success as the founder and the lead guitarist of LRB.[2]
Bachchu began his career as the guitarist of Feelings where he played from 1977 to 1980, in Chittagong City[3]. In 1980, he joined Souls where he played for 10 years and appeared in four studio albums including Super Souls (1982), College-er Coridoore (In the Corridors of College) (1985), Masush Matir Kachakachi (People are Close to the Ground) (1987) and East and West (1988). In 1990, he left the band to form his own band LRB, where he was the vocalist and guitarist for 28 years, until his death in 2018. He also received well success as a solo artist. He was also one of the wealthiest celebrities of Bangladesh, with a net worth of US $2 million dollars.[4]
Bachchu is widely regarded as the greatest and most influential guitarist of Bangladesh. He is sometimes referred to as "the guitar god".
Early life and education
Ayub Bachchu was born in Chittagong in Patiya Upazila at Khorna union on 16 August 1962.[5] His father was Mohammad Ishuque Chowdhury and his mother was Nurjahan Begum. His nickname was Robin. He grew up in Chittagong. He was a student of Government Muslim High School in Chittagong. He got his first guitar from his father at the age of 11 as a gift. At the age of 13, he started learning guitar on his own. He was very attracted to the music of Jimi Hendrix. His parents did not support him on becoming a guitarist.[6]
Career
1978-1990: Feelings and Souls
Bachchu started his music career with the rock band Feelings (now known as Nagar Baul).[1] He made his debut in the music industry by giving voice in the song "Harano Bikeler Golpo". In 1978 he joined the band as the lead guitarist and only stayed with the band for next two years until in 1980 he got a contract from Souls, as their lead guitarist Sajed ul Alam had left the band for the United States. Bachchu joined with Souls, in 1980.[1] He accepted the contract and played with the band for next 10 years as the lead guitarist, songwriter and occasional singer. He had appeared on four studio albums of the band, including Super Souls (1982), College-er Corridorey (1985), Manush Mqatir Kachakachi (1987) and East and West (1988).
In 1986, he released his first solo music album Rakto Golap.[5] He got his breakthrough in his second solo album Moyna in 1988.[5][7]
1991-2018: LRB
Bachchu performing at the City of Winter Garden in 2008
In 1991, he left Souls after 11 years and formed his own band, Love Runs Blind populerly known as LRB.[1][5] LRB released their first studio album as a double album,[1]L.R.B I and L.R.B II which contained hard rock songs including "Ghum Vanga Shohore", "Madhobi", "Hocker", "Sesh Chithhi Keno Amon Chithhi Hoy", "Happy", and "Dhakar Sondha".[8]
LRB released their second album, "Shukh" and third album Tobuo in 1993 and 1994 respectively. It contained hard rock, blues, rock songs like "Shukh", "Gotokal raate", "Khoniker Jonno", "Cholo Bodle Jai", "Shei Tumi", "Hashte Dakho Gaite Dakho", and "Rupali guitar". Bachchu released his third solo album Koshto in 1995.[5]
Solo work
Bachchu has recorded seventeen solo studio albums from 1986 to 2015. His first solo album was Rakto Golap (1986).[5] In 2015 Bachchu released seventeen and the last solo Jiboner Golpo.
Other works
Bachchu performed live with Richard & Le Gang (France); Remo Fernandes, Nandon Bugchi, and Bickram Ghosh of India; and Azam Khan, Feelings (now Nogor Baul), Miles, Warfaze.[5] He appeared as a judge on IIM Joka 'Rock Fest' (India), Benson and Hedges Star Search I and II, and DRockstar I. Bachchu was one of the panel judges of Bangladeshi Idol. He led LRB at the South Asian Bands Festival 2013. He has worked as a music director for Azam Khan, Niloy Das, Khalid Hasan Milu, Shaikh Ishtiaque, Nasim Ali Khan, Tapan Chowdhury, Hasan Abidur Reza Jewel, Alam Ara Minu, Rupam Islam, Jholo, and many others.
Bachchu was renowned for his musical scoring of television commercials.[1] He wrote songs for Grameenphone, provided the tune and music arrangement for the song "Dol Laagé Dol, Praané Laagé Dol/ Paayé Laagé Chhando Praané Laagé Football" for the local television channels on the occasion of the FIFA World Cup 2014.[9][10][11][12]
Bachchu collaborated with Radio Foorti to bring new talents and fresh voices into the spotlight by giving them a platform to perform and shine. Bachchu was one of the leaders of Bangladesh Musical Bands Association (BAMBA).[13]
Personal life
Bachchu married to Ferdous Chandana. The couple had two children: Tazwar and Fairuj.
Death
Bachchu was admitted to the CCU of a hospital in Dhaka on November 2012 for the accretion of water in his lungs. He recovered after receiving treatment.[14] On 18 October 2018, he died of cardiac failure at his residence in Maghbazar, Dhaka at 21:55 BST at the age of 56.[5] He was declared dead at the Square Hospital, Dhaka.[15] He was buried in Chaitonno Goli graveyard, Chittagong beside his mother's grave.[16][17][18][19]
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