Love Runs Blind
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Predecessor | Little River Band |
| Founded | 1991 in Chittagong, Bangladesh |
| Founder | Ayub Bachchu |
| Defunct | 2020 |
| Fate | Disbanded after death of lead vocalist and guitarist Ayub Bachchu in 2018 |
| Headquarters | Chittagong , Bangladesh |
Area served | Bangladesh, United States, Asia, Europe |
Key people | Ayub Bachchu (lead vocals, lead guitar), Saidul Hasan Swapan (bass guitar), S.I. Tutul (vocals, keyboards), Habib Anwar Joy (drums), Milton Akbar (drums), Riyad Sarwar (drums), Sumon (drums), Abdullah Al Masud (guitars), Golamur Rahman Romel (drums), Arif Shishir (drums) |
| Products | Studio albums, live albums, compilation albums |
Love Runs Blind, widely recognized as LRB, was a prominent rock group from Chittagong, Bangladesh, established by Ayub Bachchu.
Their discography includes thirteen studio albums, a live album, and two compilation records. LRB toured across the United States and holds the distinction of being the sole Bangladeshi rock band to perform at New York's Madison Square Garden.
Following their contract with Sargam Records, LRB introduced Bangladesh's inaugural double album in 1992, titled LRB I and LRB II. Their third studio effort, সুখ (Happiness) (1993), achieved major commercial acclaim, notably featuring the hit track "চলো বদলে যাই (Let's Change)," which remains one of the country's most celebrated rock anthems. Albums that followed, such as তবুও (Yet) (1994) and ঘুমন্ত শহরে (In the Sleeping City) (1995), helped maintain their widespread appeal. In September 1996, they launched Ferari Mon: Unplugged Live, marking Bangladesh's first live album release. Emerging into mainstream prominence during the early 1990s, LRB is regarded as part of the "Big Three of Rock" alongside Ark and Nagar Baul, credited with bringing hard rock into the Bangladeshi music scene.
On 18 October 2018, lead vocalist and guitarist Ayub Bachchu passed away due to cardiac failure. His last concert took place in Rangpur, Bangladesh, just two days before his death.
LRB continues to be acknowledged as one of Bangladesh's most influential and successful rock bands. They were ranked fourth in "Top 10 Rock Bands of Bangladesh" by The Top Tens. Their accolades include six Meril Prothom Alo Awards and a Citycell-Channel I Music Award received in 2007.
Formation and Early Work: L.R.B. I and L.R.B. II (1990–1992)
Ayub Bachchu created the band initially named Little River Band. Upon discovering an Australian group with the same name, he renamed it Love Runs Blind in 1997. In 1991, LRB performed at a concert hosted by BAMBA at University of Dhaka, sharing the stage with notable bands such as Souls, Feelings, and Ark.
The band’s early live appearances included venues like Hotel Sheraton and Chambeeli Super Club, where they performed alongside groups like Ark and Feedback. Early in 1991, they signed with Sargam Records and released their debut double album—LRB I and LRB II—which was Bangladesh’s first double album issued on cassette. The collection featured "ঘুম ভাঙ্গা শহরে (In the Woke Up City)," penned by lyricist Shahid Mahmud Jangi, which became Bangladesh’s pioneering rock hit and elevated the band's nationwide profile. Other notable tracks included "ঢাকার সন্ধ্যা (Evening of Dhaka)", "হকার (Hawker)", "মা (Mother)", and "এক কাপ চা (A Cup of Tea)".
Breakthrough with সুখ (Happiness) and Continued Success with তবুও (Yet) (1993–1994)
After their initial achievements, LRB partnered with Soundtek in 1992 to release their third album, সুখ (Happiness), in 1993. This album represented their first major commercial success, largely propelled by the power ballad "চলো বদলে যাই (Let's Change)," which became emblematic of their sound and one of that year’s top rock songs. The album also contained hard rock numbers such as "গতকাল রাতে (Last Night)" and "রুপালী গিটার (Silver Guitar)". Following this period, drummer Habib Anwar Joy left for Ark, with Milton Akbar stepping in during June 1993.
In 1994, LRB released their fourth studio album titled তবুও (Yet), under Sargam Records. Although it did not reach the commercial heights of its predecessor, it solidified their reputation within hard rock circles through tracks like "রাত জাগা পাখি (Night Bird)". In January 1994, Milton Akbar departed from the band and was succeeded by drummer Riyad.
Passing of Ayub Bachchu and Commemorative Concerts (2018–present)
In 2012, Ayub Bachchu was admitted to a hospital in Dhaka due to fluid buildup in his lungs and subsequently recovered after receiving medical care. He succumbed to heart failure on 18 October 2018 at Square Hospital and was laid to rest in Chittagong City, beside his mother's burial site.
After his passing, fellow band members and musicians organized the "Tribute to Ayub Bachchu" concert, produced by BAMBA, showcasing performances of LRB's songs. Additionally, a memorial event titled "আইয়ুব বাচ্চুর স্মরণে দুই বাংলার রকবাজি (In Memoriam of Ayub Bachchu, the Rocking of Two Bangla)" was held in Kolkata on 24 November 2018, featuring numerous Indian artists performing LRB’s repertoire.
Musical Style
LRB is distinguished as a hard rock ensemble that integrates elements of blues rock, soft rock, and psychedelic rock. They are acknowledged as trailblazers of heavy metal within Bangladesh. Their early inspirations encompassed bands such as the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, and Dire Straits. Ayub Bachchu himself identified Jimi Hendrix and Joe Satriani as major influences.
On the reverse cover of their album LRB II, Bachchu commented:
Throughout the 1990s, LRB’s albums predominantly featured hard rock, pop rock, and blues rock styles. Beginning with their 2007 release "স্পর্শ (Touch)", they incorporated a greater number of heavy metal tracks. After Abdullah al Masud joined as a second guitarist in 2003, the band’s sound shifted toward a heavier tone. Their last two studio albums, "যুদ্ধ (War)" (2012) and "রাখে আল্লাহ মারে কে (Allah Keeps, Who Kills)" (2016), mainly consisted of heavy metal compositions.
Tours
LRB has delivered more than 1,000 live performances, including extensive concerts throughout Bangladesh as well as tours across Asia, Europe, and North America. Their inaugural international gig occurred in India in 1997 at Jadavpur University, where their performance quality impressed organizers sufficiently to invite them as judges. In 1998, LRB toured the United States, performing across seven states; they also played in Qatar, Abu Dhabi, Japan, Germany, Austria, and Italy. The band returned for a second US tour in 2000 and embarked on a European tour in 2002 that included Austria, the United Kingdom, and Australia.
From 2003 through 2006, LRB held multiple concerts in Italy and Belgium alongside shows in various Indian cities, Germany, Singapore (notably at Fort Canyon Park), Hong Kong, and London's Wembley Arena. They have appeared at venues such as Salt Lake Stadium, Science City Theater, Alpha Bangla, ETV Bangla, Najrul Manch, Rabindra Shorobor, Guru Nanak University (Jodhpur), Haldia Utshab, Durgapur University, Kalyani, Government Engineering College ("EXOTICA '08"), and NRS Medical College and Hospital ("ECSTASY 2013") located in Kolkata. Among their distinguished performances are appearances at London's Wimbledon Stadium and twice at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
LRB has utilized their music to advocate for social causes alongside other Bengali rock bands. They have performed benefits for children affected by the Tsunami and Sidr calamities and supported initiatives such as "Say No to Drugs," "Save Motherhood," and "Victims Against Non-violence." In 1998, Ayub Bachchu released a solo album titled বাঁচাও বিধাতা (Save Me God) aimed at assisting flood victims in Bangladesh.
Discography
Studio Albums
- L.R.B I (1992)
- L.R.B II (1992)
- সুখ (Happiness) (1993)
- তবুও (Yet) (1994)
- Chomok (1994) – EP
- ঘুমন্ত শহরে (In the Sleeping City) (1995)
- Capsule 500mg (1995) – EP
- Screw Driver (1996) – EP
- স্বপ্ন (Dream) (1996)
- ফেরারী মন: Unplugged Live (1996)
- Dhun (1998) – EP
- আমাদের? (Ours?) (1998)
- বিস্ময় (Wonder) (1998)
- মন চাইলে মন পাবে (If You Want My Heart, You'll Get it) (2000)
- অচেনা জীবন (Unknown Life) (2003)
- মনে আছে নাকি নাই (Do You Remember, or Not) (2005)
- স্পর্শ (Touch) (2008)
- যুদ্ধ (War) (2012)
- রাখে আল্লাহ মারে কে (Allah Keeps, Who Kills) (2016)
Awards
Meril Prothom Alo Awards |- | 1998 || Love Runs Blind || Best Band of the Year || won |- | 1999 || Love Runs Blind || Best Band of the Year || won |- | 2000 || Love Runs Blind || Best Band of the Year || won |- | 2001 || মন চাইলে মন পাবে (If You Want My Heart, You'll Get it) || Best Band Album of the Year || won |- | 2005 || Love Runs Blind || Best Band of the Year || won |- | 2007 || স্পর্শ (Touch) || Best Band Album of the Year || won |- | 2009 || Bolini Tomai || Best Male Vocal of the Year || nominated
Citycell-Channel I Music Awards |- | 2007 || স্পর্শ (Touch) || Album of the Year || won
Members
- Ayub Bachchu (deceased 2018) — lead vocals, lead guitar (1991–2018)
- Saidul Hasan Swapan — bass guitar (1991–2018)
- S.I. Tutul — vocals, keyboards (1991–2003)
- Habib Anwar Joy — drums (1991–1993)
- Milton Akbar — drums (1994–1995)
- Riaydh Sarwar — drums (1995–2006)
- Sumon — drums (2003–2006)
- Abdullah Al Masud — guitars (2003–2018)
- Golamur Rahman Romel — drums (2006–2015; 2016–2018)
- Arif Shishir — drums (2015–2016)