For those of us who have a slight inclination towards arts and music, growing up in kolkata during the 90’s was dull and directionless. We had missed the revolutionary 60’s & 70’s by a few decades and the 80’s was perhaps the worst decade socio-politically speaking, creativity, music, art, cinema too was at it lowest point... we had no icon to look upto, nothing to identify ourselves with. But then we discovered Bangla Rock.. a vernacular expression of an international format. We embraced it with open arms and suddenly you had a great enthusiasm gripping us young school and college goers with dreams of all kinds of possibilities. Bangla Rock- listening to bootlegged cassettes brought in by our friends from Jadavpur of Bangladeshi bands, Miles, Souls, Renaissance, James, warfaze and of course Ayub Bacchu and LRB we were mesmerised! Closer home Cactus, Abhilasha and of course Mohin were leading the movement..Those were the days of learning guitar chords and singing in unison in the college canteen, Nandan premise .... “Sei Tumi” by Ayub Bhai was an anthem, sacred and not to be fucked around with, chords had to be perfect..!!
Today when I heard the news that Ayub Bacchu has passed away it’s like a part of my growing up has just died! He might not be well known outside of the Bangladesh and West Bengal but there is little doubt of his immense talent as a guitarist and singer. He tamed the six strings like no other.. Rock at its melodious and heaviest best! The Bangla Rock movement just lost a true Icon! I know I have lost a hero! A sad sad day indeed!
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