Twenty of Ayub Bachchu’s most beloved songs are getting new arrangements in a musical tribute to the late rock legend. Titled Uttoradhikar, the project brings together eight Bangladeshi bands and 12 artistes.
The double-CD album will be released on 16 August, Bachchu’s birth anniversary, and will also be available on digital platforms. Proceeds will go towards establishing the Ayub Bachchu Guitar Museum, a long-standing dream of his family and the Ayub Bachchu Foundation.
The project details will be unveiled at a press conference at The Daily Star office on 16 August. Ferdous Akhtar Chondona, Bachchu’s wife and chairperson of the Ayub Bachchu Foundation, will speak at the event.
The participating bands are Dalchhut, Arbovirus, Shonar Bangla Circus, Shuvojatra, Calypso, RockSalt, Dopamine and AK Rahul. Solo artistes include Babna Karim, Russell Ali, Romel Ali, Chandan Zaman Ali, Kaniz Subarna, Sazzad, Palash, Joy Shahriar, Adit Rahman, Bakhtiar Hossain, Atika Yamin and Autumnal Moon. Iqbal Asif Jewel has mastered all the tracks.
Dalchhut performs Rupali Guitar, Arbovirus Neel Bedona, Shonar Bangla Circus Gotokal Rate, Shuvojatra Cholo Bodley Jai, Calypso Chand Mama, RockSalt Ochena Jibon, Dopamine Madhobi and AK Rahul Mon Chaile Mon.
Among the solo artistes, Babna Karim and Russell Ali perform Hashte Dekho, Romel Ali Ekhon Onek Raat, Chandan Zaman Ali Meye, Kaniz Subarna and Sazzad Koshto Pete Bhalobashi, Palash Apon Keho Nai, Joy Shahriar Koshto Kake Bole, Adit Ghumonto Shohore, Bakhtiar Hossain Rater Tara, Atika Yamin Ferari Mon, Autumnal Moon Hawker, Kanak Acharya Nirobe and Towfique Ahmed Bangladesh.
Bachchu’s passion for guitars was legendary. He collected instruments from renowned brands across countries including Austria and the United States. His family and the foundation now plan to display around 50 of his guitars at the proposed museum, including his prized Fender Stratocaster and Ibanez JEM 77.
The guitars remain at his Moghbazar home, where Chondona carefully preserves the memorabilia. The family previously held exhibitions in Dhaka and Chattogram around three years ago, displaying several of Bachchu’s guitars.
For nearly eight years, the family has been working towards a museum dedicated to his legacy. The planned collection will include his guitars, equipment from AB Kitchen, caps, T-shirts and other personal memorabilia.
