Five decades after taking its initial steps in the music scene, Feedback, one of Bangladesh’s most pioneering rock bands, is preparing to celebrate its golden jubilee. To mark this 50-year milestone, the band has unveiled an ambitious lineup of events, including its first studio album in 11 years, a retrospective documentary, and a nationwide concert tour spanning from Chittagong to Dhaka.
The celebration officially commenced with a press conference held at the Daily Star Centre’s A. S. Mahmud Hall in Farmgate, Dhaka. Current band members gathered to share their plans for commemorating a legacy that has fundamentally shaped the landscape of Bengali pop and rock music.
A Return to the Studio and Reimagined Classics
Music lovers will soon hear fresh material from Feedback, ending a recording hiatus that began after their last release, Ekhon, in 2015. The group has already completed six new tracks. Keyboardist and founding member Fuad Naser Babu revealed that the band intends to release these songs incrementally to keep fans surprised and engaged.
In tandem with the new tracks, Feedback plans to re-record a selection of their most iconic hits with revised arrangements. To bridge generations and foster creative collaboration, guest vocalists from prominent contemporary bands and solo artists will feature on these tracks.
To document their rich history, the band is also producing a 25-minute documentary. Featuring interviews with both former and current members, the film will delve into the group’s evolution, internal dynamics, personal reflections, and historical impact over the last half-century.
Reflecting on their approach, Fuad Naser Babu emphasised a grounded attitude: “We are not making grand or overly ambitious claims. We will move forward considering the overall environment. However, our audience loves us for our music, and we want to celebrate 50 years through music.”
From Chittagong’s Enthusiasm to a Grand Finale in Dhaka
The golden jubilee celebrations will launch in Chittagong and culminate in Dhaka in October 2027, the exact month marking their 50th anniversary. Before the grand finale, the band will tour several districts across the country to connect with their audience.
Chittagong holds a uniquely significant place in Feedback’s history. The band’s association with the port city dates back to 1979, when they performed at the Chittagong Club’s centenary celebration and held their first public show at the Muslim Institute. Over the decades, Feedback performed there with extraordinary frequency, occasionally playing 12 to 14 shows a year in the city. In total, they have staged over 500 concerts in Chittagong.
“We have toured the entire country, but the reception in Chittagong is entirely unique,” Babu recalled. “Our popularity there was so intense that we could barely walk down the street. Decades ago, crowds gathered for autographs and photographs; even today, that same fervor exists. Chittagong has always been a lucky charm for Feedback.”
The Evolution: From Ultrasonics to Feedback
The band’s story began in 1977 when musicians from an earlier outfit named Ultrasonics joined forces with like-minded artists to form Feedback 20th Century. The founding lineup featured Ershad Moinuddin Popsi on drums, Murad Rahman on bass guitar, Selim Haider on lead guitar, Zakiur Rahman on vocals and guitar, and Fuad Naser Babu on keyboards. Kingsley Richter, Sanu Richter, and Sandra Hoff performed as guest vocalists, while Hafizur Rahman served as the band’s manager.
In their formative years, the group primarily performed covers of international hits. Their rising profile secured them a regular residency at the Hotel InterContinental in Dhaka, where they performed three nights a week until 1987. During the late 1970s, as a few original members moved abroad, pivotal musicians such as Pearu Khan and the iconic vocalist Magsudul Haque joined the lineup. Around 1979–1980, the band shortened its name to simply Feedback.
Recalling those early days, Babu noted, “We were incredibly excited back then, playing popular cover tunes. As our visibility grew, our first major break was the regular gig at the Hotel InterContinental.”
First Open Concerts, Television Breakthroughs, and Iconic Discography
Building confidence from their hotel performances, Feedback transitioned to public stages. On 25 September 1979, they played their first open concert at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, organized by the Leo Club. The enthusiastic response opened doors to mainstream broadcasting.
In 1981, Feedback recorded their first original track, ‘Ei Din Chirodin’, for a magazine show on Bangladesh Television (BTV). This marked a turning point, paving the way for their debut self-titled album, Feedback, released by Sargam in 1985. They followed it with Ullash in 1987 and Mela in 1990. Mela became a landmark success in Bengali pop culture; Babu fondly recalled a fan telling him that he listened to the cassette tape so many times that the physical tape tore inside the player.
Feedback achieved an international milestone in 1992 when Kolkata’s HMV released their album Jowar, making them the first Bangladeshi band to release an album under the legendary Indian record label. Their subsequent discography includes groundbreaking albums such as Bongabdo 1400 (1994), Dehoghori (1995), Bauliana (1996), Anondo (1999), Ei Shotobdir Feedback (2000), 02 (2002), and Ekhon (2015).
Legacy and the Current Lineup
Across five decades, numerous renowned artists have been part of the Feedback journey, including Murad Hossain, Magsudul Haque, Omar Khaled Rumi, Musa Rahman, Reshad Mahmud, and Hafizur Rahman. Despite membership changes, the band maintained its artistic momentum and distinct sound.
Today, Feedback operates with a robust lineup featuring Labu Rahman (guitar and vocals), Enam Elahi Tonty (drums and percussion), Raihan Hasan (vocals and acoustic guitar), Fuad Naser Babu (keyboards), Mohammad Danesh (bass guitar), and Robiul Alam Real (vocals).
Their catalog boasts unforgettable classics like ‘Mousumi’, ‘Chithi’, ‘Amar Notun Akashe’, ‘Mela’, ‘Fire Esho’, ‘Moyuri Akash’, ‘Majhi’, ‘Kori Mana’, ‘Jonom Dukhi’, ‘Adam Hawa’, ‘Mon Aj Amar’, ‘Kemon Achi’, ‘Fosholer Gan’, ‘Protorona’, ‘Ek Akash’, ‘Hridoye Hridoye’, and ‘Uru Uru Monta’.
The band’s cultural contributions have earned them industry accolades, including the Jaijaidin Best Band Award in 1995 and the RTV Best Band Award in 2017. However, for Fuad Naser Babu, the enduring affection of their audience remains the ultimate reward. He emphasizes that nurturing a band requires the same sustained care and responsibility as building an institution—a commitment that has kept Feedback vibrant for 50 years and continues to drive their golden jubilee voyage.
