Miles (band)

Miles
Miles performing in 2013
Background information
Origin	Dhaka, Bangladesh
Genres	Pop rock, Rock fusion
Years active	1979 – present
Members	Shafin Ahmed Hamin Ahmed Manam Ahmed Syed Ziaur Rahman Turjo Iqbal Asif Jewel

Miles (Bengali: মাইলস) is a Bangladeshi rock band based in Dhaka. Formed in 1979, the group is widely considered as one of the most popular rock bands in South Asia.^[1][2] The group currently consists of Hamin Ahmed (vocals and guitar), Manam Ahmed (keyboards, keytar and vocals), Syed Ziaur Rahman Turjo (drums and percussion) and Iqbal Asif Jewel (guitar and vocals).

History

The group initially included Farid Rashid (vocals and bass), Kamal Mainuddin (drums), Larry Burnaby (lead guitar), Ishtiaq (lead guitar), Musa (guitar), Robin (keyboard and vocals) and Happy Akhand (keyboards and vocals). Later additions were Shehedul Huda (drums), Khayem (bass), Milton (drums), Mahbub Rashid (drums) and Schumann Zaman (bass).

In 1982, their first album was released in English, the self-titled Miles, including three original songs and seven cover songs. Their first Bengali album, Protisruti, was released in 1991. It included 12 original Bengali songs. Their second Bengali album, Prottasha, was released in 1993. In 1994, the first CD of the band was released as Best of Miles. This was the first ever CD by a Bangladeshi band.

The fourth Bengali album, Probaho, was produced in 1999.

Concerts

From 1979 to 1982, Miles played at the Chambeeli Super Club at the Hotel Intercontinental in Dhaka five nights a week. They went on to perform in Bangladesh television. In 1982, Miles made their first appearance in public concert at Shilpakala Academy Auditorium in Dhaka.

In 1991, they performed their first concert outside Bangladesh, in Bangalore, India. In 1996 and 1998 they went back to India to perform in Kolkata. In 1996 they did a major tour in the US and Canada over two months. They performed in New York City, Dallas, Oklahoma City, Chicago, Miami and Montreal.

In 1999, they performed in a large concert at Chittagong stadium with over 30,000 attending. Miles toured Australia and Italy in 2008. They also went to the cities of Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

In 2010, Miles performed mainly in stadium concerts across the country, in cities including Rangpur, Comilla, Mymensingh, Khulna, Rajshahi, Chittagong and Dhaka.

In 2012, Miles started their 30-year anniversary tour by performing in US cities including Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Jose, and Seattle.

Miles' concert tickets are currently the highest priced (up to $250 USD) of any sub-continent music bands touring the US.

Media

In 1993, Miles signed with Pepsi Cola for a sponsorship agreement, which included exclusive concerts organized by Pepsi. Channel V and MTV Asia covered Miles' concert and tour news.

BBC aired a number of Miles' interviews on different programs, along with some of their notable Bengali songs. An interview was published in Janomot, the oldest Bengali newspaper of London.

In 2011, Grameenphone, the largest mobile operator in the country, launched a campaign of Miles' album Proticchobi.

Musical style

Miles describe their work as a pop rock act. "We have been inspired by blues, Latin, jazz, rock and techno music," says Manam. "So our music is a combination of varied sounds and styles."

Band members

Current band members include, from left, Shafin Ahmed, Hamin Ahmed, Iqbal Asif Jewel, Syed Ziaur Rahman Turjo and Manam Ahmed.

Discography

References