Line-up: Hamin Ahmed (guitar & vocals) Shafin Ahmed (bass guitar & vocals) Manam Ahmed (keyboards & vocals), Iqbal Asif Jewel (guitar & vocals) Syed Ziaur Rahman Turjo (drums).

Photo: Miles

Starting Of Miles:
They started out by singing in one of the posh hotels in the country. They did live shows three to five nights a week regularly. They were quite satisfied to perform live in front of a select group of listeners. But it wasn't until they brought out their first album of original songs in Bangla that they instantly became famous. The band in question is 'MILES' and with their fresh, upbeat music they really have gone miles and set a standard in band music.

Band Line-up:
MILES was formed by Farid Rashid, Kamal, Ishtiaq, Larry, Musa and Robin in Dhaka in 1979. The gifted brothers Hamin Ahmed and Shafin Ahmed joined MILES a couple of months later in the same year as guitarists and vocalists. In 1982, ace keyboard player Manam Ahmed became a part of the band.

First Line-up: Happy Akhand (keyboards & vocal) Farid Rashid (bass guitar & vocal) Larry Burnaby (guitar) Ishtiaq (guitar) Kamal Mainuddin (drums) Robin (keyboards & vocal)

Other Line-up Members: Khayem (bass) Shehedul Huda [drums] Milton (drums) Mahbub Rashid (drums)

Early years of Miles:
From 1979 to 1982, MILES performed regularly at the Chameli Supper Club of Hotel Intercontinental (now Sheraton). From 1983 to 1990 they played at the discotheque and coffee shop of the Sonargaon Pan Pacific Hotel. In 1982 they first appeared on television. In that year they also performed their first live show at Shilpakala Academy premises in front of a 1500 strong audience. MILES brought out its first album in English in 1982. In fact the band's second album was also in English. Both had a blend of original and cover numbers. But that was MILES in its early days.

Miles Albums:
The band's first Bangla album titled 'Protisruti' was released in 1991. Young music lovers all over the country were singing the catchy number 'Chand tara' as soon as the album was out. The rest of the songs in the album also scored big with the listeners. The band's fourth album 'Prottasha' (second Bangla) came out in 1993 and became a phenomenal success in the history of band music. The album sold approximately three lakh copies within a few months of its release. 'Prottasha' is still one of the best selling band albums in the country. The band first appeared on television in 1991 with its popular Bangla numbers.

Miles Music...
Aar Koto kal	Miles	Play
Bhalobeshona	Miles	Play
Dhiki Dhiki	Miles	Play

Miles - About us:
MILES describe themselves 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."

Miles Achivements:
MILES is also a pioneer when it comes to activities related to promoting Bangladeshi band music. In 1992, MILES enthralled audience in Bangalore, India by presenting a three-hour English rock concert. They were the first ever Bangladeshi band to bring out a CD in 1994 titled 'Best of MILES'. MILES have participated in five concerts in India and two concerts in the Gulf States of Abu Dhabi and Dubai, MILES was also the first band to go on a tour in the United States and Canada in 1996.

It wasn't until some people actually threw a challenge at MILES claiming the band couldn't compose Bangla songs that they brought out their first Bangla album. "Some people were sceptical about whether we could do Bangla music," Shafin recalls. "We've all received training in music from our early childhood." Incidentally, Hamin and Shafin are the sons of acclaimed Nazrul Sangeet exponent Feroza Begum and Manam Ahmed is the son of well-known music director Monsur Ahmed. The response to the first album was phenomenal. In MILES' history the biggest concert till date was at the Dhaka national stadium where the audience turnout was about 60,000, according to press reports. The concert was organised by Bangladesh Cricket Control Board and sponsored by Pepsi after Bangladesh won cricket test status.

In 2001, MILES was invited to take part in the 'United for Gujrat' concert in New Delhi's Jawharlal Nehru Stadium. Leading bands from the subcontinent such as JUNOON, EUPHORIA, SILK ROUTE and MILES performed together for the first time. The band has till date performed in over 350 concerts and a lot of charity shows. Their next album is due sometime this year.

Address:
49 Airport Road, Tejgaon, Dhaka 1215
Tel:
880-2-911 6313
880-2-911 8228
Email: shafmiles@hotmail.com, miles@ovation.com

News Source Courtesy: Lavina Ambreen, Hana Shams, The Daily Star & Miles
Edited by Nahidul Haq