Saidos Salehin Khaled Sumon, widely known in Bangladesh's band music scene as "Bassbaba Sumon", has looked back on his eventful musical journey and personal struggles in a recent television appearance. The lead vocalist and bassist of the band Artcell remains one of the most compelling figures in Bangladeshi rock, both for his artistic evolution and his resilience in the face of life-threatening challenges.
Few know that Sumon began his musical journey even before finishing school. Soon after completing his SSC examinations, he joined the band Feelings as a bassist, performing with them from 1990 to 1993. Over the years, he went on to play with several prominent bands, including Aces, In Dhaka, Sweet Venom, Rock Brigade, Jolly Roger, Shobdo and Warfaze.
In 1997, while still associated with Warfaze, Sumon released his solo album "Sumon O Artcell", which received widespread acclaim. Two years later, he left Warfaze to form Artcell, a band that would go on to achieve massive popularity in a short span of time. Alongside four studio albums with the band, Sumon has also released multiple solo and collaborative projects.
In 2011, Sumon was diagnosed with stomach cancer. After undergoing prolonged treatment, he overcame the illness and returned to music. However, his struggles did not end there. A severe road accident later left him critically injured, resulting in a total of 36 surgeries. Despite these setbacks, he continued to return to the stage, reaffirming his commitment to music.
Sumon recently appeared on Maasranga Television's programme "Nineties Music Story", where he spoke candidly about his early career, health battles and the defining moments of the 1990s music scene. Recalling his first major break, he said a friend had taken him to meet musician James shortly after his SSC exams. "James bhai asked me to play the bass, and after hearing me, he told me to join Feelings. It was unbelievable for me," he recalled.
He also shared how watching Kamal of Warfaze play bass during a school programme at Government Laboratory School inspired him deeply, calling Kamal his greatest influence. The episode features Sumon reminiscing about cassette-era music culture, late-night addas on Elephant Road, experimental performances, the origin of his nickname "Bassbaba", and other anecdotes from his long career.
Written by Riyad Shimul and produced by SM Humayun Kabir, the episode of "Nineties Music Story" featuring Sumon will be aired on December 13 at 12 am on Maasranga Television.
