Warfaze tributes the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, with a 3.5-hour live spectacle bridging two musical worlds!
What happens when an unstoppable, undying force in music brings a legendary, trendsetting icon’s classics in a never-seen-before extravaganza? On 31 July 2026, the crowd at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre (BCFCC), Dhaka, found out.
At the BCFCC Hall of Fame, Warfaze staged Suzuki Presents Playlist: Tribute to Originals | MJ × Warfaze Powered by Chuti Resort Cox’s Bazar. This ambitious concert brought together two musical worlds rarely experienced on the same stage. One belonged to Michael Jackson, the global pop phenomenon whose music transformed sound, dance, and live performance. The other belonged to Warfaze, the legendary rock band whose 42-year journey has helped shape the identity of Bangladeshi music.
With the adept organizing and strategic skills of Brandmyth Experiential and Mars & Co., the result was more than a mere attempt to reproduce a Michael Jackson concert note for note. It was about Warfaze interpreting the legend’s music through its own vocabulary that includes soaring guitars, powerful vocals, synthesizer-driven textures, and powerful bass. One could clearly see the confidence of a band with more than four decades of live concert experience across the globe and the recent attainment of the country’s second most prestigious civilian recognition, Ekushey Padak.
The concert marked Warfaze’s first solo appearance following its receipt of the Ekushey Padak. That significance was reflected in the audience: Michael Jackson admirers stood alongside lifelong Warfaze followers, united by anticipation for an unusual collision of pop and rock.
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How the Idea Came to Life
Michael Jackson is a name recognized across the world. But the idea of Bangladesh’s legendary rock band Warfaze dedicating an entire concert to the King of Pop initially began as a casual talk. Warfaze band leader Sheikh Monirul Alam Tipu and vocalist Palash Noor wondered what it would be like to stage a full tribute to the global icon. What started as an informal discussion soon began gathering momentum.
One evening, after Tipu casually shared the idea with Brandmyth Chairman Mr. Rakibul Azam, he instantly reached out to his team with an intriguing proposition: Could they bring the Michael Jackson tribute to life? And guess what, upon listening to the concept, Managing Director of Brandmyth, Mr. Md Imrul Kayes, and the Deputy Managing Director, Mr. Sheikh Mahdi Hasan, instantly grasped onto it. They even shared the idea and plan with the strategic design agency, Mars & Co.’s Chairman, Mr. Mahbubul Akram, who didn’t hesitate for once before coming aboard. By the following morning, conversations had already begun around the concert’s name, visual identity, and overall creative direction.
At first, even Tipu was surprised by how seriously Brandmyth had grasped onto the idea that had emerged from a casual exchange. But then, realizing the potential grandeur of the event, he shared Warfaze’s complete vision for the show with the leadership of Mars & Co. and Brandmyth. And the two agencies began shaping it into a full-scale live production. Booking Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center (BCFCC) as the event venue.
Big-shot teams for different aspects of the event were onboarded to leave no stone unturned for developing and presenting a historic show. Zunayed Sabbir Ahmed’s Studio Z, the dance group known for Michael Jackson covers, Stormy Sky Dance Company, the well-known event AV production team of SMS Production, top sound company SP Rhythm, highly seasoned ticketing platform Get Set Rock, top clothing brand Twelve Clothing, media partner Channel 24 Entertainment, and other partners were onboarded, each playing key roles in different aspects of the concert production.
Months of planning, selecting the songs, rehearsing, creative development, marketing, and production eventually culminated in Suzuki Presents Playlist: Tribute to Originals | MJ × Warfaze, Powered by Chuti Resort, Cox’s Bazar, turning a spontaneous, just-for-thought idea into one of the most ambitious tribute concerts staged in Bangladesh.
🎥 Watch how it all became a reality in the words of the core teams of the event
Rehearsals Leading Up to the Event
Warfaze, too, were not just going through the usual motions for the event. The rehearsals pre-event went beyond the Warfaze practice pad to ensure the performers aligned with the theme of the event and gave their all. From 25th to 30th July, 2026, Warfaze organized rehearsals for the event at Club Notre Damians, Bangladesh Ltd, adding a whole new level to the preparations.
The band leader, Tipu, onboarded artists and musicians outside the band to make the performance top-notch and one-of-a-kind. Female vocals like Wahida Hussain, Tashfee, Jannat Torsha, and Antora Rahman were brought in for the event as Choir Artists as well as supporting female vocals.
Himu as the DJ and Ujjal Das as the percussionist were tagged in as well. Along with Basic Guitar Learning School, Bandarban, whose young talents would go on to add a different dimension to the show. And not to forget the classical dancer Roza, who would blend in for the Indian dancing steps of “Black or White”.
The rehearsals at CNBL featured each member of the band and guest artists giving their all to make the event a success. From researching, brainstorming, rehearsing, and finalizing the 16 Michael Jackson songs for the event to the synchronization of all the performers’ teams of the event, almost everything occurred at that rehearsal venue. We can’t be more grateful to CNBL for being part of the event as Rehearsal Venue Partner.
Sponsors & Partners Who Propelled the Event into a Reality
The show would not have been possible without the financial, strategic, and logistical support of various brands. Coca-Cola, who previously featured Warfaze in their Coke Studio Bangla Season 3, were the first to extend their support to the journey. Followed by Carpe Diem, who got the wheels rolling with their involvement for the event. Chuti Resort, Cox’s Bazar gave the build-up to the event a boost with their association as the “Powered By” partner. A special mention would go to Ms. Farzana Habib, an industry veteran in managing artists and events herself and an expert in designing premium, designer clothes, who ensured the onboarding of Chuti Resort, Cox’s Bazar. And then entered the brand that sealed the deal for the event, Suzuki Motorbikes of Rancon Group. As the title sponsor, they simply elevated the extravagance of the show!
Special mentions would go to AMA Coffee, Polar Ice-Cream, Club Notre Damians Bangladesh, and Universal Medical College & Hospital, who supported and associated with the program in various ways to make it a success.
Rebuilding Michael Jackson Through Rock
Adapting Jackson’s catalogue for a rock band was never going to be simple. His recordings rely heavily on layered synthesizers, tightly controlled funk rhythms, orchestral elements, vocal harmonies, and intricate studio production. Guitar, while unforgettable in tracks such as “Beat It” and “Dirty Diana,” is not always the foundation of his sound.
Warfaze therefore had to rethink the songs rather than cover them. The band wanted to retain Jackson’s melodic and rhythmic identity while allowing the arrangements to carry the unmistakable weight of Warfaze.
The tribute began with the grooves of the iconic “Billie Jean”. From there, the band moved through 16 MJ classics featuring major moments from Jackson’s catalogue, including “Black or White,” “Human Nature,” “Earth Song,” “Give In to Me,” “The Way You Make Me Feel,” “They Don’t Care About Us,” “Beat It,” “Bad” and “Thriller.”
Stormy Sky Dance Company added another dimension to the production with choreography inspired by Jackson’s legendary visual language. Costumes by Twelve Clothing, 3D lighting and stage design by Studio Z and impeccable sound design by SP Rhythm transformed the concert into a celebration of the theatricality that made Jackson’s concerts cultural events.
Tribute Driven by Powerful Collaborations
The guest performers gave the show its own personality. Wahida Hussain brought vocal power to “Dirty Diana,” while Tashfee delivered an energetic rendition of “The Way You Make Me Feel.” Antora Rahman and Jannat Torsha also played a crucial role, recreating the stacked harmonies that give Jackson’s songs much of their depth and emotional force.
Warfaze guitarist Samir Hafiz performed “Smooth Criminal” and later took on “Man in the Mirror”, a demanding song built around restraint, gradual emotional escalation and a gospel-inspired climax. This was the first time Samir performed as a vocalist at a Warfaze concert, making the appearance an unexpected highlight.
“Beat It” naturally offered one of the clearest bridges between the two musical worlds. Its famous hard-rock edge allowed Warfaze’s guitars to move to the foreground.
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Spectacle Filled with Countless Emotions
Jackson’s socially conscious songs gave the concert some of its most heartfelt moments. During “Heal the World,” schoolchildren from Basic Guitar Learning School, Bandarban, joined the performers onstage as thousands of mobile-phone lights illuminated the hall. The performers and audience voiced the song together around a message of compassion and unity.
That feeling carried into the closing sequence of the tribute. Following “Bad” and “Thriller,” the entire cast came together for “We Are the World.” Performed beneath a waving Bangladeshi flag, the song provided a fitting conclusion to a set created from admiration rather than imitation.
And Then, Warfaze
The first half gave audiences an experience of Michael Jackson through the sound of Warfaze. And then the second half was about the pioneers of Bangla rock themselves! The band performed songs from its own celebrated catalogue, including “Hariye Tomake,” “Tomake,” “Oshamajik,” “Asha,” “Obak Bhalobasha,” “Mone Pore” and “Purnota.”
Familiar mass singalongs filled the Hall of Fame arena, with each chorus seemingly louder than the last. The evening eventually closed with the signature ending to Warfaze shows with “Boshe Achhi”; one of those enduring Warfaze songs that belongs as much to its listeners as it does to the musicians who created it.
A Night to Remember
The contrast between the two halves revealed the concert’s larger achievement. Michael Jackson and Warfaze come from different countries, genres, and performance traditions, but both have created music that continues to travel across generations. Jackson reshaped global pop culture; Warfaze helped build the foundations of modern Bangladeshi rock. For one night in Dhaka, those legacies met on a single stage. MJ × Warfaze was ultimately a celebration of the legendary music and songs that outlived their eras and continue to mesmerize audiences across generations. An unforgettable evening for all!
Check out some memorable snaps from the event if you were there; great! You were part of something historic! If not, better luck “next time”! 🤫😜
Gallery – Suzuki Presents Playlist: Tribute to Originals | MJ × Warfaze Powered by Chuti Resort Cox’s Bazar
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