Founding member of The Zutons taken to hospital after ‘abhorrent racist attack’

Boyan Chowdhury, a founding member of the band The Zutons, has been injured in an ‘abhorrent’ racist attack.

The guitarist, 46, was taken to hospital after being struck by a man with a piece of wood in the Wavertree area of Liverpool on Saturday afternoon.

He wrote on Instagram, alongside photos of his injuries: ‘If I hadn’t of turned around I believe I would’ve been struck on the back of the head and dead right now.’
‘He got me across the front and as you can see split my head open down to the skull.

They had ran back to his friends house to get the piece of wood to attack me.’
He also said that the ‘gang of lads’ called him a variety of racial slurs.

Detective Inspector Debra Morley of Merseyside Police told The BBC: ‘This was a shocking assault that has absolutely no place in our communities.

‘To racially abuse someone and then attack him with a weapon is abhorrent and I’m sure the public in Merseyside will be just as appalled as we are about what happened.

‘An investigation is ongoing into this incident and we are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.

If you saw this group of males near Fieldway or witnessed the incident, then please come forward.

‘Violence and hate crime will simply never be tolerated in our communities.

‘We have specially trained officers who respond to reports of hate crime with compassion and sensitivity, ensuring that every piece of information is acted upon to bring offenders to justice.’
Chowdhury was The Zutons’ original lead guitarist from 2001 until 2007, when he left the band over creative differences.

The Zutons released three studio albums between 2004 and 2008, and celebrated nine UK Top 40 singles, cementing themselves as a mjor band in the UK’s mid-noughties indie boom.

Their hit songs included two Top 10 singles, Valerie (famously covered by Amy Winehouse) and Why Won’t You Give Me Your Love?

There’s been an outpouring of support for Chowdhury since the attack, with charity Love Music Hate Racism publicly stating its support.

They wrote: ‘ Love Music Hate Racism stands with musician Boyan of The Zutons and against the vile racists who attacked and assaulted him.

‘This gross act of far-right racist violence is a reminder of how important it is for us all to make clear that there are more of us than them.’
Fans have also rushed to condemn the ‘shocking’ attack on social media, with several calling it ‘disgusting’ and sending Chowdhury well wishes as he heals.

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