Veteran guitarist Asad Ahmed ties the knot

Leading member of Awaz, Karavan and ‘Coke Studio’ dated his wife for two years

KARACHI: Veteran guitarist Asad Ahmed tied the knot on Saturday night, surrounded by close family and friends. What came as a surprise to several industry insiders was the culmination of a two-year-long dating period between the 47-year-old and his wife, Hira. The nikkah ceremony took place on February 14 and then, two different gatherings were organised for friends and family on the following days.

PHOTO:FILE

The events were attended by a number of well-known musicians, including Asad’s fellows from Awaz days Haroon and Faakhir, Ali Zafar, Shahi Hasan of Vital Signs, Ali Azmat, Omran Shafique, Sameer Ahmed from Karavan and Imran Akhoond, to name a few.

The veteran rockstar has been over the moon since getting married and is really excited about what lies ahead. “Meeting Hira has changed my life for the better. I am complete now,” Asad told The Express Tribune. “We met two years ago and upon the first meeting, I was taken whole and sole.”



As soon as the news of Asad’s wedding plans started circulating in the industry, most musicians were surprised. This was only because one of the few poster boys of old school rock’n’roll was finally settling down but because he had started learning to drive. “I enjoy driving my car and taking Hira for long drives. For long routes, I employ a driver as I can get road rage,” he confessed while laughing.

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Asad married out of his own wish and happiness but the anti-society and rebellious attitude associated with rock music makes one wonder if rock’n’roll is dead for him? “It is very much alive and well and a new album will be out soon,” he responded.

The musician began his career in the music industry back in 1987, as the guitarist and founding member of the rock band Barbarians. The band didn’t survive for long in an industry that was still warming up to rock music. He then did session playing for Vital Signs and even Junoon for a brief period of time, before going on to form his own pop-rock band Awaz.

PHOTO:FILE

But this too didn’t last too long. Awaz got disbanded in 1999 and then, Asad went on to form Karavan with Tanseer Dar, Alan Smith and Sameer. Simultaneously, he became a permanent member of Coke Studio’s house band in 2008 and remained associated with the show till Rohail left in 2013. Two years back, he released his first solo instrumental album, titled Rebirth and plans to release his second solo collection soon after the post-wedding festivities are over.

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