Singer Bilal Maqsood has opened up on why he and his former Strings bandmate Faisal Kapadia decided to part ways after 33 glorious years. His explanation came exactly two years after the band announced its split, and according to the singer, Strings always wanted to call it quits while they were at “peak” and not as a slow, dead band.
Recently, Maqsood uploaded a video on Instagram detailing that all Kapadia and him wanted to achieve and retain was respect for their band. “Exactly two years after the popular band Strings said goodbye to their 33-year-long journey, I wanted to share with you all the reason behind this decision. Can’t thank you enough for being a part of our journey and for making it truly unforgettable!” he captioned the post.
The three-minute clip began with Maqsood revealing that, although him and Kapadia were initially a little upset, they were glad about their decision. “Today, March 25, marks exactly two years since Strings parted ways. A lot happened in these two years. Faisal has his own journey and I have my own but you all should know that after ending Strings, we were a little upset but a lot happier about our decision,” he said.
Talking about the respect they received throughout, Maqsood said it was important for them to leave while at their peak. “For us, respect for Strings was our top priority and we had always discussed that whenever we’d end Strings, we’d do it at its peak and never at a slow point where people have to ask us to leave. Every time we brought a new album, thanks to God, we stayed relevant. Even from our last album Strings 30, Sajni and Urr Jaun were super-duper hits.”
He further added that he and Kapadia did not want to hold their seats and assume seniority in an ever-growing industry. “There’s a common trend in our society where in sports and in music, the senior people are in denial that they’re on top and they should be respected because they’re senior and Strings never wanted to get to that. We wanted to finish the band before that only and lockdown gave us that opportunity,” he exclaimed.
“Things were stagnant, there was barely any work, any concerts and that’s when we decided that it was the best time to end Strings so people remember the band with respect and not feel thankful that we finally left. However, we’re grateful for the wonderful journey. Six studio albums, four years of Coke Studio, and innumerable concerts, we travelled the whole world, had many endorsements, and we were the brand ambassadors for many things. We had a lot of fun and we still do!” he smiled widely.
Maqsood wished his former bandmate luck in his new journey in music. “It is good in a way that Strings isn’t there anywhere because it was a very big responsibility. We’re both exploring new journeys now. I would like to wish Faisal the best of luck in his journey in music and his family life. I pray that he stays happy and keeps making music.”
Lastly, he dedicated the success of Strings to its fans and thanked them for their love and support. “The 33 years that Strings had was all because of our fans, their love and their support or we wouldn’t even last two years,” he concluded while asking fans to stay on the lookout for his new work.
In 2021, the iconic Pakistani band announced to end its musical journey, leaving many fans heartbroken. "Hey, guys. This post is a bit different from the usual. We have decided that today, 25/03/2021, is the day we graciously get to conclude STRINGS," the band said on its official Facebook page.
"The past 33 years have been incredible for both of us (Faisal Kapadia and Bilal Maqsood). It’s so rare to have the chance to be able to do things like this and we are infinitely grateful to all of our fans for making it possible. We hope you found it worthwhile as well."
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