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Aamir Zaki (8 April 1968 – 2 June 2017) was a Pakistani guitarist-songwriter and composer. Zaki is widely considered by many as one of the most influential guitarists in Pakistan's history, and is considered to be among the pioneers of rock music in Pakistan.

Career

Zaki started out his music career with a band named The Scratch in 1987. Their first album was entitled The Bomb, with the title track being about the Empress Market bomb blast. He later quit The Scratch in 1988 to form his own band.

On Tour with Alamgir

The first mainstream musician to recognise Zaki as a teenage prodigy was Alamgir, who got in touch with him to tour India, Dubai, England and the United States. After touring, Zaki played on two of Alamgir's albums. "Keh De Na" and "Albela Rahi" were two singles with Zaki as the lead guitarist.

Post-Alamgir

After parting with Alamgir, Aamir Zaki formed the rock band Axe Attack. Axe Attack's debut album was rejected by Pakistani record labels, causing the group to fall out. Some years later, the rhythm guitarist Nadeem Ishtiaq took the album to Australia where the songs made it to the radio and were well received.

Vital Signs

In 1994, Zaki joined Vital Signs who at that time were already country's largest pop act. Vital Signs had expelled their second guitarist Rizwan-ul-Haq, and Zaki joined in his place. Zaki performed extensively with Vital Signs before quitting the band due to not getting a fair split in royalties. Zaki later toured with former bandmates Junaid Jamshed and Shahzad Hassan after Hyatt's exit from the band.

Solo career

After leaving Vital Signs, Zaki released Signature in 1995, an independent release, by his own money. The first batch of CDs was made in England, and Sonic released the album in Pakistan. The album was a hit, and one song "Mera Pyar" (Urdu for My Love) was a major hit. This track was also written and released in English, titled as "Do You Really Love Another", on the same album. When asked about inspiration for the song, Zaki responded by saying, "someone who doesn't exist and never will.", referencing to his ex-wife. Zaki was awarded with the Gold Disc for his debut album from Soundcraft UK. Zaki further released two more albums Rough Cut (2007) with Hadiqa Kiani on vocals and Radio Star (2007).

In the late 1990s, Zaki started to perform live songs of his original English and Urdu tracks. He also started doings gigs at Karajazz Festival and Cafe Blue (Karachi, Pakistan).

Zaki further collaborated with many artists on various tracks including collaborations with Hadiqa Kiani for her song "Is Baar Milo" and with Maha Ali Kazmi for song "Aaj Sun Ke Tumara Naam" which was released on his one-month death anniversary.

Coke Studio

Zaki appeared as a guest musician on Coke Studio Pakistan (season 7). He featured on four songs by Zoheb Hassan, "Chehra", "Dheeray Dheeray" "Jaana", and "Sab Aakho Ali Ali". Later he was featured in Coke Studio Pakistan (season 10) in "Naina Moray", a song by Javed Bashir and Akbar Ali, where he received appreciation for his bluesy guitar solo. This was to be his last public performance.

Personal life

Zaki married at the age of 22 and divorced at the age of 24. The song "Mera Pyar" from his album Signature was for his ex-wife. Following which, Zaki had prolonged illness and severe depression, he became self-destructive over time and even started to burn some of his guitars.

Death

Zaki died on 2 June 2017, at the age of 49, after suffering from a heart attack.

Discography

Solo career

• Signature (1995)
• Rough Cut (2007)

Vital Signs

• Hum Tum

References

1. Aijaz, Rahul (June 2, 2017). "Guitarist Aamir Zaki passes away at 49". tribune.com.pk. Tribune. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
2. "The Prioneers of Rock Music in Pakistan | Leisure | Entertainment (General)". Scribd. Retrieved 2020-02-16.
3. ^ Paracha, Nadeem F. (October 11, 2017). "Three decades of friendship with Aamir Zaki, Pakistan's unsung guitar hero". images.dawn.com. DAWN. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
4. "Ace guitarist Aamir Zaki passes away at 49". images.dawn.com. DAWN. June 2, 2017. Retrieved February 7, 2018.
5. ^ "Four decades of a lifetime, Aamir Zaki (1968-2017)". dunyanews.tv. Dunya News. June 2, 2017. Retrieved February 7, 2018.
6. "The real Aamir Zaki exists in live sessions, not in cassettes, CDs or mp3 files: Maha Ali Kazmi", Dawn News, Pakistan, 7 July 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
7. "All that Aamir Zaki was". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
8. Syed, Madeeha (June 12, 2009). "The mad genius of Aamir Zaki". dawn.com. DAWN. Retrieved February 7, 2018.
9. "Legendary guitarist, songwriter Aamir Zaki passes away". Geo News. 2 June 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
10. "Ace guitarist Aamir Zaki passes away at 49". DAWN Images. 2 June 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
11. "Pakistan's ace guitarist Aamir Zaki dies at the age of 49". Samaa TV. 2 June 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
12. "Legendary guitarist, songwriter Aamir Zaki passes away". Muslim Global. Retrieved 2 June 2017.

• 1968 births
• 2017 deaths
• Pakistani guitarists
• Pakistani male singers
• Pakistani heavy metal guitarists