Images

Updated 25 Mar, 2021

The band that gave us hits like 'Sar Kiye Yeh Pahar' and accaiamed albums like Dhaani and Duur has officially come to the end of its musical journey.

Bilal Maqsood and Faisal Kapadia via the band's official Instagram account on Thursday announced the fate of their iconic band Strings. "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 past 33 years have been incredible for both of us. 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," they wrote in their message.

"While the band technically may not be together anymore, both of us share an inseparable bond that will connect us no matter where life takes us."

The poignant note ends with a "thank you so much for everything".

When contacted by Images, Maqsood said “we just thought it was the right time”, adding there was nothing more to it.

According to stringsonline.net, the internationally acclaimed pop rock band was initially formed by four college students — Bilal Maqsood (vocals and guitars), Faisal Kapadia (vocals), Rafiq Wazir Ali (synthesizer) and Kareem Bashir Bhoy (bass guitar) — in 1988.

In 1992 the quartet disbanded, only to make a comeback with Maqsood and Kapadia in 2000.

Known as much for their classic hits as their memorable live performances, the band built a loyal fanbase over the years.

In an interview with Herald, Maqsood had said: "It’s going to take time before people will sit back and remember kay Strings aur Vital Signs aur Barbarians thay jinhon nay yeh music shuroo kee thee."

When asked in the interview what goal the duo had in mind when starting the band, Kapadia said: "At that time, we didn’t have a goal. We just wanted to be famous."

"We did it for fun," Maqsood had added. "Then when we saw this musical trend developing, we thought we’d try and see if people could enjoy our music. People liked it, so we decided that it would be nice if our name was included amongst those who popularised this form of music."

Comments

Browngirl Mar 25, 2021 09:05pm
Frankly they didn't do much after 2005 or so. Took them 15 years to call it a day
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Zulfiqar Mar 25, 2021 09:12pm
Sar kiyay ye pahar, Finally. Great band.
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Imran Mar 25, 2021 09:21pm
An institution of music that inspired many and made life worth while for teenagers of that time.
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Tariq Mar 25, 2021 09:24pm
August 1988. Classroom in St. Patrick's High School. Next door to the auditorium. Guitar and singing drifting into the classroom while Mrs. Henderson conducts her English Language lessons. She goes to the auditorium and gives an earful to the culprits - Bilal Maqsood, Faisal Kapadia. Thanks for the music and the memories. RIP Mrs. Henderson.
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Nizamani Mar 25, 2021 09:26pm
Why?! There has to be some reason. Am I reading satire? Tell me, that I am. This is going to be such a hard-to-digest story.
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Haris Ahmed Mar 25, 2021 09:30pm
I’m heartbroken
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Captain Mar 25, 2021 09:31pm
Good to hear that , thanks for saying bye bye ,
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TZaman Mar 25, 2021 09:45pm
End of Strings. Let's move on.
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Hassan Baloch Mar 25, 2021 09:56pm
Ok Strings was not WHAM, Yawn, Boys band breaking up is not news now, well not after One Direction.
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Ahmad Mar 25, 2021 10:37pm
Thank you for entertaining us with your music.
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Parvez Mar 25, 2021 11:15pm
So what next ..... Canada ?
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Zodiac Mar 26, 2021 12:22am
who cares...
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Zak Mar 26, 2021 12:40am
The poignant note ends with a "thank you so much for everything". End of an era. Thank YOU, so much.
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Zak Mar 26, 2021 01:36am
@Hassan Baloch Ok Strings was not WHAM, Yawn, Boys band breaking up is not news now, well not after One Direction. To Pakistanis ' strings was better then' one direction '. Their music was used in Spiderman Hollywood as the theme music.
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Hassan Mar 26, 2021 02:08am
@Browngirl you’re forgetting Coke Studio
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Azam Khan Mar 26, 2021 03:32am
@Browngirl, they were busy at Coke Studio for a while and they produces some masterpieces.
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NY Yankees Mar 26, 2021 04:47am
I am a proud Saint Patrick’s alumni. The principal at the time was Father Todd. RIP Father Todd.
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Aziza Mar 26, 2021 06:12am
I am absolutely devastated! Thank you Strings for giving us the most beautiful and memorable hits through three decades. I seriously believed you when you recently in an interview proclaimed you would continue to make music as Strings for the next three decades. That was not the case. Will miss you badly!
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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad Mar 26, 2021 06:45am
No doubts, it's very hard if not impossible to say good-bye and call it a quits.
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I'm okay. Mar 26, 2021 07:36am
Who can replace them, after all? This should not have been done without a reason, they are still young and could carry it up.
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RHS Mar 26, 2021 07:48am
Thanks Strings. Quite a journey but all good things have to come to an end. Zinda has to be your best song . "Yeh Hai Meri Kahani..."
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Musicman Mar 26, 2021 07:53am
@Browngirl What a junky response
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Jawwad Mar 26, 2021 08:03am
This is not fair.
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bhaijaan Mar 26, 2021 08:17am
Sajni, mai tere gud gawa, tu hai meri thandi chawa, mai ranjha tu hai heer...
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bhaijaan Mar 26, 2021 08:23am
@Hassan Baloch yeah boy their orientation wasn't quite the same.. ;)
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ZaKaUllah Mar 26, 2021 09:20am
I am a big fan of them and follower from last 33 year. In the mid of my 50's now I I'll miss them a lot. I still listen the some specific old band ie Alamgir, Strings, Junaid jamshed, Ali Azmat, Najam Sheiraz, and some others of same time period. They had nice music and poetry. New ones are unable to digest and stay away and enjoy of old recorded music of pop legends.
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Saad Mar 26, 2021 09:56am
Another chapter of childhood memories is finished. Thank you strings for great music you gave us in years, started listening since Anjane and Sar Kiye since 2000-01.
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Adnan Mazher Khan Mar 26, 2021 10:03am
At a time when people like you join the society - you guys are parting away. Please re-think.
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Hassan Waqie Mar 26, 2021 11:25am
@Browngirl who did those coke studio compositions for years???
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Irfan ul Huq Mar 26, 2021 11:29am
I disagree. Alamgir and Shayhki were the forever runners of the present music. Bilal was famous as soon as he was born thanks to Anwar maqsood. Their music is OK and so so
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Masood Mar 26, 2021 12:11pm
Couldn't you have doe it a couple of decades earlier? U haven't given any good songs in these years atleast earlier retirement could have saved a lot of good songs from being stringed in the last few coke studio seasons. Thanks both, u had a big name behind u only if u could have lived atleast 1% up to the name. I would call these guys lucky not talented.
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Shahzad Jamil Mar 26, 2021 02:35pm
They should ve done a last concert in Karachi....
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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad Mar 26, 2021 03:11pm
Heart breaking and soul-searching end of not only a great musical journey but also an un-forgetful musical legacy in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
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PakPower Mar 26, 2021 10:33pm
@Browngirl You are uninformed. They released a whole album - called 30 - between 2017-18.
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