Assad Ahmed

Asad Ahmed (Urdu: اسد احمد)
Asad with his Minarik Shattered Mirror Inferno
Background information
Birth name	Asad Ahmed
Born	(1971-07-21) 21 July 1971 (age 45)
Origin	Karachi, Pakistan
Genres	Hard rock, heavy metal
Occupation(s)	Musician, Songwriter, Record producer, Entrepreneur
Instruments	Guitar
Years active	1988 – present
Associated acts	Karavan Awaz Vital Signs
Website	http://www.asadahmed.com

Asad Ahmed (born 21 July 1971 in Karachi) is a Pakistani guitarist. His first stint was forming The Barbarians. He has been a member of the famous pop trio Awaz, has played with Junoon, Vital Signs and is currently a founding member of the rock band Karavan.

His family moved to Dubai when he was quite young. His elder brother was a guitarist and when he left for college, he left his guitar back at home. Asad picked it up and was drawn into its whim. His family returned to Karachi in 1984.

Asad also plays in Coke Studio (Produced by Rohail Hyatt) and is one of the house band members from the last 5 seasons.

Asad started his music career in 1987 with The Barbarians, which is regarded by many as Pakistan's first rock band. The band's first single "Yeh Zindagi Hai" (This is Life) set the foundation of Pakistani rock. They got their first big break when The Barbarians participated in "Rock vs. Rock" show at the Taj Mahal (Agrah, India) and won a prize of 20,000 Rupees. They released their only album, the self-titled "The Barbarians" in 1989, which did not fare well in the then rock-repellant Pakistani music industry. The Barbarians fell apart in 1990.

Asad did a gig with Salman Ahmad of Junoon at a party in 1991. On Salman's invitation, he hopped on board with Junoon and played bass with them for about a year. In a performance at Marriott Islamabad in November 1992, he met Haroon and Faakhir of Awaz and Rohail Hyatt of Vital Signs. This led to his performances on Vital Signs' Aitebar and Hum Tum .