WOMAD

Aziz

From Pakistan, United Kingdom

'You won't make any loot.. not if your playing in a band.'

Aziz Ibrahim began playing guitar even before he could pick up a spoon. The son of a Pakistani mother and father who had migrated out of their home country to find a better life, Aziz was brought up on the notorious Longsight council estate in Manchester where he still lives at present!

Having spent his teenage years in an array of bands from Ragas to Rock, Aziz was to have his first taste of music business success and excess whilst touring with SIMPLY RED.The money and fame taught him nothing more than the value of all things which he had left behind in Longsight and he became very quickly tired of the preening and posturing that went with a band of that nature.

Leaving Simply Red behind was the first step in an evolution that would see Aziz end the nineties as one of the most gifted and talked about musicians of his ilk. Then followed a brief stint as the only muslim in "THE CHRISTIANS' and then the only Asian in 'ASIA' !

In 1996 he took a job which Noel Gallagher so aptly described as '...THE HARDEST JOB IN THE WORLD...' Aziz replaced John Squire in the STONE ROSES. In the following months, as the Stone Roses under the immense media scrutiny bestowed upon them, Aziz quietly formed a friendship with IAN BROWN which would later be the basis for 'Unfinished Monkey Business'.

'UNFINISHED MONKEY BUSINESS' was Ian Brown's first Solo Album, but more importantly, it was the first time Aziz had been given full song writing authority. From the psychedelic pop of 'MY STAR' to the haunting melodies of 'CORPSES', the world was finally served notice that Aziz Ibrahim had arrived. Ian's Lyrics were given the perfect vehicle for success in Aziz's music.

On signing to No Label Records in 2000, Aziz released an EP called Middle Road,featuring Paul Weller selling 5000 copies on a limited release as a precursor to the album. The label folded shortly after signing Tail Gunner. Neither racism nor record companies have ever held Aziz back, and hence formed his own label - INDUS RECORDS LTD.

A certain track ON THE EP called MURASSI showcasing Aziz's ASIAN BLUES style of playing, appeared on Face magazine's infamous Ape cassette compilation give aways, then the 1st and
2nd Ian Brown albums and finally on NME.com and BBC.co.uk

It has been a long time coming, but we finally see the release of Aziz's debut album LAHORE TO LONGSIGHT&Mac226; (and whilst still finding time to submit three songs to Ian Brown's new Album GOLDEN GREATS'.)

The Album was recorded over the last 18 months at various studios around the country, and boasts guest appearances from Paul Weller, Steve White, Andy Rourke, Mike Joyce, Talvin Singh, Mani, Reni
and Denise Johnson. All tracks were produced by Aziz and barring a couple, were written, and arranged by Aziz. The two co-writes on the album are the exquisitely titled "Korma Coma" and 'Mummy's Boy'. The former written with his live band, Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce, the latter
Inspired by Reni.

Aziz - Lahore To Longsight is only available at present via www.aziz.co.uk or www.indusrecords.com, mail order online.