Vital Signs (band)
Encyclopedia
Vital Signs were a Pakistani Pop rock
band that formed in Rawalpindi
in 1986. The group was formed by Rohail Hyatt
(keyboards and guitars) and Shahzad Hasan (bass guitar), who were soon joined by Nusrat Hussain
(guitar) and Junaid Jamshed
(vocals). They were widely known as Pakistan's first and most successful pop band and were given the title of "pioneers of pop music".
The band initially gained prominence from their music video of the song "Dil Dil Pakistan
" first aired on PTV
. Shoaib Mansoor
, director of the music video and song lyricist, wanted the band to record the song which later on became a critical hit and was voted as the third most popular song of all time by BBC World
. However, Nusrat Hussain
, training to become an airline pilot at that time composed the song, left the band and suggested Rohail to have Salman Ahmed at his place. It members were signed to major record label EMI Records
and afterwards released their debut album Vital Signs 1
in 1989. After two years the band recorded their critically acclaimed Vital Signs 2
(1991) with their new lead guitarist Rizwan ul Haq, who replaced Salman. The album saw the band to travel to perform in United States
and thus becoming the first Pakistani pop act to go abroad on a tour. Vital Signs released their third album, Aitebar
, in 1993, which outsold its predecessor. The band asked Assad Ahmed
, by then with Awaz
and currently with Karavan
, to play for their new album as Rizwan ul Haq left the band and his replacement Aamir Zaki
. The band found renewed success and popularity with their album Hum Tum
(1995), which was the highest selling Vital Signs album of all time.
After the release of their fourth studio album, the band concentrated on their personal projects and Vital Signs drifted away. Junaid Jamshed went on to pursue a career as a solo singer, Shahzad Hasan concentrated on his work as a music producer and Rohail Hyatt formed a production company.
, Punjab
, by Rohail Hyatt
and Shahzad Hasan, who were later accompanied by lead guitarist Nusrat Hussain
. Surprisingly, at that time the band had no name and not even when the band recruited lead vocalist Junaid Jamshed
, an engineering student from Lahore
at that time. During this time, General Zia-ul-Haq was the reigning supreme as dictator masquerading to be a "democraticatically elected" President. Ironically, it was these political and economic tensions that propelled the gradual expansion of the country's urban middle and lower-middle-classes. And the youth culture that emerged from these classes launched the first shots of the local pop music scene and culture, which is now called the modern Pakistani pop music.
In mid 1986, when Benazir Bhutto
returned from her exile, she led a rally in Lahore. This led to many urban centers saw many new local pop music bands emerging. Most of the new acts played at private parties and weddings and at college functions, and by early 1987 the Vital Signs seemed firm favourites n the period's college function circuit. But unlike their other young coomtemporaries, Vital Signs performances included ambitious and bold cover songs of famous western bands like Pink Floyd
, Rush
and a-ha
, apart from the usual popular Pakistani filmi-pop music and Indian films tune of the time.
producer, director and writer, Shoaib Mansoor
, he asked the band to record a national song he had written and wanted to air, as a music video, on PTV. The song was named "Dil Dil Pakistan
". By the time the band started to call themselves as Vital Signs, inspired by a song in Rush's
album, Moving Pictures
. Nusrat Hussain
initially composed the song but was rejected by Shoaib Mansoor at the very first draft as he wanted it to be more catchier. Nusrat gave it another go and came up with an intro that was appreciated by the other members. Encouraged by it, especially by Junaid Jamshed, lend in their own in-puts and ideas until the tune was completed, approved by Shoaib and recorded.
It was released in the summer of 1987 as a video (directed by Shoaib), in which the Vital Signs are shown singing the song over what looked like the lush hills of Murree
, was an instant hit and later was voted as the third most popular song of all time by BBC World
. However, the allure of instant success and the amount of interest Shoaib was ready to invest in the band kept Rohail and Shahzad going and convinced Junaid to hang around for at least the recording of their first album. The band lead guitarist, Nusrat Hussain, left the band and suggested Rohail Hyatt to bring Salman Ahmad
as his replacement.
Shoaib’s clout got EMI (Pakistan)
interested in helping the band record their debut album. This saw Rohail, Junaid and Shahzad traveling to Karachi
. The album was recorded at EMI’s studio, but almost all of it was written and composed at Salman Ahmad’s residence where the band had been lodged. Shoaib did all the lyrics while Junaid and Rohail composed the songs.
, was a success leading a wave of fresh new acts in the country. Most of the new guns were a prominent part of the many “youth festivals” that began to do the rounds in Karachi and Lahore, especially after one such show was specially conducted and televised by PTV in late 1989, (Music ‘89).
Shoaib Mansoor
also directed a mini-drama Dhundle Raste
about the true story of the band, in which the band member acted themselves. The band soon went on a tour throughout the country, playing sell-out concerts in Karachi
, Lahore
, Islamabad
and Peshawar
. Some of these, especially the two concerts held in Karachi in late 1989, were one of the best concerts by the band.
Salman Ahmad
wanted a change in the band's music and by the time the band was approached by Pepsi
in December 1990, Rohail decided to isolate Salman from the band and thus he left to form his own band, Junoon. Pressured by Pepsi to come out with a brand new album, the band then replaced Salman with Rizwan-ul-Haq as their new lead guitarist.
In 1991, the band released their second album Vital Signs 2
. The album was a departure from the first album’s more upbeat ways. The resulting sound emerging from such emotional turmoil and uncertainty was heavily melancholic and introverted ("Rahi", "Yaad Kerna"), suddenly jumping towards thumping anger with the powerful, "Aisa Na Ho". This was perhaps the most political album by the band. The album had more maturity, versatility and was a commercial success. This led the band to perform in United States
on a tour thus making them the very first pop act to do so on a tour. The tour also changed the way the band looked and the band saw the emergence of grunge and a revival of interest in ‘70s music and fashion were the instigators. The change also saw Rohail, Shahzad and Junaid moving to Karachi (Rizwan decided to stay back in Islamabad), as Rohail started constructing a brand new studios in his Karachi apartment.
After performing a number of concerts managed by Rohail's elder brother Zahid, the group headed out with director Shoaib Mansoor to film Guitar ‘93, a Pepsi-financed venture featuring videos shot all across Pakistan.
, which soon outsold its predecessor, Vital Signs 2. Vital Signs then toured the country to record the Shoaib Mansoor
directed Geetar ’93, a compilation of videos of Vital Signs’ biggest hits thus far, shot across the four provinces and financed by Pepsi
. Made for PTV, Geetar ’93 was an entertaining document of by the band progress as one of the best pop acts in Pakistan.
In 1993, the band also played the most number of concerts. The biggest taking place at the KMC Stadium in Karachi, a mega-concert headlined by the band and also consisting performances from The Milestones
, Awaz
and the newly formed Arsh. The presence of former member, Salman Ahmad
, in the audience and the fact that it was after this concert Rohail first started to show signs of agitation regarding his growing dissatisfaction with Rizwan-ul-Haq’s playing. Later the same year Rizwan-ul-Haq left the band to join Awaz and was replaced by Aamir Zaki
. Later the band travelled for another tour to United States but this time they went without Rohail Hyatt as Rohail refused to go and Junaid agreed upon going with Aamir as he suggested to him. Soon after, Rohail announced his departure from the band. On returning, Juniad reproached Rohail and along with Shahzad coaxed Rohail to rejoin. The meeting did not have Zaki, and when the Signs were interviewed in a TV show in mid-’94, here too Zaki was missing from the line-up. But Aamir Zaki was still there with the band when they finally started work on the new album. The process was broken when the Signs flew to Dubai
for a couple of concerts.
They returned to Pakistan but the recording was interrupted again when they went to England with Awaz
. Aamir Zaki left the band and the band asked Assad Ahmed
, by then with Awaz
and currently with Karavan
, to play on their new album.
. Assad Ahmed
featured on all tracks except for "Jeetain Gaye", "Teray Liye" (Unplugged) and "Aitebar" (Unplugged), on which Aamir Zaki
played. The album was the highest selling album of all time by Vital Signs and was one of the best album produced in the local pop scene.
The aesthetic and commercial success of the album wasn’t enough as Rohail and Shahzad were ideologically and aesthetically drifting away from Juniad Jamshed and Shoaib Mansoor. And though the band demise was never officially announced, by 1998 when the band were offered a deal by Pepsi for another album, Rohail declined, signaling the end of Vital Signs. Junaid Jamshed went on to pursue a career as a solo singer, Shahzad Hasan concentrated on his work as a music producer and Rohail Hyatt formed a production company.
Tribute Concert, held in Karachi
, the classic lineup of Vital Signs performed together on stage—for the first time in almost 7 years. The concert was attended by an enthusiastic audience and it was their original line-up which went up on stage, a line-up that hadn't played together ever since mid-1990 who still stole the show. The Vital Signs reunited for a nostalgic 30-minute stint at the high-profile concert. The band realized that a whole new generation of pop fans has grown up and their brand of pop music is still well remembered. After the Nazia Tribute Concert, the pop industry was rife with speculations that the Vital Signs were set to record their long-awaited fifth album, but these speculations were denied by the band.
. Musically and lyrically, they have also cited bands such as a-ha
, Rush
, Scorpions
, Duran Duran
, Radiohead
, The Police
and Led Zeppelin
as their major influences. The band were one of the first bands in Pakistan to insist on playing live music where most music was sampled and programmed synthpop. They were the widely also known as Pakistan's first and most successful pop band and were given the title of "pioneers of pop music".
Their music has been one major force which has truly kept the national spirits high amidst the prevailing social woes which have surely worsened in the last three decades, such music included songs like "Dil Dil Pakistan
" and many more.
Several bands and artists have cited Vital Signs as an influence or inspiration, including Abbas Ali Khan, Atif Aslam
, Jal
, Kaavish
, Aaroh
, SYMT and Fuzön
.
Pop rock
Pop rock is a music genre which mixes a catchy pop style and light lyrics in its guitar-based rock songs. There are varying definitions of the term, ranging from a slower and mellower form of rock music to a subgenre of pop music...
band that formed in Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi , locally known as Pindi, is a city in the Pothohar region of Pakistan near Pakistan's capital city of Islamabad, in the province of Punjab. Rawalpindi is the fourth largest city in Pakistan after Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad...
in 1986. The group was formed by Rohail Hyatt
Rohail Hyatt
Rohail Hyatt is a Pakistani musician, producer, and a rock music artist known for his work with the popular 1990s pop band Vital Signs. He is one of the finest music producers in Pakistan. He is the man behind Coke Studio, from Pakistan.-Vital Signs:...
(keyboards and guitars) and Shahzad Hasan (bass guitar), who were soon joined by Nusrat Hussain
Nusrat Hussain
Nusrat Hussain began playing keyboards with bands that his friends formed in Islamabad. He began his professional career in the music industry with Vital Signs...
(guitar) and Junaid Jamshed
Junaid Jamshed
Junaid Jamshed is a Pakistani recording artist who gained fame as the frontman of the pop group, Vital Signs in 1987 with the hit song, "Dil Dil Pakistan", and remained in demand throughout the 1990s...
(vocals). They were widely known as Pakistan's first and most successful pop band and were given the title of "pioneers of pop music".
The band initially gained prominence from their music video of the song "Dil Dil Pakistan
Dil Dil Pakistan
Dil Dil Pakistan is a patriotic song from Pakistan. It was released in 1987 by the Pakistani pop band, Vital Signs. It was included in the band's debut album Vital Signs 1 in 1989.-Popularity:...
" first aired on PTV
Pakistan Television Corporation
The Pakistan Television Corporation is Pakistan's national television broadcaster. The first live transmission of PTV began on November 26, 1964, in Lahore...
. Shoaib Mansoor
Shoaib Mansoor
Shoaib Mansoor , PP, SI, is an acclaimed Pakistani film and television producer, director, writer, lyricist and composer.-Career:...
, director of the music video and song lyricist, wanted the band to record the song which later on became a critical hit and was voted as the third most popular song of all time by BBC World
BBC World
BBC World News is the BBC's international news and current affairs television channel. It has the largest audience of any BBC channel in the world...
. However, Nusrat Hussain
Nusrat Hussain
Nusrat Hussain began playing keyboards with bands that his friends formed in Islamabad. He began his professional career in the music industry with Vital Signs...
, training to become an airline pilot at that time composed the song, left the band and suggested Rohail to have Salman Ahmed at his place. It members were signed to major record label EMI Records
EMI Records
EMI Records is the flagship record label founded by the EMI company in 1972 and launched in January 1973 as the successor to its Columbia label. The EMI label was launched worldwide...
and afterwards released their debut album Vital Signs 1
Vital Signs 1
Vital Signs 1 was the first album of the Pakistani band Vital Signs. Fresh from the success of their smash hit Dil Dil Pakistan Vital Signs went to work on their debut album, with Shoaib Mansoor providing the lyrics to all but 2 songs...
in 1989. After two years the band recorded their critically acclaimed Vital Signs 2
Vital Signs 2
Vital Signs 2 was the second album of the Pakistani band Vital Signs released in 1991.-Track listing:All music composed by Vital Signs. All songs written by Shoaib Mansoor.-Personnel:All information is taken from the CD.Vital Signs...
(1991) with their new lead guitarist Rizwan ul Haq, who replaced Salman. The album saw the band to travel to perform in United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and thus becoming the first Pakistani pop act to go abroad on a tour. Vital Signs released their third album, Aitebar
Aitebar
Aitebar was the third album of the Pakistani band Vital Signs.-Track listing:All music arranged, composed and produced by Vital Signs. All songs written by Shoaib Mansoor.-Personnel:All information is taken from the CD.Vital Signs...
, in 1993, which outsold its predecessor. The band asked Assad Ahmed
Assad Ahmed
Asad Ahmed 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....
, by then with Awaz
Awaz
Awaz were a Pakistani pop band that formed in Karachi in 1992. The group was formed by Haroon Rashid, lead vocalist, who was soon joined by keyboardist Faakhir Mehmood and lead guitarist Asad Ahmed...
and currently with Karavan
Karavan
Karavan is a rock band from Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan, formed in 1997. The band is founded by former Awaz lead guitarist Asad Ahmed with the help of his friend bassist Sameer Ahmed, who were soon joined by drummer Allan Smith and lead vocalist Najam Sheraz. Karavan are regarded as one of the most...
, to play for their new album as Rizwan ul Haq left the band and his replacement Aamir Zaki
Aamir Zaki
Aamir Zaki is a notable Pakistani prolific guitar player, playing jazz, blues, classical, rock and alternative rock.Beginnings...
. The band found renewed success and popularity with their album Hum Tum
Hum Tum (album)
Hum Tum was the fourth studio album of the Pakistani band Vital Signs released in January 1995...
(1995), which was the highest selling Vital Signs album of all time.
After the release of their fourth studio album, the band concentrated on their personal projects and Vital Signs drifted away. Junaid Jamshed went on to pursue a career as a solo singer, Shahzad Hasan concentrated on his work as a music producer and Rohail Hyatt formed a production company.
Formation (1986)
The band was formed by two teenagers in early 1986 in RawalpindiRawalpindi
Rawalpindi , locally known as Pindi, is a city in the Pothohar region of Pakistan near Pakistan's capital city of Islamabad, in the province of Punjab. Rawalpindi is the fourth largest city in Pakistan after Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad...
, Punjab
Punjab (Pakistan)
Punjab is the most populous province of Pakistan, with approximately 45% of the country's total population. Forming most of the Punjab region, the province is bordered by Kashmir to the north-east, the Indian states of Punjab and Rajasthan to the east, the Pakistani province of Sindh to the...
, by Rohail Hyatt
Rohail Hyatt
Rohail Hyatt is a Pakistani musician, producer, and a rock music artist known for his work with the popular 1990s pop band Vital Signs. He is one of the finest music producers in Pakistan. He is the man behind Coke Studio, from Pakistan.-Vital Signs:...
and Shahzad Hasan, who were later accompanied by lead guitarist Nusrat Hussain
Nusrat Hussain
Nusrat Hussain began playing keyboards with bands that his friends formed in Islamabad. He began his professional career in the music industry with Vital Signs...
. Surprisingly, at that time the band had no name and not even when the band recruited lead vocalist Junaid Jamshed
Junaid Jamshed
Junaid Jamshed is a Pakistani recording artist who gained fame as the frontman of the pop group, Vital Signs in 1987 with the hit song, "Dil Dil Pakistan", and remained in demand throughout the 1990s...
, an engineering student from Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
at that time. During this time, General Zia-ul-Haq was the reigning supreme as dictator masquerading to be a "democraticatically elected" President. Ironically, it was these political and economic tensions that propelled the gradual expansion of the country's urban middle and lower-middle-classes. And the youth culture that emerged from these classes launched the first shots of the local pop music scene and culture, which is now called the modern Pakistani pop music.
In mid 1986, when Benazir Bhutto
Benazir Bhutto
Benazir Bhutto was a democratic socialist who served as the 11th Prime Minister of Pakistan in two non-consecutive terms from 1988 until 1990 and 1993 until 1996....
returned from her exile, she led a rally in Lahore. This led to many urban centers saw many new local pop music bands emerging. Most of the new acts played at private parties and weddings and at college functions, and by early 1987 the Vital Signs seemed firm favourites n the period's college function circuit. But unlike their other young coomtemporaries, Vital Signs performances included ambitious and bold cover songs of famous western bands like Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
, Rush
Rush (band)
Rush is a Canadian rock band formed in August 1968, in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario. The band is composed of bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart...
and a-ha
A-ha
A-ha were a Norwegian pop band formed in Oslo in 1982. The band was founded by Morten Harket , Magne Furuholmen , and Pål Waaktaar...
, apart from the usual popular Pakistani filmi-pop music and Indian films tune of the time.
Breakthrough era (1987-1988)
The band never took music seriously as a profession because it was only their hobby but as soon as they were discovered by famous PTVPakistan Television Corporation
The Pakistan Television Corporation is Pakistan's national television broadcaster. The first live transmission of PTV began on November 26, 1964, in Lahore...
producer, director and writer, Shoaib Mansoor
Shoaib Mansoor
Shoaib Mansoor , PP, SI, is an acclaimed Pakistani film and television producer, director, writer, lyricist and composer.-Career:...
, he asked the band to record a national song he had written and wanted to air, as a music video, on PTV. The song was named "Dil Dil Pakistan
Dil Dil Pakistan
Dil Dil Pakistan is a patriotic song from Pakistan. It was released in 1987 by the Pakistani pop band, Vital Signs. It was included in the band's debut album Vital Signs 1 in 1989.-Popularity:...
". By the time the band started to call themselves as Vital Signs, inspired by a song in Rush's
Rush (band)
Rush is a Canadian rock band formed in August 1968, in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario. The band is composed of bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart...
album, Moving Pictures
Moving Pictures (album)
- Personnel :* Geddy Lee - Bass guitar; Minimoog; Oberheim 8-voice synthesizer; OB-X, Moog Taurus bass pedals, vocals* Alex Lifeson - Electric and acoustic guitars, Moog Taurus...
. Nusrat Hussain
Nusrat Hussain
Nusrat Hussain began playing keyboards with bands that his friends formed in Islamabad. He began his professional career in the music industry with Vital Signs...
initially composed the song but was rejected by Shoaib Mansoor at the very first draft as he wanted it to be more catchier. Nusrat gave it another go and came up with an intro that was appreciated by the other members. Encouraged by it, especially by Junaid Jamshed, lend in their own in-puts and ideas until the tune was completed, approved by Shoaib and recorded.
It was released in the summer of 1987 as a video (directed by Shoaib), in which the Vital Signs are shown singing the song over what looked like the lush hills of Murree
Murree
Murree city is a popular hill station and a summer resort, especially for the residents of Rawalpindi/Islamabad, and for the cities of the province of Punjab, Pakistan...
, was an instant hit and later was voted as the third most popular song of all time by BBC World
BBC World
BBC World News is the BBC's international news and current affairs television channel. It has the largest audience of any BBC channel in the world...
. However, the allure of instant success and the amount of interest Shoaib was ready to invest in the band kept Rohail and Shahzad going and convinced Junaid to hang around for at least the recording of their first album. The band lead guitarist, Nusrat Hussain, left the band and suggested Rohail Hyatt to bring Salman Ahmad
Salman Ahmad
Salman Ahmad is a Pakistani musician and former actor, who used to be a member of Vital Signs but left after their debut album due to creative differences. He went on to form Junoon, South Asia's biggest and longest-lasting rock band. While still enjoying the success of Junoon, he was involved in...
as his replacement.
Shoaib’s clout got EMI (Pakistan)
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
interested in helping the band record their debut album. This saw Rohail, Junaid and Shahzad traveling to Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
. The album was recorded at EMI’s studio, but almost all of it was written and composed at Salman Ahmad’s residence where the band had been lodged. Shoaib did all the lyrics while Junaid and Rohail composed the songs.
Continued success (1989-1992)
With the release of their first major single, Vital Signs began to achieve recognition in Pakistan. Their debut album, Vital Signs 1Vital Signs 1
Vital Signs 1 was the first album of the Pakistani band Vital Signs. Fresh from the success of their smash hit Dil Dil Pakistan Vital Signs went to work on their debut album, with Shoaib Mansoor providing the lyrics to all but 2 songs...
, was a success leading a wave of fresh new acts in the country. Most of the new guns were a prominent part of the many “youth festivals” that began to do the rounds in Karachi and Lahore, especially after one such show was specially conducted and televised by PTV in late 1989, (Music ‘89).
Shoaib Mansoor
Shoaib Mansoor
Shoaib Mansoor , PP, SI, is an acclaimed Pakistani film and television producer, director, writer, lyricist and composer.-Career:...
also directed a mini-drama Dhundle Raste
Dhundle Raste (Television mini-series)
Dhundle Raste is Pakistan television mini-series featuring Vital Signs, a popular Pakistani pop music group. It was written by Haseena Moin and directed by Shoaib Mansoor. Due to its novel storyline it became an extremely popular drama in Pakistan.-Cast:...
about the true story of the band, in which the band member acted themselves. The band soon went on a tour throughout the country, playing sell-out concerts in Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
, Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
, Islamabad
Islamabad
Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan and the tenth largest city in the country. Located within the Islamabad Capital Territory , the population of the city has grown from 100,000 in 1951 to 1.7 million in 2011...
and Peshawar
Peshawar
Peshawar is the capital of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and the administrative center and central economic hub for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan....
. Some of these, especially the two concerts held in Karachi in late 1989, were one of the best concerts by the band.
Salman Ahmad
Salman Ahmad
Salman Ahmad is a Pakistani musician and former actor, who used to be a member of Vital Signs but left after their debut album due to creative differences. He went on to form Junoon, South Asia's biggest and longest-lasting rock band. While still enjoying the success of Junoon, he was involved in...
wanted a change in the band's music and by the time the band was approached by Pepsi
Pepsi
Pepsi is a carbonated soft drink that is produced and manufactured by PepsiCo...
in December 1990, Rohail decided to isolate Salman from the band and thus he left to form his own band, Junoon. Pressured by Pepsi to come out with a brand new album, the band then replaced Salman with Rizwan-ul-Haq as their new lead guitarist.
In 1991, the band released their second album Vital Signs 2
Vital Signs 2
Vital Signs 2 was the second album of the Pakistani band Vital Signs released in 1991.-Track listing:All music composed by Vital Signs. All songs written by Shoaib Mansoor.-Personnel:All information is taken from the CD.Vital Signs...
. The album was a departure from the first album’s more upbeat ways. The resulting sound emerging from such emotional turmoil and uncertainty was heavily melancholic and introverted ("Rahi", "Yaad Kerna"), suddenly jumping towards thumping anger with the powerful, "Aisa Na Ho". This was perhaps the most political album by the band. The album had more maturity, versatility and was a commercial success. This led the band to perform in United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on a tour thus making them the very first pop act to do so on a tour. The tour also changed the way the band looked and the band saw the emergence of grunge and a revival of interest in ‘70s music and fashion were the instigators. The change also saw Rohail, Shahzad and Junaid moving to Karachi (Rizwan decided to stay back in Islamabad), as Rohail started constructing a brand new studios in his Karachi apartment.
After performing a number of concerts managed by Rohail's elder brother Zahid, the group headed out with director Shoaib Mansoor to film Guitar ‘93, a Pepsi-financed venture featuring videos shot all across Pakistan.
Upheaval (1993-1994)
In 1993, Vital Signs began work on their third album in Rohail Hyatt's studios, Pyramid Studios. A few months later they released the album AitebarAitebar
Aitebar was the third album of the Pakistani band Vital Signs.-Track listing:All music arranged, composed and produced by Vital Signs. All songs written by Shoaib Mansoor.-Personnel:All information is taken from the CD.Vital Signs...
, which soon outsold its predecessor, Vital Signs 2. Vital Signs then toured the country to record the Shoaib Mansoor
Shoaib Mansoor
Shoaib Mansoor , PP, SI, is an acclaimed Pakistani film and television producer, director, writer, lyricist and composer.-Career:...
directed Geetar ’93, a compilation of videos of Vital Signs’ biggest hits thus far, shot across the four provinces and financed by Pepsi
Pepsi
Pepsi is a carbonated soft drink that is produced and manufactured by PepsiCo...
. Made for PTV, Geetar ’93 was an entertaining document of by the band progress as one of the best pop acts in Pakistan.
In 1993, the band also played the most number of concerts. The biggest taking place at the KMC Stadium in Karachi, a mega-concert headlined by the band and also consisting performances from The Milestones
The Milestones
The Milestones were a Pakistani pop rock band that formed in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan, in 1990. The group was formed by lead guitarist, Ziyyad Gulzar and bassist, Ali Tim, who were sooned joined by female lead vocalist, Candy Pereira...
, Awaz
Awaz
Awaz were a Pakistani pop band that formed in Karachi in 1992. The group was formed by Haroon Rashid, lead vocalist, who was soon joined by keyboardist Faakhir Mehmood and lead guitarist Asad Ahmed...
and the newly formed Arsh. The presence of former member, Salman Ahmad
Salman Ahmad
Salman Ahmad is a Pakistani musician and former actor, who used to be a member of Vital Signs but left after their debut album due to creative differences. He went on to form Junoon, South Asia's biggest and longest-lasting rock band. While still enjoying the success of Junoon, he was involved in...
, in the audience and the fact that it was after this concert Rohail first started to show signs of agitation regarding his growing dissatisfaction with Rizwan-ul-Haq’s playing. Later the same year Rizwan-ul-Haq left the band to join Awaz and was replaced by Aamir Zaki
Aamir Zaki
Aamir Zaki is a notable Pakistani prolific guitar player, playing jazz, blues, classical, rock and alternative rock.Beginnings...
. Later the band travelled for another tour to United States but this time they went without Rohail Hyatt as Rohail refused to go and Junaid agreed upon going with Aamir as he suggested to him. Soon after, Rohail announced his departure from the band. On returning, Juniad reproached Rohail and along with Shahzad coaxed Rohail to rejoin. The meeting did not have Zaki, and when the Signs were interviewed in a TV show in mid-’94, here too Zaki was missing from the line-up. But Aamir Zaki was still there with the band when they finally started work on the new album. The process was broken when the Signs flew to Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
for a couple of concerts.
They returned to Pakistan but the recording was interrupted again when they went to England with Awaz
Awaz
Awaz were a Pakistani pop band that formed in Karachi in 1992. The group was formed by Haroon Rashid, lead vocalist, who was soon joined by keyboardist Faakhir Mehmood and lead guitarist Asad Ahmed...
. Aamir Zaki left the band and the band asked Assad Ahmed
Assad Ahmed
Asad Ahmed 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....
, by then with Awaz
Awaz
Awaz were a Pakistani pop band that formed in Karachi in 1992. The group was formed by Haroon Rashid, lead vocalist, who was soon joined by keyboardist Faakhir Mehmood and lead guitarist Asad Ahmed...
and currently with Karavan
Karavan
Karavan is a rock band from Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan, formed in 1997. The band is founded by former Awaz lead guitarist Asad Ahmed with the help of his friend bassist Sameer Ahmed, who were soon joined by drummer Allan Smith and lead vocalist Najam Sheraz. Karavan are regarded as one of the most...
, to play on their new album.
Breakup (1995-1998)
During 1995, Vital Signs began work on their fourth album, titled Hum TumHum Tum
Hum Tum is a Bollywood movie, released in India on 28 May 2004, directed by Kunal Kohli and produced by Aditya Chopra and Yash Chopra. The movie stars Saif Ali Khan and Rani Mukerji in the lead roles....
. Assad Ahmed
Assad Ahmed
Asad Ahmed 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....
featured on all tracks except for "Jeetain Gaye", "Teray Liye" (Unplugged) and "Aitebar" (Unplugged), on which Aamir Zaki
Aamir Zaki
Aamir Zaki is a notable Pakistani prolific guitar player, playing jazz, blues, classical, rock and alternative rock.Beginnings...
played. The album was the highest selling album of all time by Vital Signs and was one of the best album produced in the local pop scene.
The aesthetic and commercial success of the album wasn’t enough as Rohail and Shahzad were ideologically and aesthetically drifting away from Juniad Jamshed and Shoaib Mansoor. And though the band demise was never officially announced, by 1998 when the band were offered a deal by Pepsi for another album, Rohail declined, signaling the end of Vital Signs. Junaid Jamshed went on to pursue a career as a solo singer, Shahzad Hasan concentrated on his work as a music producer and Rohail Hyatt formed a production company.
Reunion (2002)
On Saturday 9 March 2002 at the Nazia HassanNazia Hassan
Nazia Hassan was an iconic Pakistani pop singer. Her song "Aap Jaisa Koi" from the Indian film Qurbani made her a legend and pop icon in Pakistan and all of South Asia in the 1980s, where she is admired and loved even today, years after her death...
Tribute Concert, held in Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
, the classic lineup of Vital Signs performed together on stage—for the first time in almost 7 years. The concert was attended by an enthusiastic audience and it was their original line-up which went up on stage, a line-up that hadn't played together ever since mid-1990 who still stole the show. The Vital Signs reunited for a nostalgic 30-minute stint at the high-profile concert. The band realized that a whole new generation of pop fans has grown up and their brand of pop music is still well remembered. After the Nazia Tribute Concert, the pop industry was rife with speculations that the Vital Signs were set to record their long-awaited fifth album, but these speculations were denied by the band.
Musical style
Vital Signs were most heavily influenced by Pink FloydPink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
. Musically and lyrically, they have also cited bands such as a-ha
A-ha
A-ha were a Norwegian pop band formed in Oslo in 1982. The band was founded by Morten Harket , Magne Furuholmen , and Pål Waaktaar...
, Rush
Rush (band)
Rush is a Canadian rock band formed in August 1968, in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario. The band is composed of bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart...
, Scorpions
Scorpions (band)
Scorpions are a heavy metal/hard rock band from Hannover, Germany, formed in 1965 by guitarist Rudolf Schenker, who is the band's only constant member. They are known for their 1980s rock anthem "Rock You Like a Hurricane" and many singles, such as "No One Like You", "Send Me an Angel", "Still...
, Duran Duran
Duran Duran
Duran Duran are an English band, formed in Birmingham in 1978. They were one of the most successful bands of the 1980s and a leading band in the MTV-driven "Second British Invasion" of the United States...
, Radiohead
Radiohead
Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke , Jonny Greenwood , Ed O'Brien , Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway .Radiohead released their debut single "Creep" in 1992...
, The Police
The Police
The Police were an English rock band formed in London in 1977. For the vast majority of their history, the band consisted of Sting , Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland...
and Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
as their major influences. The band were one of the first bands in Pakistan to insist on playing live music where most music was sampled and programmed synthpop. They were the widely also known as Pakistan's first and most successful pop band and were given the title of "pioneers of pop music".
Their music has been one major force which has truly kept the national spirits high amidst the prevailing social woes which have surely worsened in the last three decades, such music included songs like "Dil Dil Pakistan
Dil Dil Pakistan
Dil Dil Pakistan is a patriotic song from Pakistan. It was released in 1987 by the Pakistani pop band, Vital Signs. It was included in the band's debut album Vital Signs 1 in 1989.-Popularity:...
" and many more.
Several bands and artists have cited Vital Signs as an influence or inspiration, including Abbas Ali Khan, Atif Aslam
Atif Aslam
Atif Aslam is a Pakistani pop singer. He is widely recognized in South Asia and has given several hit songs such as Aadat, Woh Lamhe, Tere Bin, Bakhuda Tumhi Ho, Pehli Nazar Mein, Tera Hone Laga Hoon, Tu Jaane Na, Tere Liye. He is one of the most popular South Asian celebrity on Facebook with...
, Jal
Jal (band)
Jal is a pop rock band from Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. The band originally consisted of song writer, vocalist and lead guitarist, Goher Mumtaz and vocalist, Atif Aslam...
, Kaavish
Kaavish
Kaavish is a comtemporary semi classical band from Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan, formed in 1999. The band is founded by vocalist, keyboardist and songwriter, Jaffer Zaidi and lead guitarist, Maaz Maudood....
, Aaroh
Aaroh
Aaroh was an alternative rock band from Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan, formed in 1998...
, SYMT and Fuzön
Fuzön (band)
Fuzön is an alternative rock band from Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan formed in 2001. The name has been derived from fusion as the former vocalist Shafqat Amanat Ali describes the band as a fusion of Indian classical music and modern rock music.The Fuzon art insists on setting feelings above mere...
.
Discography
Studio albums- 1989: Vital Signs 1Vital Signs 1Vital Signs 1 was the first album of the Pakistani band Vital Signs. Fresh from the success of their smash hit Dil Dil Pakistan Vital Signs went to work on their debut album, with Shoaib Mansoor providing the lyrics to all but 2 songs...
- 1991: Vital Signs 2Vital Signs 2Vital Signs 2 was the second album of the Pakistani band Vital Signs released in 1991.-Track listing:All music composed by Vital Signs. All songs written by Shoaib Mansoor.-Personnel:All information is taken from the CD.Vital Signs...
- 1993: AitebarAitebarAitebar was the third album of the Pakistani band Vital Signs.-Track listing:All music arranged, composed and produced by Vital Signs. All songs written by Shoaib Mansoor.-Personnel:All information is taken from the CD.Vital Signs...
- 1995: Hum TumHum Tum (album)Hum Tum was the fourth studio album of the Pakistani band Vital Signs released in January 1995...
Band members
Final lineup- Junaid JamshedJunaid JamshedJunaid Jamshed is a Pakistani recording artist who gained fame as the frontman of the pop group, Vital Signs in 1987 with the hit song, "Dil Dil Pakistan", and remained in demand throughout the 1990s...
– lead vocalsLead vocalistThe lead vocalist is the member of a band who sings the main vocal portions of a song. They may also play one or more instruments. Lead vocalists are sometimes referred to as the frontman or frontwoman, and as such, are usually considered to be the "leader" of the groups they perform in, often the...
(1986–1998) - Rohail HyattRohail HyattRohail Hyatt is a Pakistani musician, producer, and a rock music artist known for his work with the popular 1990s pop band Vital Signs. He is one of the finest music producers in Pakistan. He is the man behind Coke Studio, from Pakistan.-Vital Signs:...
– guitars, vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, keyboardKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
s, pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
(1986–1998) - Shahzad Hasan – bass (1986–1998)