Coke Studio….Gumby…an interesting reunion
Heeeeelloooooo,
Its been a month since I wrote here.
But if you recall, the last post was titled “Kuch Kaam Ho Jayay”
…and its true that since then I have worked so much that saari phoonk nikal gayee!!!
It was impossible to even come close to a laptop…let alone write a blog
Well for starters work on the new Album is in full swing so that might excite a few…
had some concerts….
But the most exciting thing of all was the Coke Studio….
Although I have been strictly prohibited by the PR company to divulge any information about the content and working of the coke studio but I can surely talk about our very interesting re-union with Gumby….
Well as you all know that in 2006 we parted ways with Gumby. We wrote a long essay on our website explaining why and then only realizing an hour later, after hitting the “publish button”, that it was nothing but an emotional piece of crap we’d written.
Obviously it was an absolute disaster and what a hefty price I’ve had to pay for it. Not only every noori fan hated us…the media was disgusted…and most of all Gumby was resolved that if their is an evil person that exists, it has to be Ali Noor. Well he was right as our act was inexcusable. Even though he still attributes every thing to me…whereas Ali Hamza was the one who wrote all the nice English…Hamza always gets away with his masoomiat!!
The real reason why we had parted ways was very simple and it was that we were under a lot of financial stress due to lack of concerts and Gumby being the only bread winner in his family was finding it very hard to stay committed to noori. He said he’d do other shows and also play with us but after a while when we had to call him and ask about his schedule before every interview, concert or TV appearance…the woman in me obviously started reacting to this violation of the possessiveness that she had enjoyed for so many years. So slowly and slowly I started sending out vibes of my displeasure and one fine day right after a concert I told him that it was time to part ways.
It was like a divorce that took place……and what was written on the website was just the bitterness of a self proclaimed wronged wife!!!!
I know some people are going to make fun of me for writing the preceding sentence …..but am pretty used to it so Fuck off!!!
Khair time passed…their was absolutely no communication between us and Gumby…in the whole scenario, he chose to be the sensible one and kept quiet….whereas we just avoided any conversation on that front. Thank God we did not turn this into any Atif-Jal controversy.
But after a while I started to feel the burden of my mistake. Please understand that I had no regrets about not being able to work again with Gumby and missing out on the greatest drummer…but the hurt that I had created was killing me. I knew that I had to apologize and make sure I am forgiven by accepting any punishment I may have to undergo.
I finally got my opportunity on TMA’s in 2008. We were called in to rehearse a day earlier. I heard that Gumby was coming to play with Ali Azmat. So I waited for him .When he did come the whole hall had quite a few notable musicians and celebrities. As soon as the finished his rehearsal I just rushed and grabbed him saying “Hey Gumby!!” he was obviously taken aback with my frankness and replied with a very cold “Hello”….
“You have to forgive me!!!”
He was shocked…
“What is there to forgive!!!…man I’ve moved on”…he had a a very bitter smile on his face
“NO you have to forgive me” I grabbed his hand again…
“Dude there is nothing to forgive…” he tried to pull his hand away..
“NO…you have to forgive me” I pressed his hand even harder…
“ALI NOOR LET GO OFF MY HAND!!!!!”
….he was very loud…… everyone turned around to look…their was silence
Holy cow this was theeeeee most embarrassing time for me…
I had 2 options…either to just walk off and hold a new grudge for this public humiliation ….or to persevere and accept this as the first installment of the so rightly deserved punishment…..
I chose the later….
I pestered and begged him to at least come outside and have a word with me. He refused initially but after a bit of man handling and a hundred “pretty please’s”…he finally agreed to at least save me the pinnacle of my embarrassment…we came outside.
I still remember like yesterday that we were standing next to his car in the entrance road of the Expo centre Karachi.
Gumby finally spoke his heart….
“Do you have any clue how much you hurt me!!”
“Do you know what my mother said when she read your statement”
“My friends….the media….you stabbed me in the back man”
I stood their with my head down…with my hand on his shoulder saying “I know”…”I know”
and then he said
“The way your parents treated me…the way I lived at your house…man we were like family!!!”
I was just dumb struck….it really hurt….
and then I gathered my strength and said to him..
“Yes we were like family and I guess I behaved that way only because I was hurt just like how a brother is from another brother…even if it is unjustified……it is only your closest one who stabs you in the back…I have no excuse for what I did….but I know that I can’t live with this burden on my chest….you will have to forgive me because even you know that what I have done is not like how an enemy does it…you know I am not your enemy”
I was in tears when I was saying this and it took a lot to make sure that he does not think that I’m some sissy!!!
At that moment I felt helpless and at his mercy….
By then Ali Hamza and Mandana had also joined in and Jaffer (kaavish) was also there…Hamza threatened to molest him if he did not forgive me!!!…. Mandana emotionally blackmailed him…….I guess poor Gumby was not given much of an option so at the end he had to give the forgiveness hug!!!
I felt slightly relieved but I knew that this was just the beginning ….
I was spaced out for the next few days….I wanted to meet his mother and apologize to her as well so I called him, but never got around the meeting, as we were too caught up in work…
After that we did not speak at all…..quite a few months passed
and then came a call from Rohial Hyat for the Coke Studio….I knew that Gumby was going to be there and we were going to play together again….
I felt weird……but was very excited as well….
When I got their for the first rehearsal my heart was pounding when I saw him behind the drum kit playing away….he had that fairly grim professional face..
As soon as he got off I went and grabbed him just like the old times…and thank GOD he responded….he had softened a bit….
in the next few days we hung out a bit…but unfortunately there was not much musical interaction…the whole house band for the coke studio were swamped in work….they were overworked as hell…. even the rehearsals we did were very short and to the point…mostly focussed on the rest of the musicians.. i was nothing like the way we used to work in the past…
Then one day when I came to rehearsal, I saw Gumby sitting with ALi Zafar having a bit of a chat so I just joined in. Ali was saying something about not being able to complete some writing…so i curiously inquired and he told me that he was writing a testimonial for Gumby’s website and that Gumby had asked all those who had worked with him in the past to write testimonials….so like a besharam I said “mein bhi likhoon ga!!!”….Gumby just laughed and said ” jaisay tu nay teen saal pehlay likha tha!!!!!”
…..Ouch that hurt….2nd installment of the punishment!!!!
Ok…i continued with my besharmi and said “nahin is dafa acha likhon ga”….
“Tu rehnay de….” it was very obvious that he was very clear in his mind that he did not want me write anything….and rightly so….
But I am Dheet….so I said “Likhoon ga to mein zuroor…” … and just then I decided that I was going to write this blog entry….
The Gumby that I have known for years…is not the easily forgiving type….he has had a lot of friendships…. very few of them survive to date and we have been privy to quite a few of his debacles… he is a very sensitive person and gets upset very easily…but at the same time he is a very simple person and most importantly he is very good at heart….
He has been family to us and there is no doubt about that …our relationship was not about professionalism and we enjoyed our time as noori just like 3 brothers…even though he spent his entire life like a professional with the rest of the world….. I know that he knows deep inside that it was a lot more than that with us….
I guess hum ko nazar lag gayeee…..there is no one evil here…and that is why my heart tells me that some day we’ll be together again…..
I told Jaffer to take this pic…and i think it safely vouches for the nature of our relationship!!!
I know that a lot of people think the once I fuck up….. I apologize and get away very easily….but this is the way I have learnt everything in my life and that is what I call growing up….
I have been taught to face consequences and take the punishment….. as cleverness here, can only be fatal……
I know nothing can be undone here and neither can anyone attempt to revive what is lost….
But in the end the world can surely know that Gumby is the good guy and I the bad one!!!!!
Ali Noor
P.s. Now i feel relieved…..
62 Comments
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good to hear from you after a long time. man i have really started to miss gumby after reading this post.
awwwwwww
this has 2 b ur greatest hit so far
Its good to have the audacity to stand up and admit your mistakes. I am glad that you gave up ego and went the humble way asking for forgiveness. Life is short and we cant afford having such tragedies. God bless you.
When Gumby was asked by Kamiyar Rokni on the talk show he does on DAWN news, what Gumby’s biggest mistake in life was, Gumby didnt take a milisecond to answer “Noori”. Ali Noor is just pretending to be the bad guy here, but i think he’s just fishing for the compliment of the one having the bigger heart and gumby not forgiving him. I’d be shocked if they got back.
at the FTC launch, you saw me and said something on the lines of “you’ve grown up insiya, we’ve all come a long way…” — as a reply to this post let me say the same, ali noor — we truly have come a long way! i’d like you to ask hamza to share a chat with you seconds after i saw the video of “doh dil”.
… this one was straight from the heart and gumby’s a sissy deep-down inside, if he doesnt put this up as a testimonial, we’ll get hamza to molest him like he said he would! :p
don’t think i have respected you any more than what i feel for you right now!
p.s. next time you see me at a dinner table, join-in!
This is probably one of the best pieces of free writing I’ve read and no matter what others might believe it’s not easy to think, pen and put up something like this even as it flows from the heart…
It was really lovely reading this…and heck the ‘aurat’ part was the best along with Ali Hamza’s threat of molestation…LOL…not to mention that the new album is finally coming close…always be yourself Ali Noor!!!
Ali Noor is removing comments from this thread. Shows he can’t take criticism. Anyway my point was that Gumby said on Kamiyar Rokni’s show that Noori was his biggest mistake.
sana the fitna!!!!
good luck to you ….love!!!
seems old noori is back again , gumby ka cum back ho saktha hai and it will be gr8 ,, ab tu ep bhi wapis a gaya hai it seems kay donno nay dobhra janam lia hai and thnk God ab pakistan bands ka scene on ho ga em happy ,Allah keray kay gumby wapis ajay .
Awwww =)
that is so sweet. … accepting your mistake and apologizing for it takes a lot of guts…hats of to you ali noor
LOL @ Ali Bhai’s comment..*fitna*…hehehe…well we don’t know whether Gumby would come back or not but the point is Ali Noor has laid out everything frankly and unbiased…whatever people think Ali Bhai said or Gumby said is past, now that he’s apologized in an ethical and conscientious manner although HE chose the *besharam* word for it…hehehe…in any way noori roxxX…as it ALWAYS has!!!
very well said ali… i wish gumby should now hav realized the mstake of you and cum up with the big heart!!!!!!
I hav a feeling that pak music industry will blast again dis year by cum bak of Noorie & EP….
ali noor u are the best… i m a very big fan of noori… and i have ur most exclusive first album that was released under no label…. amazing albums and amazing concepts… please ali do check out my brothers article upon u guys…
Here’s the link:
http://www.koolmuzone.com/2009/03/noori-the-band-with-a-concept/
OK.. I don’t know where shall I start from.. If someone asked me the best moments of my life while growing up, I wouldn’t think twice to take the name “Noori” .. 16-17 is the age where you are exposed to the society a lot more than you have ever been before. The physical and emotional changes make you feel “Heck I am turning into a man now”. and that is exactly the same time where I was introduced to this band through a newly launched popular music channel. “Tum Hans Diye” was the first single which really inspired me to speak out my mind.. “Tera hai jo sapna us sapnay ko toro naa”.. Anyway, i won’t go into the detail of each and every song which led me to become an even more greater fan who would eventually steal money from his father’s Dad to attend a Noori’ concert. But yeah, moving forward i got to be a part of this website called “Noorifanatix” .. Man! was I an addict of that place?? I bet I used to piss off everyone out there with my silly messages but yeah, it was something which gave me this feeling of attatchment with the band which meant alot to me..
Moving forward, the first concert experience was back in the SKMHJ concert, organized at the Marina Club, Karachi. It was the first time I got to see the guys playing live right next to me.. The feeling of watching them face to face were that of shock and awe.. but yeah, the band together always used to make me excited.
There was this little incident I remember happening at the McDonald’s concert.. It was one really energetic performance, and after the end of the show, while the band was stepping down from the stage, Gumby, being the shortest of them all sort of disappeared in the crowd of fans who were literally dying to pat the back or shake hands of any of the 4 guys.. My eyes were at Ali Noor at that moment who seemed to be really tensed about the sudden invisibility of Gumby and shouted “Gumby kahan hai?” .. and later he was rescued by a bunch of security guards.. I saw them running straight to the roof of McDonalds from where Gumby and Ali Noor waved at the fans down..
Anyway, I have many of those moments which I could share right now but I don’t want to make anyone feel like “what the hell man this guy is crazy” .. lol so I must finish my words here..
If Noori could get back.. I would feel like reliving my teenage days back again.. So Gumby if you are, by any chance, reading the comments here, PLEASE get back to the family.. As we still think of you guys together as a family
Best,
Umair Bilal
After reading your entry…and Im sorry this is the first one I have read of yours…One thing is I got to hand it to you that you did the right thing of apologizing to him when you saw him.It shows that you are a kind hearted person….and ready to admit your bad when you feel the need to. The other thing I would do if I were you I would go meet him in private and talk it out. I mean it just seems to me that he did not have a chance to make peace with it on his terms. Let him tell you “how” it hurt him and just be there to listen and acknowledge and validate is feelings. It seems like he is the person who would really forgive you….or waise bhi you said you are a dheet person…so one more try:D.Good Luck!!
And hey I love the way you write. I was also listening to the song Merey log …makes you think about whats happening in Pakistan right now:(
Khuda kay waastay please get back to the music scene with gumby and SAVE THE IMAGE OF PAKISTAN!
Globalize your music like how Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan did.
I am currently doing my final year at the university of toronto, and to be very honest with you, my class (i.e about 60% gorayz) are all aware and impressed about yours and EP’s music through our various university events. They couldnt absorb the fact that you guyz are associated with Pakistani music. And trust me, over the years most of these guyz have changed their racist attitude towards brown ppl.
i’m proud of you Noor!
yes, it takes a while for Gumby to forgive (I speak from experience) but he does eventually. Yes he is a sensitive and simple person… but just so you know, he is capable of getting moving past it as well.
It may not be the same as before, but it’s a start and a whole new one.
Good to know that we “fans” got a chance to make Ali Noor feel lighter!
what should i say! its just sad to see misunderstandings in a band that we thought will stick together like UHU liquid glue! :p
I never had anything against Ali noor or Gumby even when they seperaated it was a big shock but i thought when ever i will meet them i will respect each one of them as i always did!
After knowing all this.. i have starting respecting Ali Noor more thn before i mean who says hes the bad person ? he has done SO much!
its a big thing for all noori fans ! 
i just feel so good that Ali noor takes us as someone he can share his burden with !
I really big time loved each n every word you wrote
Gumby said Noori was mistake because he was hurt by Ali bhai’s wonderful testimonials. I have seen Gumby on other shows praising Noori and Ali Noor and saying Ali should be the best songwriter he ever came across. The reason he gave for the breakup of the band was that Ali is complete in every sense of music and he doen’t need other musicians. He hid the actual side of story and didn’t blame it all on Ali Noor. So, at that time i felt thumbs up for Gumby and now i feel thumbs of for Ali Noor and I feel like I’ve got my noori back 
really looking forward to see you guys as “Noori” on cokestudio and I really pray you guys stay united even after that. NOORI \m/
it takes a man to realize his mistake and ask for forgiveness.. u did a good thing!
agreed! It does take a lot of guts to apologize like that but you should be thankful you got the oppurtunity too. Not everybody get’s an oppurtunity to apologize for their mistakes and then avails it. Hats off, u’ve done what u should have done, now sit back, relax and go with the flow. everything happens for a reason!
any one who is in contact wid gumby, pls ask gumby to read his fans & frnds request!!! nd restart dat dream journey & be an honest artist….
Thats so great of you Ali , I am really proud of you and hope that you will be together again
Ali Noor yaar sab ko pata hai keh tumhara band Noori is a one man show band. I mean I like your songs and all and have been a huge fan of Noori but unfortunately your band revolves around you and the minute Gumby started getting more gigs than you, you started getting jealous of him, people had started to say that the only good thing about Noor’s album are the drums by Gumby. So its obvious that you started getting jealous and now that you have realized that you lost one of the most important member of your band, you have started to apologize….No Offense mate, but seriously grow up and “it is only your closest one who stabs you in the back”, that is just crap, snakes back stab you, not the people who are close to you.
Gumby mate, if you are reading this blog, just remember the saying “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me”
Come on shameer !
You arnt leting the guy apologize! Some day people wont give u a chance to speak ur heart out too only thn u will feel how much it hurts!
Dont blame it on Ali Noor!
Noori never revolved arnound Ali Noor. People love Ali hamza equally. Gumby was always a very imortant person in noori and it is true that we feel the difference in drumming and we miss him alot!
Ali noor did all he could but by the time he went up to him gumby moved on ! Its not anyones fault ! =)
sometimes u just cant help it !
ALi Noor you are undoubtidly a great personality man, a beautiful saying..”if your eyes are positive, yu would like all the pplz in the world’ but if your tongue is positive, all the ppl in the world will like you”.
@ Maira Junejo : Ofcourse people love Ali Hamza. I myself like Hamza more than Ali Noor, but I often read Ali Noor’s blog and think that this guy is too vain, he beleives that the world revovles around him, I just think he needs to realize that what a setback it was to loose Gumby and how Noori’s music has suffered because of it. And it was all because Ali Noor couldnt accept the fact that Gumby was getting more gigs and attention than him. And I do appreciate his blog here where he is accepting his mistake and telling the world about it
But still all the shit that happened wasn’t what I expected form Noori.
i have new found respect for you man !
Shahmeer bro…you seem bitter….or is it how you approach life?
Cuz if you do then by all means continue to do so as wisdom only comes with its own sweet time…
cheers
@ Ali Noor, not bitter, just speaking my mind. Sorry if it offended you but I just wrote what I felt. and i agree wisdom comes through time. the more we experience, the wiser we get.
Peace.
some wise man once said : ” who gives a f*** what a hater gotta say” .. I believe that was an aritist who likes to call himself THE BOSS …
@ shameer : brother .. objectivity is essential ! =) .. be happy
Its doestn matter either gumby makes his come back or not,the point is AliNoor realised what he did, so I guess by reading this apologetical blog gumby will be back..well this is gud sign to hear the reunion news, [I heard EP is again reunite and working on their second album.....]
May be oneday Gohar write an apologetical note too for Atif…. May be Salman Ahmed Call Ali Azmat and Brain for Junoon or may be Shafqat , Immu, Shallum and Rameez start working on their third album and I hope its also possible that Fakhir Call Haroon for Awaaz..
Lets C if Noori comeup with their old lineup including Jafri too..
takes a lot to do and write what you did. i think i know how you feel fallouts are a natural part of life. to be the bad one in the fallout: takes a lot
wish you all the best. hope. Insha Alalh one day. that all will be back together and stronger again
noori should globalize their music……!!! like ATIF ASLAM.proud to be noori`s fan.love u
You did a nice and brave thing. Congrats And hey, this is your humble fan from Brazil.
hey Ali noor i simply loveee ur songs and also ur style..
i am the biggest fan of urz..
i use to listen ur songs all the time…
u simply roks…
i loveee u…..u do creative work and this is the thing that i like in you..
keep it up dude…at the end i jst wana say…..you are tremendous…
I think letting Gumby go was a mistake .. I’m glad that you’re trying to mend things.
Its about time you guys put together another awesome album – just can’t wait. Gumby should realize how much you love him – if you didn’t you would not have been so jealous with him hanging out with the other guys
Its nothing out of the ordinary though, all rockers are fickle and get into fights.
Its only great bands that come back together and even greater bands who hit right off once they’re back together. All for one and one for all.
wish you all the best
All i believe is …The BEST IS YET TO come from you people.
Ali , you have already set an example here yar and I feel so proud to be your follower as I apologized someone i hurt years back and it feels so good now.
ITs one single bond that keeps us together,one universal language,Music !
Stay blessed
waiting for the day when ali jafri, ali hamza, ali noor and GUMBY gets on the stage together
and ali noor i remember listening to your interveiw once, when you actually said your music does not revolve around the most common love and emotional themes adopted by most of the bands in Pakistan. I hope you dont switch sides now, ( do Dil
)
Noori is definitely the fuckin’ coolest band in Pakistan, its true!!! but this post pissed me off. As in *YaaaaawN* I was bored halfway through!!!
I also hope to c u n gumby again… u ppl really need him… he’s the best out there…. n the thought that u messed up with him is quite confusing… but i do hope that u guys will be together…. i loved the old noori
noori rocks…………..
noori rocks………
I feel I might introduce my self here. My name is Kate, I’m a newbie here, someone told me that i might find some good information here so… basically that’s why I’m here, and for any good advice i might get also… hope to have good time here
Didnt know you had a blog, buddy. Nice! Check out mine as I have put a few posts on Coke Studio as well. http://www.omarulhaq.wordpress.com.
I saw your coke studio performance yesterday and was completely blown away. So much so, that my mother and I both had tears in our eyes at the end of it. A very powerful song that is very relevant to what Pakistan is going through today. Thank you for bringing it to life and giving us hope for Pakistan.
Coke Studio performance was awesome. Every one played their part very well. Kudos for you to accepting your mistake. Tum apni karni kar guzro, ho hona hai woh hona hai =D
hi ali this is my fist time that am writing to some star in my life and i realy feel great am from afghanistan and i like your all songs espicaily mjy roko one it is so close to my hearth your every album is wonderful music is fantastic and videos are good to see you in coke studio was realy great but you yourself not sing am waiting for your new song in coke studio and waiting for new album i whish you success in your life
love you bye god bless you
Salamalakium
well it happen life as it is, all this clearly show that you are not that superman or some super celeb..you are just another normal human being and a great artist
at least you confessed about what you did 
May Allah bless you and you guys unite again 
i my self was hurt when i heard years ago about you guys, it was like another Junoon broken up
cheers
take care
Ur team has made a great album like Peeli Patti..it was superb..i loved it..
And AIk ALif….buhut zabardast hai yaar…..u guys and gumby make a great band..
keep persuading him. to work with u guys..on regular basis..
yea Ali Noor! great piece of writing.. we all go through such F*ck upss in life..
and I’d surely hope n wish to see you guys perform again.. together as one!
GoodLuck !
Hey Ali Noor. this is Mariam-Zehra Nigah’s niece.
It’s like I have fallen in love with noori all over again–I am being very honest about your second album which I didn’t like..I loved “mere log” though but I somehow didn’t like other songs like your previous album..I still have your signed cd and I thoroughly enjoyed your first album—I have all the songs on my iPod and it gives a very pleasant feeling whenever I listen to your old tracks..
I heard “do dil” and I went crazy listening to it…then came “aik alif”–I am seriously falling short of words..I love it and I don’t think I could say more. You’re doing a great job and keep up your good work!
I just read your blog about the “gumby reunion” You seriously did a very brave thing by apologizing and being stubborn as you’ve mentioned…hahaha it worked huh?!
Take care,
Mariam
tht was a brave act, though losing gumby was a fool decision.
hope u got ur mind back on track but keep approching gumpy and brin him back.
your band looks incomplete without him, no matter how many smashing hits u gonna release.
one of the main factor we love noori was because of gumby drumby.
i wanna noori back.. ali noor.. ali hamza and gumby.. all three…
thats it.. so when u ppl r comming back
Dude, no one think ur a sissy or anything..ur rite..situations defer at times…anyways…u remind me of a friend i know…
and beleive me, it takes balls to write n express watever uve written down..
respect for YOU & GUMBY…hope u guyz reunite someday…
P.S i still see gumby smiling at u guyz wen u play at coke studio..feels like u guyz are back again..
Really Man u did a gr8 by apologizing..no one has the guts to do such a thing… u’ll 3 will rock again… Way 2 Go.. BTW SARI RAAT is the Best Song Composition I ever heard in my whole life
))))
i was much hurt when noori broke up and i knew that Ali Noor had kicked Gumby out of the band whateva the reaosn may be..but yeah i must accept that Ali Noor is a nice soul..
i just want to say i was the biggest fan of noori even if Ali Noor is wrong i dont care i just love Ali Noor and i love Noori…
but at the same time hats off to Ali Noor for accepting his mistake and this could regain the sympathy of the fans and i wish Gumby to come back…
no matter how bad Ali Noor was or even is…i Love Him..em crazy abt Noori and just love to see them reunited again…`Peace`
I guess for me this is new REASON to like Noori furthermore … I love u guys … Your music n everything about you is like just fantastic … A TRUE ROCK BAND … well need to say whatever happened was PAST …. try to reunite as you are truly intended n give all of your fans tht SUNO K MEI HO JAWA noori back ASAP’ … and hmza buddy I also want a similar confessing kind of HIT from your side