Agah Bahari

Agah Bahari (آگاه بهاری), born July 3, 1983, is an Iranian Rock musician.

Agah's works are Instrumental Progressive metal/Rock. He has been deemed one of "Iran's guitar monsters" according to Iranian Rock magazine "Zirzamin". [Zirzamin: [http://www.zirzamin.se/iranian_guitar/agah_bahari.html] ]

Agah was a member of the band Meera [http://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/arts/story/2005/09/050930_7thday_bs_meera.shtml] , until he left Tehran for Toronto Canada, where he currently resides. Agah has had 4 performances as a guest guitar player at ICOM ( [http://www.berklee.edu/international/kuala_lumpur.html International college of music] ) in Malaysia. [http://www.zirzamin.se/reviews/rev_2006/agah_prog_rock.html]

Agah Bahari is currently collaborating with Dream Theater's ex-keyboardist virtuoso Derek Sherinian on his first solo album. [http://www.tartareandesire.com/news/Derek_Sherinian_to_work_on_new_solo_album/7829/]

Career

Agah Bahari was born on July 3, 1983 in Tehran, Iran. He started studying music at the age of seven, playing the recorder flute and xylophone. At ten, he moved on to the classical guitar, but soon switched to keyboards which he played for four years.

At age fourteen, he started expermienting with an electric guitar practising tunes from Metallica, Megadeth and other speed/thrash metal bands, playing rhythm guitar in this style for four years.

By 2002, he was ready to play five sold-out performances for more than 1,000 people at the Tehran Art University with the band Exir.

Soon after, he formed his own experimental trio, D.N.A. in 2003. D.N.A. performed four shows, for over 800 people, with proceeds benefiting a charity for children with cancer. D.N.A. broke up about a year later because of problems musicians in Iran face with producing albums. Soon after, Agah was asked to write a song for a video and music exhibit called "Depression: A Multimedia Project" at the Tehran art gallery Tarrahan Azad.

In the Fall of 2004, he was invited to join the band Meera who had released their first album in both Iran and Australia. Agah performed guitar, songwriting and composing duties with the band, and recorded three new songs with them, one of which he wrote. This song later reached Number One on Iran's unofficial music billboard.

In 2005, Agah moved to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia for 5 months to attend the International College of Music (ICOM). He studied music and performed as a guest guitarist, obtaining his pre-foundation certificate. He returned home to Iran and re-joined the band Meera, playing four sold-out shows. After another live performance at the Taraneh Music Institute in Tehran, he began to write and record his own music.

International collaborations

In June 2006, the first song, "Revolving Universe", was recorded with members of Planet X, Derek Sherinian on keyboards, Virgil Donati on drums and Rufus Philpot on bass. The Planet X members recorded their parts in Hollywood and then added Agah's guitar tracks, which has recorded in Tehran. The song was produced by Derek Sherinian.

In October 2006, the Iranian Ministry of Guidance and Culture announced that Agah has been officially banned from having any further performances and/or recordings in Iran. On October 11 2006, Agah left Tehran permanently for Toronto, Canada.

On January 8 of 2006, Agah resumed working on a debut solo album with the keyboard virtuoso and the producer, Derek Sherinian, as well as other legendary names in Progressive/Fusion music such as Virgil Donati and Ric Fierabracci.

ee also

*Heavy metal music in Iran
*Rock and alternative music in Iran

External links

* [http://www.agah-bahari.com Agah Bahari's Official Website]
*Text of interview of Deutsche Welle's Persian service with Agah Bahari: [http://news.gooya.eu/culture/archives/047543.php] =References=