As concern grew on the issue of Sahara performing in RDB’s guise, it was incumbent to tackle it by taking into account Sahara’s take on the issue. Herbie Sahara presented his version in a telephonic interview to Images on Sunday. This is what he had to say.

Q. Your take on the controversy concerning Sahara’s performance as RDB in Pakistan?

Herbie: Sahara has not been touring as RDB in Pakistan. We don’t need to insult the intelligence of our wonderful Pakistani fans. We have been doing concerts and recording albums since 1993 long before RDB was formed, and even introduced RDB with our song Soniye Nee Soniye in 2001.

There’s a slight confusion over the song, Billo Nee Tera Lal Ghagra, as you are probably aware that it’s a huge hit in Pakistan and around the world. It’s a Sahara song composed, written and sung by myself, and was released on Sahara’s album entitled Undisputed. However, due to piracy and the internet, it is known as an RDB track. If you go on YouTube you will see RDB’s name on the song and also see them singing it at most of their concerts. This is confusing people and when we sing it on stage they think we’re the same band.

Q. How did the confusion originate?

Herbie: RDB produced music for some Sahara tracks and have their name tagged in the songs which confuses people. Also, when we first started to perform in Pakistan, Sahara and RDB used to do concerts together where I would be singing and RDB joined us on stage providing backing vocals so a lot of our fans remember this and think of us as being the same band.

Q. How do you plan on rectifying the confusion?

Herbie: There was an occasion where a promoter put ‘Sahara/RDB’ on a poster due to the confusion and Surj of RDB brought it to my attention and we discussed its solution.

Sahara has never ever sung any RDB songs on stage. We have done a number of TV/media interviews in Pakistan which you can see on YouTube where we clearly tell fans that we are Sahara and Lal Ghagra is our song. We wish RDB all the best and are grateful to Images on Sunday for giving us the opportunity to clear up this confusion. — S.S.