He has played with some of the biggest names in rock but Aziz Ibrahim has never forgotten his roots.

He turns 50 this week and whether it be the back streets of his home city of Manchester or the villages of Pakistan, Aziz remains committed to helping causes that look to make a difference to the world.

This week he played at the Roadhouse Manchester in front of family, friends and special guests – including the likes of Ian Brown of The Stone Roses. The money raised from the gig went towards helping a charity that is helping to make huge changes to people’s lives in Pakistan.

The CDRS (Comprehensive Disaster Response Services) charity is run by American Todd Shea, a musician himself.

Aziz told us: “It was just intriguing that there was this guy who sold his house and moved to Pakistan so he could help the less fortunate.

“When I delved deeper into it I realised this man had helped to change people’s perceptions of what Pakistan is like.

“Most of all this guy has nothing. He has a backpack and one set of clothes and he comes across as someone completely humble.

“The majority of people in Pakistan live hand-to-mouth and many of them don’t know what a war is on for most of the time.

“They need all the assistance they can get.”

Rather than bring presents to his 50th birthday party bash, guests were asked to make donations to the charity.

Guitarist and songwriter Aziz has played with the Stone Roses, Ian Brown and Paul Weller. He is currently working on his next album and on several other projects.

In a career that spans over 25 years Aziz says that whilst he is British and a proud Mancunian he has a heritage that many Pakistani's can relate too.

Aziz’s parents were born in Amritsar and then moved to Faislabad, Pakistan.

“I have loved going on tour to the country in the past decade and it was great visiting family members.

“But we have a dual heritage and the fact that I have the strengths of both worlds of a beautiful culture is wonderful.

“We end-up with a combined Asian-Mancunian spirit!”

It is this dual heritage and a pride for his forefather efforts that helped him blend his own personal creation, ‘The Asian Blues’.

Due to a fast-growing fan base, Aziz is now reprinting his back catalogue, which includes the albums “Lahore to Longsight” and “Rusholme Rock”.

Whilst, Asian music itself has reached new heights, Aziz remains one of the very few who Asian musicians who have made it in the mainstream.

He is more of a rarity in that his success has been in rock music and became an inspiration to many young musicians without even knowing it.

But he recollects that regardless of who you are, you may well become a target for other people’s prejudices.

“In music the struggle seems to be still there. I was due to play on a US tour and the visa was refused. They had no other reason other than my name really to refuse me.

“The problem with this is that is lays down a precedent – do not employ a Muslim or your project will get delayed.

“That causes organisations to worry. People would rather go for the safe option. Should I book him if it is going to cause issues for the whole team?

“It made me question if my British passport means anything?”

Aziz though was thankful for his life and the little help he got on the way from family and friends.

“Yes, thanks for reminding me it is my fiftieth!” He jokes “I owe a lot of people a lot of thanks and over the years a lot of people have been kind in their own little ways.

“I just want to be able say as a group of friends that on the day of my fiftieth we raised some money for a great cause.”

You can support Aziz and donate to the cause by viewing: justgiving.com/azizibrahim