Artists Remember the Legacy of 'Cairo's Guitar Hero' Adel Sakr

Tucked away in Cairo's Maadi neighbourhood, far from the commercial polish of the music industry, Adel Sakr was the quiet engine driving Egypt’s independent sound - and though he passed this year, his influence remains wired into every artist he touched.

Not only was he a remarkable musician in his time, but also a renowned guitar technician whose influence shaped the sound of some of Egypt's biggest bands like Cairokee, Wust El Balad and Massar Egbari. Known as Cairo's 'guitar hero', Sakr's workshops, which he would usually host in his own house in Maadi, became a sanctuary for tonal perfection and technical mastery, prioritising a musician's individual journeys over profit, enabling many to develop their sound and customise pedalboards with 'boutique' effects rarely found elsewhere in the country.

In memory of his passing, we talk to various Egyptian musicians who worked closely with him, whether through attending his workshop or often sought his expertise and advice throughout their musical journey.

Hany Adel

Singer & Guitarist, Wust El Balad

"Adel Sakr wasn’t simply one of the finest guitar repairers in the Arab world; he was a dear friend to countless musicians. He genuinely cared about artists and was always eager to help them achieve the sound they had in their heads. He was also a natural storyteller and a good listener. Often, we’d go and sit with him not just to fix our guitars, but simply because we enjoyed his company. We loved talking with him, hearing his reflections on life and music, and soaking in his quiet philosophy.

We've lost a man who was like a family to us, and to him, we truly were. The stories he shared about life and music are the kind we’ll carry with us forever."

Ayman Massoud 

Keyboardist, Massar Egbari

"For me, Adel Sakr was something of a guitar doctor. I’m not really a guitarist myself. I’m primarily a keyboardist, with guitar as my second instrument, so whenever I needed anything related to guitars, I would turn to Adel. I never really did anything on my own. I’d just sit beside him, watching and enjoying everything he was doing. He played with a real sense of passion, the kind of things he genuinely loved, and he always knew exactly what he was doing. I’d actually heard about Adel for years through Mohab Saqr, even before Adel returned to Egypt, and I’d always hoped to meet him. So whenever I went over, I’d end up just sitting there, completely absorbed, watching everything he did on the guitar."

Fulltone 

Multi-instrumentalist & Producer

“I was first introduced to Adel Sakr through a friend in 2008. I had a guitar that needed fixing, and I heard he was the best. At the time, his workshop was in his house in Maadi. To get to his room, I had to pass through the living and dining area.  We chatted for a while while he worked on my guitar. I was really fascinated by all the tools he had and his deep knowledge of every single detail of the instrument. Once he finished fixing the guitar, he handed it back to me so I could try it. I played a few jazz chords, and he immediately asked, “What’s that? How do you know those chords? I thought you played metal like all the other kids.”  

I told him I didn’t play or listen to metal at all - I mostly liked old music. I guess that earned me some points with him, because from then on, every time I visited, it would turn into a two- or three-hour visit at least.  He was very inspiring and calm, always sharing ideas and stories. Adel was truly a special person to be around, and anyone who knew him will miss him dearly."

Chiati 

Producer & Live Act

"Adel was my guitar teacher since I was about 10 years old, and I remember we used to have exams where he would want me to identify the notes on my guitar. I would cheat using the tuner. Till now i regret this because I struggle to remember the notes on the fretboard. We always remained very close, I would go and see him every couple of months, and we would sit and talk about life, music and the industry. He was such a character that when I worked at SceneNoise, I thought he would be the perfect person for a documentary about. He was with me throughout all my different phases, and I already feel the hole in the music community that he has left."

Shady Ahmed

Singer-songwriter & Presenter

"Adel Sakr was chosen family, a father to many in the guitar-playing community in Egypt. I could say we went to him to get our guitars fixed, but we actually went to hang out and spend time with him. He was a therapist, a friend, a confidant, a teacher… so many great qualities that inspired hundreds of guitarists. It’s hard to process his loss; he has touched the lives of so many on professional and personal levels. As musicians, our instruments are extensions of ourselves, and by leaving a mark on them, he has left a mark on all of us. He will be greatly missed; there will never be another Adel Sakr."