Junoon
Junoon(meaning "obsession/passion" in English) is South Asia's biggest
and Pakistan's most popular Rock band from Lahore. It was formed in 1990
by guitarist, songwriter and medical doctor Salman Ahmad. They are also
regarded as the pioneers of Sufi rock.[1] Q magazine calls them "One of
the biggest bands in the world". Billboard says Junoon is the
Subcontinent's "biggest crossover successes after the late Nusrat Fateh
Ali Khan"
Early years (1990-1996)
The name Junoon came to lead guitarist Salman Ahmad in a dream where one
of his teachers shook him and said "Tumhey mousiqui ka Junoon hai!" (You
have an obsession for music!). He formed Junoon soon after with two
friends, Ali Azmat and Brian O Connell.
Heavily influenced by rock bands like Led Zeppelin, Junoon aimed to
combine loud guitar riffs with the tranquility of sufi poetry by the
likes of Maulana Rumi, Allama Iqbal and Bulleh Shah. The band were one
of the first bands in Pakistan to insist on playing live music where
most music was sampled and programmed synthpop.
The band's first album, self titled released in 1990 "Junoon" barely
made a dent in the Pakistani music industry, their second album "Talaash"
began creating a cult following for Junoon.
Junoon was no overnight success. The band struggled financially for the
first few years. Group members remember months of eating 'daal' and
rice, the modest Pakistani's staple. It was only after their 1996
release of their third album "Inquilaab" (Revolution), that Junoon
developed a nationwide fan following, blending rock guitars and bluesy
vocals with eastern elements like the use of tablas (traditional south
Asian hand drums), raga-inspired melodies, traditional Pakistani folk
music, and Eastern inspired poetry.
In the spring of 1996, Junoon scored its first big hit with the song "Jazba-e-Junoon",
single from their album Inquilaab.
Mainstream success (1997-2003)
In 1997, Junoon recorded their fifth album, Azadi. Azadi, meaning
freedom, was released by EMI/Virgin Records, and became Junoon's debut
album in India. "Sayonee", the first single off Azadi, became an instant
hit in South Asia and the Middle East, shooting to the top of all the
Asian charts, and staying at #1 on both Channel V and MTV Asia for over
2 months. Azadi hit platinum sales status in a record of 4 weeks. Zee TV
invited Junoon to perform at the star-studded Zee Cine Awards in Mumbai
in March 1998, where the group received accolades from the creme de la
creme of India's entertainment industry.
In 1998, Junoon won the "Best International Group" title at the Channel
V Music Awards, where they performed along with world-wide icons Sting,
The Prodigy and Def Leppard. Azadi was nominated for Best International
Album, having achieved the prestigious honour of being the highest
selling album in Pakistan, Bangladesh and India in 1998 and 1999.
Junoon headlined the BBC Mega Mela in 1998, which was the largest Asian
festival outside of the Sub-Continent.
Junoon released their sixth studio album "Parvaaz", which was based
mostly on the poetry of Bulleh Shah. "Parvaaz" was recorded and mixed at
Abbey Road Studios in London and was hailed by critics as Junoon's
finest work to date and was released by EMI and Lips Records.
Singles like "Bulleya", "Sajna", "Ghoom" and "Mitti" were a success and
did well at the music charts.
UNESCO presented Junoon with an award for thei achievements towards
Peace in South Asia. Junoon was invited to perform at UNESCO's "Music
for Peace" concert held in Paris, along with Lionel Richie, Montserrat
Caballe, Zubin Mehta,Yesudas and many other great artists from around
the world. In London, BBC presented Junoon an award for their
contribution towards Asian Culture.
Junoon closed 1999 with a tour of Bangladesh, where 45,000 ecstatic fans
attended the concert in Dhaka's Army Stadium.
In 2000, Junoon released a compilation of their albums and videos,
Junoon Millenium 1990-2000. The compilation album consisted of singles
like "Azadi", "Muk gaye Nay" and "Allah Hu (live version)". The album
was released by Lips Records.
Later on the same year Junoon performed in Japan and as well as at the
Roskilde Festival outside Copenhagen, Denmark, which is the premier
summer European Rock Festival, along with Pearl Jam, Iron Maiden, The
Cure and many others. Junoon performed the largest ever concert in
Dubai, UAE, with Bollywood singer Sonu Nigam, with nearly 20,000 in
attendance.
In 2001, Junoon released their latest album, Andaz (titled Ishq in
Pakistan), which topped the charts in Pakistan as well as in the Gulf
and South Asia, with its first single entitled "Zamane ke Andaz (Saqi-nama)"
which made it to #1 in the Gulf, and to #5 on the Asian charts.
Junoon sold out Wembley Arena in London in April, and performed at
"United for Gujarat", the first South Asian rock conert in New Delhi,
with bands from India and Bangladesh, singing together to raise funds
for the Gujrat Earthquake.
In June, Salman Ahmad was appointed 'Goodwill Ambassador' of Pakistan by
United Nations, attending the UN General Assembly in New York.[1] In
September, Junoon performed in Norway with Morten Harket of A-HA, and
went on to perform in China.
Following the 9/11 attacks, Junoon helped to organise a concert at the
General Assembly on UN Day with Junoon and an Indian group performing at
the Assembly Hall, a first of its kind. They also released their what
they called their first English-language single, "No More", an
anti-violence song which deals directly with the events of that day.
However, before "No More" they had released English songs on their first
two albums, including "Our Land", "Lady Magic", "Downtown Princes",
"Game Of Chance". The song "No More" is the first English song for which
Junoon made a video.
CNN aired a 30 minute interview of Junoon on the program Talk Asian.
They rave reviews in The New York Times, Billboard Magazine, The New
York Post, Newsweek, and others.
In December, the President of Pakistan at that time, General Pervez
Musharraf invited Junoon to perform at the mausoleum of Pakistan's
founder, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, on Jinnah's birthday.
In 2002, Junoon released their eighth album, "Daur-e-Junoon" and in
2003, they released their ninth "Dewaar". "Garaj Baras" single from
their album, "Dewaar", was selected as part of a Bollywood movie
soundtrack in 2003 for the film Paap directed by Pooja Bhatt. The song
topped the charts again in the country in 2004 and their controversial
single "Pappu Yaar" shot to the #1 spot in Pakistan.
Recent years (2003-present)
In 2003 Ali Azmat, the lead vocalist, left the band to start his solo
career. His first solo album "Social Circle" was released in 2005 and
received critical acclaim winning several awards. Salman Ahmad also
released his solo album. In 2005, Brian O'Connell returned to his native
New York.[8] Pakistani musician Mekaal Hasan and the band's producer
John Alec have been playing bass guitar for live shows in his place. A
reunion concert took place in Dubai, UAE in March 2006.
In September 2007, Junoon released three albums, Parvaaz, Infiniti, and
Azadi with Magnatune. On December 11, 2007, Junoon performed at the
Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway together with a variety of
artists, which was broadcast live to over 100 countries.[9] In 2008, the
Pakistani rock band Junoon, performed in Srinagar for the first time and
turned thousands of music lovers hysterical.
Music style
Heavily influenced by rock bands like Led Zeppelin, Junoon aimed to
combine loud guitar riffs with the tranquility of sufi poetry by the
likes of Maulana Rumi, Allama Iqbal and Bulleh Shah. The band were one
of the first bands in Pakistan to insist on playing live music where
most music was sampled and programmed synthpop.
Junoon's music is based upon issues in the world. Their music has been
one major force which has truly kept the national spirits high amidst
the prevailing social woes which have surely worsened in the last three
decades. Such music included songs like "Jazba-e-Junoon", "Sayonee", "Talaash",
"Main Kaun Hun" and many more. Junoon's music is compared with the likes
of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan or Lata Mangeshkar. Junoon's music has
captivated the Pakistani youth for well over ten years and they were the
only saving grace to Pakistani music on the international scene after
the departure of Pakistani pop-music heavyweights, Nazia and Zoheb and
Vital Signs.
One of the legendary tours that Junoon had undertaken was their tour to
Denmark and Europe in 2000-2001. This tour played a pivotal role in
increasing Junoon's international popularity and standing and in
spreading awareness about Pakistani music.
Studio albums
 1991: Junoon
1993: Talaash
1995: Kashmakash
1996: Inquilaab
1997: Azadi
1999: Parvaaz
2001: Ishq
2002:
Daur-e-Junoon
2004: Dewaar
2006: Infiniti
Live albums
2001: United for
Peace
2002: Junoon for
Peace
Compilations
2000: Millennium
1990-2000
2000: The Videos
1990-2000
Band members
Current
Salman Ahmad -
vocals, lead guitar
Former
Ali Azmat -
vocals, backing vocals
Brian O'Connell
- bass guitar, backing vocals
Nusrat Hussain -
keyboard
Sessional
John Alec - bass
guitars
Sunny Jain -
drums
Tom France -
rhythm guitars
Sameer
Chatterjee - dubla
Jeremy Wilms -
rhythm guitars
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