Junoon
Junoon (meaning "obsession" and/or "passion" in Urdu) is one of Pakistan and South Asia's most popular Rock bands, based out of Karachi, Pakistan, and formed in 1990 by guitarist/songwriter/medical doctor Salman Ahmad. At the time, Junoon consisted of two other members: Ali Azmat on vocals and Nusrat Hussain on keyboards.
The name Junoon, as the band was so named, came to lead singer Ali Azmat in his dream. He said that in his dream he saw one of his teachers shaking him and said, "Tumhey mousiqui ka
Junoon hai!" (meaning "You have an obsession for music!")
History
Though the band's first album, the self titled Junoon barely made a dent, their second album Talaash (the search) began creating a cult following for Junoon. It was only after their 1995 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. The band were one of the first bands in Pakistan to insist on playing live music where most music was sampled and programmed synth pop. Heavily influenced by rock bands like Led Zeppelin, Junoon aimed at combining loud guitar riffs with the tranquility of sufi poetry by the likes of Maulana Rumi, Allama Iqbal and Baba Bulleh Shah.
Success didn't come easy to Junoon as they tried to defy traditions in a conservative country like Pakistan. Their politically influenced songs were often subject to censorship, which led to the eventual ban from all state run television and radio during the rule of former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
In 1998, the band took both Pakistan and India by storm with their hit single "Sayonee" which was part of their tremendously successful fourth studio album Azadi (Freedom) released by EMI. In 1999, Junoon released their fifth studio album Parvaaz (The Flight), which was based mostly on the poetry of Baba 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.
Junoon won the award of "Best International Group" at the [[Channel [V] Music Awards]] in New Delhi, India in November 1999, where Sting, Def Leppard, and Prodigy performed with Junoon. UNESCO invited Junoon to perform at their Millennium Peace concert in 1999 in Paris with Lionel Richie.
Compilation albums of the bands music and videos were released in 2000 (Junoon 1990-2000). Junoon released Ishq in 2001 and Dewaar in 2003. Salman Ahmad was appointed Goodwill Ambassador by the United Nations, attending a Special Session of the UN General Assembly. 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 first English-language single, "No more" - an anti-violence song which deals directly with the events of that day.
Junoon has been the most successful Pakistani group in history, having toured extensively around the planet, including at the renowned European rock festival, Roskilde in June 2000, where Pearl Jam, Iron Maiden, Travis, Queensryche, and over 200 other world famous artists performed. The band has been across Asia, Europe, North America, the Middle East, and performed for kings, queens, presidents and prime ministers across the globe.
Junoon's track "Garaj Baras" was selected as part of a Bollywood movie soundtrack in 2003 for the Pooja Bhatt film Paap, which topped the charts again in that country in 2004. the band's controversial single "Pappu Yaar" again shot to the #1 spot in Pakistan. In 2004, Brian O'Connell returned to his native New York. Pakistani musician Mekal Hassan 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.
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