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Junoon: "The Spirit Of Passion"

"Q' Magazine calls them "One of the biggest bands in the world". Billboard says Junoon is the Subcontinent's "biggest crossover success after the late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan". After their concert (a Tribute to the late Ustaad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan) at New York's famous Central Park last August, the New York Times dubbed their music "Pakistani rock mixed with religious rapture". Similarly, in a preview to Junoon's performance at the House of Blues in Los Angeles, the L.A. Times says Junoon's "ability to captivate audiences" is "inspiring Beatles-like reactions".

Junoon, meaning 'obsession' or 'passion', is South Asia's biggest rock band. They sing mostly in the language of Urdu, in a style blending Western hard rock with Sindhi & Punjabi folk and Qawwali. "The band's appeal reaches beyond the Westernised elite", says Newsweek International. Junoon, in effect, had to create an audience for rock music in Pakistan. This didn't happen right away. The band struggled financially for the first few years. Group members remember months of eating 'daal' and rice, the Pakistani poor man's staple. It all paid off in the spring of 1996, when Junoon scored its first big hit with the song "Jazba-e-Junoon" ("The Spirit of Passion").

Hai Jazba-e-Junoon, tho Himmat na haar! Justuju joh kurreh voh chueh Aasmaan!
If you have the Spirit of Passion(Obsession), Never give up! The one who Perseveres reaches the Stars.

"Jazba" became Pakistan's Official Song of the 1996 Cricket World Cup, co-hosted by Pakistan & India. In December of 1996, Junoon released another hit single called "Ehtesaab" (Accountability), which mocked Pakistani politics. The bitingly satirical video for this song was banned from PTV, Pakistan's State television, which claimed that it would destabilize the country before elections. This only increased its popularity. In 1997, Junoon recorded their latest album, AZADI. AZADI was released by EMI Music, and became Junoon's debut album in India (though actually their fifth effort). "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 the Number One position on both Channel [V] and MTV Asia for over 2 months. AZADI hit platinum sales status in a record 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 April, Junoon embarked on their first tour of India, which broke many records. Junoon played to baying crowds of 30, 40, and as many as 50,000 Indian Junoonis, across the length and breadth of India. From Chandigarh to Madras, and from Lucknow to Bangalore, the fans had the same message: "We Love Junoon". There was such chaos in the mad rush to get tickets to Junoon's premiere performance in Delhi, that the organisers added extra dates to satisfy fans.

During Junoon's tour in India, the Indian Government decided to conduct nuclear tests. In interviews to the BBC, ZTV, and CNN, Junoon spoke out against nuclear proliferation in all parts of the world, especially South Asia: "In a region mired with poverty and destitution, with millions of starving souls living in pitiful conditions, can we afford a nuclear arms race?" asked Salman Ahmad. "Would it not be better for India and Pakistan to try to inspire each other in the areas of education, health, and economic development?" The group was lauded for their comments by many in both Pakistan and India.

The Pakistan Government did not share such sentiments however. The ban on Junoon's music was prolonged. Throughout Junoon's meteoric rise, PTV refused to show a single glimpse of Junoon, with the Censor Board giving one lame excuse after another: "Your hair is too long"; "You are offending national sensibilities"; "You have blasphemed against our mystical poets"; "You have sacrileged the Saintly shrines". When the band returned from the wildly successful Indian Tour however, things took an ugly turn. The Ministry of Culture baselessly charged Junoon with making comments in India which amounted to sedition and treason. The band members vehemently denied these charges, ascribing them to the same campaign that has been fought against Junoon since they released the song "Ehtesaab", which exposes the corruption of the political class.

In November, Junoon won the "Best International Group" title at the Channel [V] Music Awards in New Delhi, where they performed along with worldwide icons Sting and Def Leppard. AZADI was nominated for Best International Album, having achieved the prestigious honour of being the highest selling album in both Pakistan and India this year. From Delhi, Junoon flew to the UK to perform in the BBC Mega Mela, which was the largest Asian festival outside of the Subcontinent. On all three days of the Mela, as well as the star-studded BBC Asian Awards, Junoon closed the show. They shared the stage with Asian superstars such as Shahrukh Khan and Pankaj Udhas.

Junoon’s career has just begun. An international release is imminent. If this is your first taste of their passion, get ready to go Junooni!

How Junoon Came To Be...

The seeds of Junoon were laid when Salman Ahmad was a teenager. His enchantment with eastern musical styles fused with his passion for the sound of the electric guitar led him to dream of a unique new sound which begged to be heard. That dream began to be realized in 1990 when Salman joined Ali Azmat, a young raw vocalist who'd had some degree of success with the Jupiters.

The two of them formed Junoon on the premise that they would expand the horizons of the fledgling music scene. They later asked Nusrat Hussain, a pilot, to join them as a part time member. The story of the way Junoon found it's name is an interesting one : It happened in a dream! Salman dreamt one night that an old man came to him and declared: "Thumhe mauseeqi ka junoon hai.." (You have obsession for music). When Salman suggested "Junoon" as a possible name for the group, Ali & Nusrat agreed immediately.

From then on, with Ali Azmat's powerful and versatile singing and Salman Ahmad's flashy guitar ruffs, Pakistan was introduced to its first taste of home grown rock'n'roll Junoon was born.