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;Former
;Former
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* [[Nusrat Hussain]] – [[Keyboard instrument|keyboard]] <small>(1990–1992)</small>
* [[Ali Azmat]] – [[lead vocals|vocals]], [[backing vocalist|backing vocals]] <small>(1990–2005)</small>
* [[Ali Azmat]] – [[lead vocals|vocals]], [[backing vocalist|backing vocals]] <small>(1990–2005)</small>
* Brian O'Connell – [[bass guitar]], [[backing vocalist|backing vocals]] <small>(1992–2005)</small>
* Brian O'Connell – [[bass guitar]], [[backing vocalist|backing vocals]] <small>(1992–2005)</small>
⚫
* [[Nusrat Hussain]] – [[Keyboard instrument|keyboard]] <small>(1990–1992)</small>


==See also==
==See also==

Revision as of 00:09, 14 March 2010

This article is about the band. For the band's self-titled album, see Junoon (album).

Template:Infobox musical artist 2

Junoon (Urdu: جنون, literal English translation: "obsession khurram//passion") was a Sufi rock band from Lahore, Pakistan, formed in 1990 by songwriter/guitarist Salman Ahmad, vocalist Ali Azmat, who were soon joined by keyboardist Nusrat Hussain. Junoon was Pakistan's most successful band and were regarded as the pioneers of sufi rock music (influenced by Sufism - a mystic, devotional tradition within Islam).[1] Q magazine calls them "One of the biggest bands in the world".

They sing mostly in the language of Urdu, in a style blending Western hard rock with Sindhi and Punjabi folk and Qawwali. Junoon, in effect, had to create an audience for rock music in Pakistan. "The band's appeal reaches beyond the Westernised elite", says Newsweek.

The New York Times called Junoon "the U2 of Pakistan". In a preview to Junoon's performance at the House of Blues in Los Angeles, the L.A. Times said Junoon's "ability to captivate audiences" is "inspiring Beatles-like reactions".

History

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. [2][1]

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" (recorded and mixed at Tahir Gul Hasan's SOUND ON SOUND recording studios in Karachi) 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. 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.

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.[1] In the spring of 1996, Junoon scored its first big hit with the song "Jazba-e-Junoon", single from their album "Inquilaab".

Mainstream success (1997-2004)

In 1997, Junoon had their first full scale tour of the United States, Canada, and the UAE, performing from Birmingham, Alabama, to Los Angeles, to New York's Roosevelt Hotel, which was featured in Newsweek Magazine. Subsequently, Junoon recorded their fifth album, Azadi. Junoon's manager, Shehryar Ahmad, secured the band its first international record deal, with the Azadi album, meaning freedom, being released by EMI/Virgin Records, and making it 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 and Bangladesh 1998 and 1999. Junoon headlined the BBC Mega Mela in 1998, which was the largest Asian festival outside of the South Asia.

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 their achievements towards Peace in South Asia. Junoon was invited to perform at UNESCO's "Music for Peace" concert held in Paris, along with Yesudas [3], Lionel Richie, Montserrat Caballe, Zubin Mehta 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, Queensrÿche and many others. Junoon performed the largest ever concert in Dubai, UAE, with Bollywood singer Sonu Nigam, with nearly 20,000 in attendance which was organised by Oberoi Middle East Events.

In 2001, Junoon released 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 performing at a concert.

Junoon sold out Wembley Arena in London in April, and performed at "United for Gujarat", the first South Asian rock concert 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.[4][5] CNN aired a 30 minute interview of Junoon on the program Talk Asia. They received rave reviews in The New York Times, Billboard Magazine, The New York Post, Newsweek, and others. [6][7] 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".[8] "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. Brian O'Connell returned to the United States in 2003. Shehryar departed as manager in 2005, and Ali Azmat went solo in 2005.

Junoon Mark II (2005-present)

In 2005 Ali Azmat, the lead vocalist, left the band to start his solo career. His first solo album "Social Circus" was released in 2005. Salman Ahmad also released his solo album.[9] Pakistani musician Mekaal Hasan and the band's producer John Alec have been playing bass guitar for live shows in his place. The last Junoon concert to feature Ali Azmat took place in Dubai, UAE in March 2005.

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.[10] In 2008, the Pakistani rock band Junoon, performed in Srinagar for the first time and turned thousands of music lovers hysterical.[11][12] On September 12, 2009, Junoon performed at "The Concert for Pakistan" held in UN General Assembly Hall with many other musicians from around the world which included, Outlandish, Sting and many other artists. [13]

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. [1][14][15]

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. [16]

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.

Discography

Main article: Junoon discography
Studio albums
Live albums
Compilation albums
Television Series
Videos

Band members

Main article: List of Junoon band members
Current
Former

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Salman Ahmad – Interview Retrieved on June 05, 2009
  2. ^ BillBoard.com, Junoon – Biography Retrieved on May 18, 2009
  3. ^ Unesco award for musician K.J. Yesudas
  4. ^ "Junoon Brings 9/11 Song to America". paknews.com. Retrieved 2009-06-05.
  5. ^ "Junoon Rocks for Peace". Junoon.com. Retrieved 2009-06-05.
  6. ^ New York Times, 17-07-2003, Review; A Rock Star's Struggle Where Militant Islam Rules Retrieved on May 18, 2009
  7. ^ Newsweeks, 17-07-2003, Band Fights Extremism Retrieved on May 18, 2009
  8. ^ Jang News, 26-06-2003, Dewaar Review Retrieved on May 18, 2009
  9. ^ Junoon.com, 17-03-2003, Junoon splitting Retrieved on May 18, 2009
  10. ^ "Nobel Peace Prize Concert 2007". nobelpeaceprize.org. Retrieved 2007-12-11.
  11. ^ "Junoon Rocks Srinagar". southasiafoundation.org. Retrieved 2009-06-05.
  12. ^ Rolling Stone, Guitars for Guns Retrieved on July 29, 2009.
  13. ^ Concert for Pakistan: Another Crazy Night for Junoon Retrieved on November 3, 2009
  14. ^ Pareles, Jon (11 August 1998). "Pop Review". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-05-14. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  15. ^ Pareles, Jon (May 2002). "In Performance". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-05-19. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  16. ^ New York Times, 28-11-1997, Pop and Jazz Guide Retrieved on May 18, 2009

Published sources

  • Salman Ahmad (2010), Rock & Roll Jihad: A Muslim Rock Star's Revolution, Free Press. ISBN 978-1416597674.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Junoon.
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