South Asia's most popular Rock band, 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.
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. It was during this time that the band gained a tremendous following through out South Asia when they turned to neighbor India's private satellite and cable channels for coverage.
In 1998, the band took both India and Pakistan 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
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.
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 is scheduled to take place in Dubai, UAE in February 2006.
This is a fan made page! THIS IS NOT ACTUALLY JUNOON