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Junoon, which means "passion" in Urdu, is South Asia's most popular
rock band. Their unique blend of Western hard rock with Sindhi and Punjabi folk
and Qawwali, a style of Pakistan folk, has earned them world-wide recognition
and platinum album sales.The trio was formed in the early nineties and scored its first hit record in 1996 with the single Sayonee. Their album Azadi achieved platinum sales status in a record four weeks. In 1998, Junoon won the Best International Group title at the pan-Asian Channel V Music Awards, where they performed alongside Sting and Def Leppard. Also that year in London, Junoon headlined the BBC Mega Mela, known as the largest Asian festival outside of the subcontinent, and were honored with a BBC award for their contribution towards Asian culture. In 1999, UNESCO presented Junoon with an award for its achievements towards peace in South Asia, and the band was invited to perform at a "Music for Peace" concert in Paris. In 2000, Junoon was also featured in a Concert for Peace in the New Millennium organized by the United Nations Information Centre in Islamabad and the Arts Council in Karachi. Junoon has given sell-out performances throughout the world, including in Western
Europe, the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, North America, Japan and China.
Guitarist, songwriter and band leader, Salman Ahmad is the current United Nations
Goodwill Ambassador for Pakistan in the campaign developed by the Joint United
Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS. His popularity with young people and his forward
thinking on social issues led to his selection to participate in the World Aids
Campaign. His background as a medical doctor uniquely equips him with the necessary
knowledge to speak with authority on the subject. Bassist Brian O'Connell is
a New Yorker who has lived in Pakistan for the past seven years. Vocalist Ali
Azmat completes the trio. |