Junoon meaning obsession and passion is a rock band from Pakistan. Probably South Asia's biggest rock band, Junoon consists of three leading artists: Salman Ahmad the lead guitarist and composer, Ali Azmat, lead vocalist and Brian O'Connel who plays bass guitar. The band mostly sing in the language of Urdu and Punjabi, in style of blending Western rock, using soaring guitar riffs to deliver a Sufi message of mystic harmony.
After many financial struggles during the first two years, Junoon finally came up with their first hit song, in the spring of 1996, "Jazb-e Junnoon" (The Spirit of Passion), which later on became Pakistan's Official song of the 1996 Cricket World Cup. In December of the following year, Junoon released another hit song "Ehtesaab" (Accountability) which mocked Pakistan politics by its satirical video. Later on, the video was banned from PTV (Pakistan Television) and so was Junoon.
In 1997, Junoon recorded their biggest hit album 'Azadi'. Released by EMI, Azadi's hit single Sayonee, which stayed at number one position on MTV and Channel [V] charts for several weeks, gave Junoon the opportunity to perform in India, the land of music. In the April of 1997, Junoon embarked on their first tour of India. During this tour Junoon proved that music knows no bounds and boundaries. After their tour of India they had the support of around 50,000 Indian Junoonis across India. And in March of 1998, Junoon was invited to perform live at Zee Cine Awards in Mumbai.
In November 1998, Junoon won the Best International Group award at the Channel [V] Music Awards, in New Delhi, India. Their album Azadi was nominated for being the highest selling album in both India and Pakistan in 1998. The same year when Junoon won the award for best International Group in India, Pakistan and India decided to conduct nuclear tests. In an interviews with BBC and CNN, Junoon spoke out against this act, "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 and "Would it not be better for India and Pakistan to try to inspire each other in the areas of education, health, and economic development, in Pakistan we don't have clean water, health or employment. How can we afford a nuclear bomb?" was Salman's message to the world ( www.sufirock.com and www.timeasia.com.).
The fire and rage of love for passion and perfection is a controversial and never-ending journey for Junoon.
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