List of Junoon members

Junoon
Origin Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
Genres Sufi rock, Alternative rock, Psychedelic rock
Years active 1990–present
Website www.junoon.com

These are the line-ups of Junoon, a sufi rock band from Lahore, Pakistan, formed in 1990 by songwriter/guitarist Salman Ahmad, former keyboardist Nusrat Hussain, and former vocalist Ali Azmat. Junoon is Southeast Asia's most successful band with more than 30 million sold albums worldwide.[1]

Although Junoon has been prominent in their home country since the release of their first single, "Talaash" (1993) and debut self-titled album Junoon, they did not achieve worldwide fame until the release of the albums Inquilaab, Azadi and Parvaaz, which were released in 1996, 1997 and 1999 respectively. Their 1997 album, Azadi, which has sold more than half million copies, and hit platinum sales status in a record of four weeks.[2] Their biggest hit single, "Sayonee" (1997), 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 two months. The band produced an overall two singles and two music videos from the album, the other single being "Yaar Bina".

In 2003, after the release of seventh studio album Dewaar in 2003, bassist Brian O'Connell left the band and returned to his native land United States. Since his departure, Pakistani musician Mekaal Hasan and the band's producer John Alec have been playing bass guitar for live shows in place. Dewaar was the album to have the featured the trio together. In 2005, vocalist Ali Azmat left the band to pursue his career as a solo artist and have released two studio albums to date. Salman Ahmad also went on to pursue his solo career and released his debut solo album, Infiniti in July 2005.[3]

The following is a list of musicians who have performed in Pakistani rock band Junoon.

Current members

Salman Ahmad

Salman Ahmad (born December 12, 1963) is a Pakistani singer-songwriter, composer, lead guitarist and actor whose work includes one solo albums, Infiniti, released in 2005. While still enjoying the success of Junoon, he was involved in two documentaries with the BBC and is also a UN Goodwill Ambassador for HIV/AIDS. Ahmad is working towards spreading awareness about HIV in South Asia, and helping to bring peace between Pakistan and India. Ahmad is currently teaching at Queens College, City University of New York. Although Junoon's two other core members, Ali Azmat and Brian O'Connell, left the band in 2005, Salman Ahmad continues to perform as a solo artist under the "Junoon" label and has moved to New York after his solo career failed to take off in Pakistan.

Former members

Nusrat Hussain

Nusrat Hussain is a Pakistani singer-songwriter, composer and keyboardist. Known best for his composition of the hit song "Dil Dil Pakistan" during his time at the Pakistani pop rock band Vital Signs.[4] When Salman Ahmed, a member of the Vital Signs left the band and went on his separate way, Nusrat joined him to form a new band with Ali Azmat as lead vocalist. After spending some time with Vital Signs and Junoon, Hussain ventured on his own and released a solo album titled Amrit. It was a sincere effort that reflected Nusrat's skills and experience in the music industry. Currently, Nusrat Hussain is a professional pilot and flies the Airbus A310 of Pakistan International Airlines as a Captain (PIA). In 2012, Hussain made a comeback to the Pakistani music industry by releasing a single "Maza Dard Ka".

Ali Azmat

Ali Azmat (born April 20, 1970) is a Pakistani singer-songwriter, composer, musician and actor whose work includes two solo albums, Social Circus and Klashinfolk, released in 2005 and 2008 respectively. Azmat grew up in Lahore, which he credits for his unconventional attitude. He went to Australia for his higher studies, but due to financial difficulties he returned to Pakistan before completing university. His first band Jupiters was known for performing covers at small gigs, such as weddings, in Lahore. While with them, Azmat wrote his legendary hit song "Dosti". He later sang and recorded "Dosti" with Junoon, after which the song gained national fame. Junoon was Pakistan's biggest band famous for combining traditional poetry and instruments with rock music. Azmat was recruited by Salman Ahmad as the lead vocalist of the band. He left Junoon in 2005 to pursue a solo career.

Brian O'Connell

Brian O'Connell (born July 20, 1963) is an American bassist, musician and actor. O'Connell and Salman Ahmad, were friends with one another since their highs school. Brian O'Connell joined Junoon when keyboardist, Nusrat Hussain, left the band and Salman Ahmad contacted and invited him to play bass on the band's second album, Talaash. He is known for harmonizing the western 5-string bass riffs with the traditional tabla and drums. After the release of the band's seventh studio album, Dewaar, O'Connell went back to his native land the United States. Since his departure, Pakistani musician Mekaal Hasan and the band's producer John Alec have been playing bass guitar for live shows. He was married to Pakistani actress and model Ayeshah Alam. In 2011, O'Connell rejoined the band to celebrate Junoon's 20th anniversary.[5]

Timeline

Junoon's Line-up

Years Artist Albums/songs Instrument Contribution
1991–2005 Ali Azmat Lead Vocalist Sang on all Junoon albums until, Dewaar
1992–2003 Brian O'Connell
  • Performed on all albums from Talaash to Dewaar
 Bass guitar Played bass Talaash-Dewaar
1991 Asad Ahmed
  • Only live
 Bass guitar Played bass in the 1991 studio album, Junoon
1991 Fuad Abbasi
  • "Talaash" in Talaash
 Drums Played drums in the 1993 studio album, Talaash
1991 Fifi Haroon
  • "Jeeain" and "Jogia" in Junoon
 Female vocals Female vocals in the 1991 studio album, Junoon
1999–2001 John "Gumby" Louis Pinto
  • Only live
 Drums Played drums in the 2001 studio album, Andaz
1996–1999 Malcolm Goveas
  • Only live
 Drums Played drums in the 1996 and 1999 studio albums, Inquilaab and Parvaaz
2001 Morten Harket Male vocals Vocals on the track, "Piya (Ocean of Love)"
2003–2005 Mekaal Hasan
  • Only live
 Bass guitar Live in Playback
2001 Samina Ahmad Female vocals Female vocals in the 2001 studio album, Andaz
2003 Ali Noor Male vocals Vocals on the track, "Ghoom Taana", in the 2003 studio album, Dewaar
2004 Shubha Mudgal Female vocals Vocals on the track, "Ghoom Taana", in the 2003 studio album, Dewaar

References

  1. ↑ Salman Ahmad on Good Day LA Retrieved on July 25, 2010.
  2. ↑ Junoon's album Azadi hits platinum in record time Retrieved on April 1, 1998.
  3. ↑ Junoon splitting Retrieved on May 18, 2009
  4. ↑ Ahmad, Salman (January 12, 2010). Rock & Roll Jihad: A Muslim Rock Star's Revolution. Simon and Schuster. p. 129. ISBN 978-1-4165-9767-4. Retrieved June 9, 2010.
  5. ↑ 20 years of Junoon Retrieved on August 12, 2011

External links

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