20 years of Junoon: Now, Ali vs Salman

Maheen Sabeeh

On September 30, Junoon – the rock band that redefined and changed Pakistan’s musical landscape forever – will turn 20. And to mark this auspicious occasion, Salman Ahmed has called upon some of our finest musicians to contribute to a special album that is slated to release online later this month. With artists ranging from Usman Riaz, Bilal Khan, Laal and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan among many others, all covering Junoon songs, the album is promising to be an interesting ride. Plus there’s a Junoon show set to be held in New York City on September 30. While Junoon’s former bassist Brian O Connell will be performing at the show with Salman Ahmed, Ali Azmat won’t be joining in… at all.

All this has resulted in a celebration of 20 years of Junoon. The enterprise that was once upon a time Pakistan’s, indeed South East Asia’s biggest rock band, has made it to the cover of Newsweek Pakistan in an article titled ‘The Junoon Juggernaut’ by Fifi Haroon (the journalist who sang ‘Jogia’).

In separate interviews given for the feature, one can clearly see the elements that ripped Junoon apart.

Ali Azmat stated his position, “I don’t want to associate my name with Junoon anymore because he (Salman Ahmed) has used false marketing. Fans are calling me saying ‘Why weren’t you there?’ People call me and say ‘You’re in breach of contract; you didn’t appear for the show.’ For him it’s a cash cow—he can do whatever the hell he wants but it doesn’t make it right. His reaching out, it seems like a commercial need. I’d rather do something for the music. They’re flogging a dead horse. If you bring a band back it has to be for great music and that’s it.”

But that’s one side of the coin. The other side, the one still running Junoon (if it can still be called that), which is Salman Ahmed, maintains that the show must go on, with or without Ali Azmat.

“I have the greatest respect for Ali as an artist and performer; having said that, my life doesn’t begin and end with Ali Azmat. I’m a student of music and Junoon is the vehicle through which I practice my craft. So, yes, I learned how to sing,” said Salman Ahmed in his interview to Newsweek Pakistan.

In some ways, this celebration seems incomplete without Ali Azmat in the mix. Salman Ahmed was the songwriter but it was Ali Azmat who was the face of Junoon and who commanded attention with a single glance onstage. And Junoon was the product of these two men and their ideas with Brian possibly playing the peacemaker. And that trio, Salman, Ali and Brian, haven’t played together in nearly a decade. For the last few years, Junoon is Salman Ahmed continuing without Ali in the mix. And he has done well for himself, playing in Kashmir, performing at the Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony, working with Peter Gabriel and Melissa Etheridge, etc.

Speak of Ali Azmat, and his body of work speaks for itself with two monumental records like Social Circus and Klashinfolk, countless awards, some incredible music videos and loyal fans all across the board.

The real question, however, is this: is this band still Junoon without its original members? And the answer is yes and no.

Salman Ahmed who has taken on the role of the front man said in his interview, “Peter Gabriel was the lead singer of Genesis, and then he left the band to start a solo career. Phil Collins, who was the drummer, took over and continued with Genesis. It’s not unheard of; there are numerous bands where this has happened.”

And he is right. Genesis did continue. But then Led Zeppelin didn’t. They disbanded when drummer John Bonham died even as members Jimmy Page and Robert Plant continued to work with each other.

Whatever egoistical issues Salman and Ali may have with each other, it doesn’t change the fact that Junoon will always remain relevant to the musical sphere.

Long before this complicated history came to the foray, Junoon was the biggest band in Pakistan and South Asia. They didn’t taste instant success with their self-titled debut in 1991. But they managed to create an alternative to everything else that was being produced in the country at the time. By 1993, Junoon had grown more and released the politically influenced Talaash. With songs like ‘Ehtesaab’, they openly talked about political corruption, which led them from being banned from state television.

The real success came in 1997 when Junoon released Azadi and became the first band to cross the border. With Azadi, Junoon had transitioned into Sufi rock, which became apparent with songs like ‘Sayonee’ and ‘Saeen’. The impact was unparalleled. From winning international awards to performing at the star-studded Zee Cine Awards to performing at the Central Park in New York and BBC Mega Mela, they were everywhere. The songs were gritty, fun, eclectic, electrifying and inspired.

Even Junoon’s business model in their latter years made them stand out even more. Salman and his brother Shehryar Ahmed took Junoon to greater heights. Those elements have now gone missing from our music scene. At a time when Coke Studio remains the only platform where musicians can come out and perform, to expect another Junoon is wishful thinking.

Coming back to the original line up, Junoon continued to churn out hit singles, such as ‘Bulleya’, ‘Sajna’, ‘Pappu Yaar’, ‘Taara Jala’ but they were also running out of steam as a unit. And they finally crashed with Deewar, the final album between the original trio.

Now though, the big 20 is here. Ali Azmat won’t participate but that doesn’t mean that we still can’t celebrate Junoon. You may be an Ali Azmat fan or a Salman Ahmed fan but you can’t deny the fact that despite successful solo careers, both these men achieved incredible stardom and creative explosion at its peak when they were together in Junoon.

And it must be remembered that Junoon weren’t just electrifying onstage, they created fan following through their shows. Back then, concerts weren’t such a rarity.

Fifi Haroon said it right in her piece, “That Salman Ahmad is collaborating with newer acts for an album of Junoon tributes is canny and progressive. That the band couldn’t manage to settle its differences to come together for a grand reunion at 20 is disappointing. Whatever individual careers Ali Azmat and Salman Ahmad may have carved for themselves in the last decade, the magic that they created along with Brian O’Connell in Junoon’s live performances has proved somewhat elusive in their solo careers. There is no live band in South Asia and perhaps all of Asia that is so electrifying, so gloriously perfect on stage.”

However, as far as reunions go, even Pink Floyd had its shares of egos and clashes between Roger Waters and David Gilmour but they reunited after 24 years for the Live 8 concert. Obviously without Ali Azmat, it won’t be the same but who can deny the influence Junoon has had on music or their body of work which includes seven albums before they parted ways.