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A Day In
The Life...
Continuing the series in which Newsline looks into the lives of people who make
the difference - or dare to be different.
Q magazine calls them "one of the biggest bands in the world." CNN dubbed them
"the biggest band in South Asia," and The New York Times, "the U2 of Pakistan."
For us, they are simply, 'our boys.' So does Junoon, the biggest crossover
success since the late great Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, need an introduction? I
think not.
However, for those of you musically unconscious for the better part of the last
decade, Junoon has done it all. Playing to millions of adoring fans around the
world and showered with innumerable accolades, on both sides of the east-west
divide, all of their albums have gone platinum. And, as all respectable rockers
should, they have also incensed those firmly embedded in the political
status-quo. With outspoken messages, dubbed by some as "a hypnotic whirlpool of
sedition," Junoon has created a genre of its own, building bridges, shattering
myths, and has essentially, changed the face of pop-culture forever. But what
actually lies beneath this unique semblance of creative energy?
We caught up with the band at the shooting of their new video 'Taara jala,'
their new album Deewar's opening track. It is one of the few times that lead
guitarist Salman Ahmed, lead vocalist Ali Azmat and bass guitarist Brian o'
Connell are in Pakistan together.
And as we found out, there is simply no average day in the life of Junoon. They
might find themselves meeting royalty and men of state one minute and conducting
vigils or subversive demos the next. They may very well also find themselves
stranded on a beach in Goa with Indian filmstar Jackie Shroff, as Ali once was;
or in the back of a limousine with the Gallagher brothers out on London town;
scouring the streets of New York for cigarettes with the one-armed drummer of
Def Leppard, or even stumbling into a non-descript bar and jamming with Kenny G,
who had dropped in to play a sax solo!
These rockers seem to exist on a plane of their own - shuffling between
continents and hotel rooms around the globe. For them, life is a connecting
flight between gigs, dreams and emotions, and jet lag is a constant companion.
Salman currently lives in New York, where he has recently made a VH1 documentary
called 'The Rockstar and the Mullah,' to be aired internationally next month.
And although quite the family man, Salman is a restless spirit in constant
pursuit of mystical ecstasy. This embodies the soul of Junoon, with Salman's
passionate energy propelling the band to heights previously unimaginable. His
tireless activisim landed Salman the unique job of UN ambassador for HIV/AIDS.
And it is no secret that the band is essentially political. Notable among their
legion of fans is Secretary General of the UN, Kofi Annan, at whose invitation
Junoon performed at the UN General Assembly, making them the first band in
history to do so.
Junoon's latest album Deewar is unlike any other journey the band has embarked
on. Shedding their sufi skin and formula-driven style, the band opts for a more
experimental venture. "We never created this image for ourselves, it was pasted
on to us," says Ali. The entire album, it can safely be said, is reflective of
the world. "It's an uncertain place these days, and that uncertainty is our
guiding force," explains Salman.
The band is branching out in more ways than one. Ali has almost completed his
new solo album, and is also the only member of the group living in Pakistan full
time. With so much time on his hands away from the band, he has even recorded a
song and video for Pooja Bhatt's new movie Paap. His day apparently begins at
10:00 a.m., and from then onwards, its work, work and more work until 5:00 a.m.
the next morning, when a pooped-out Ali returns home to the cosy nest of his 7th
floor apartment. Most of Ali's day is spent at sound checks, TV recordings,
promotional events and then, there is "the nitty gritty paperwork to do." The
better part of the day is spent at the studio, where Ali meticulously records
and mixes, inching closer and closer to the sounds he wants to achieve. "I have
a vision for every song that I write," says the perfectionist in him. "I know
exactly how I want it to sound." And so the session continues, coming to a close
only when the tenor is satisfied with the day's proceedings. Those that work
with him will tell you that Ali is a fire that flares up constantly. He never
minces his words, and never shies away from speaking his mind. "I don't like to
sugarcoat things," he says. Predictably, Ali causes a stir wherever he goes,
especially when caught motor-bike racing with his elementary school buddies, who
have remained friends to this day. But Ali's ideal recreation is putting his
feet up! To quote him quoting someone else: "The greatest wisdom comes out of
nothingness."
By far the most elusive member of the band, Brian divides his time a stone's
throw away from Ali's pad in Karachi, and New York. The complete antithesis of
Ali, he is a quiet, yet immensely cerebral man who, ironically, shies away from
the limelight. Brian met Salman when he was just another aspiring rocker, in a
high school in the US. The two bonded, jolting basements and garages with their
Van Halen imitations. Brian came to Pakistan in 1992 on the invitation of his
old friend, who had just left Vital Signs at the peak of his career, and decided
to form a new-age rock band called Junoon. A practicing Christian and true
dreamer, Brian immediately quit his job with a non-profit organisation and set
off on a journey which would end up making "this strange land his home. I fell
in love with the soul of the people," he says. Another set of strings would soon
be played: those of his heart. In Karachi, Brian met and fell in love with
model/actress Ayesha Alam. The two soon married and made two lovely girls,
Rachel and Ally. He is also a wonderful father, who tries to spend every free
moment with his girls. Swimming is always on top of his list.
Nearly 12 years down the line, and despite his recent divorce, Brian feels that
he has undeniable roots in Pakistan. His innovative bass anchors the Junoon
sound. In fact, he is in essence the 'fuse,' responsible for harmonising the
western 5-string bass riffs with the traditional tabla and drums. In the band's
own words, "Brian's industriousness is infectious. He forms the bedrock on which
Junoon is based." Brian has also recently opened a guitar school in Karachi,
where he teaches courses in acoustic, electric, bass and rhythm gutairs, as well
as music theory.
Junoon have played to millions of impassioned fans around the globe and are
considered one of the best live acts around. The energy between them, on stage,
is phenomenal. And it's an energy that may very well propel their image from
just another cross-over band, to that of global icons.
Ziad Zafar
newsline.com.pk
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