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Music and cause, a
passionate fusion
May 10, 2002
Pakistani rock band Junoon, which has been singing the messages of peace and
tolerance, will perform at the 'Fight for Literacy' fundraising concert in
Singapore on May 18, reports GERALDINE LOR
THEIRS is a message of peace and tolerance, sent out to the world in a soaring
fusion of American rock 'em style guitar riffs, pulsating rhythms and mystic
lyrics that draw from the messages of ancient Sufi poets
A strange-sounding concoction? Not if you're from South Asia, where Pakistani
rock band Junoon has struck resonance among millions fans. Come May 18, the
band, made up of guitarist Salman Ahmad, lead singer Ali Azmat and bassist Brian
O'Connell, will be heading for Singapore to hold the 'Fight for Literacy'
fundraising concert at Kallang Stadium.
Junoon is no ordinary rock band. To begin with, back in 1992 when they started
playing in Pakistan, the local appetite for Western rock music was virtually
non-existent. 'Rock music was an alien concept to most Pakistanis at the time,'
Junoon told BT in a telephone interview from the US, where they are currently
performing. 'It took us six years to gain recognition, but we never thought
about giving up because we love what we do so much.'
Junoon means 'passion' in Urdu, the language in which they sing most of their
songs. Their music seamlessly fuses Western hard rock in the likes of Led
Zeppelin and Queen, with Punjabi folk and mystic Islamic devotional music,
Qawwali, to form a sound that is enthrallingly other-worldly.
But what really distinguishes Junoon from any other rock band is their candour
when it comes to politics and humanitarian issues. In 1997, when they released
their single, Ehtesaab (Accountability), which mocked the corrupt practices of
the Pakistani government, they were banned from state television and radio
altogether. 'We feel very strongly about Pakistan, but we were called traitors,'
said the band. 'That hurt us a lot.'
Although the ban has since been lifted, Junoon has absolutely no intention of
lying low or sidestepping the issues about which they care so fervently - thanks
to the rallying support of their fans. '(In the midst of all the criticism) we
get e-mail from fans defending us vociferously,' the band said.
The band has also been actively involved in humanitarian causes. Last year, they
held a 'United for Peace' concert in Islamabad to raise funds for Afghan
refugees. In October, they performed at the UN General Assembly's peace concert
in the aftermath of the Sept 11 attacks.
So, can their music change the world? 'We believe that music has a great role to
play in bringing out this sort of consciousness of a more peaceful South Asia,'
Junoon manager Shehryar Ahmad stressed. 'Pop music, especially, sways people a
lot. Just look at the Beatles - when they came up with Give Peace a Chance
during the Vietnam war, they really changed people's perceptions.'
Said Najmi Sarwar, executive board member of Developments in Literacy, a
US-based non-profit organisation: 'The Singapore Pakistani Association decided
to invite Junoon not only because of their international appeal, but also due to
their unrelenting support of worthy causes.'
Mrs Sarwar hopes to raise $100,000 from the concert, and all proceeds will go
towards funding charities committed to the educational needs of the
underprivileged in Singapore and South Asia.
Tickets are available at SISTIC and are priced at $45, $70 and $125. Student and
group discounts are also available.
Business Times (Singapore)
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