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Not Sufis, But Call Us Musicians or Junooni's

Courtesy: Sumeha Malik (Jang.com.pk)
A few years ago, our people were crazed with a 'Junoon', that was to turn them all into hysterical Junoonis, rockin', rollin' and giggin' to the upbeat, vibrating rhythms, pulsating new vibes into the otherwise serene and tranquil music scenario of Pakistan. Serenading our senses with a new mystical sound that gradually metamorphosised into a 'Sufiana' pattern. Just take one very wild and 'Junooni' guess!!! Bingo! You got it! It's definitely 'Junoon', the only rock band, also to set this trend and bring it to the main stream music. With their funky style, they entered the musical foray and overshadowed other groups, literally forcing them to oblivion. And it seems, that the mastermind behind this phenomenon is none other than our Dr. Sahib, Salman Ahmad, sporting Samson like long tresses, which seem to hold the secret of his sustained strength, in the field of contemporary music.
A few years ago, if we try to recall, we are bound to see in our minds eye, a young Salman strumming and picking chords on his guitar, working them up to a haunting, soul searching melody in his composition 'heer', rising and falling, creating havoc within one receptive enough to these aesthetic sensitivities.
Who would have known, that one day these very 'Junooni' youngsters, after a short sojourn would be representing Pakistan the world over, standing out with the spice of their unusual share of controversy.
To unravel this intriguing success story and also to take a quick peep into their latest flight of fantasy namely 'Parvaaz', I managed to pin down a very busy Salman, who more often than not seems to be going places, literally, what with the launch of 'Parvaaz' looming ahead, he seems to have grown wings to his feet as well.
To trace the development and emergence of his latent talent and genius, we will have to travel back approximately three decades.
7nbsp;"At the age of eight, cricket was my only passion," says Salman reminiscently. "Though when my father was posted to America a year later, there was no cricket on the scene." Definitely dampening the sprightly zeal of a nine year old. "The only mode of entertainment being musical instruments, of which I had no inkling since my lineage can be traced to doctors and army personnel who ruled supreme in my family." Having made up his mind to acquire a guitar for himself, he did a few odd jobs, which enabled him access to his first musical instrument, his prized possession for $235, he still recalls. He could have easily exclaimed 'Eureka' on strumming it lovingly the first time.
As he puts it, "The day I got the guitar, there was a spiritual connection to it, the moment I hit the string, I knew it was my thing, and I would excel at it some day." Which he did in a very short span of two years, gaining the reputation of being the best guitarist of the school at the tender age of eleven. "I was completely 'Junooni' about playing the guitar," he says reflectively. Though wanting to stick it out in the States, he was bundled up and sent packing to Lahore, Pakistan after graduating from high school, the vigilant parents, fearing their sonny may get hooked by a 'gori', hence it was King Edwards Medical College and the accompanying drudgery of medical studies for him. "Being friendly with the Vital Signs gang, and in my final year of medicine, I was offered to join hands with our Paky ensemble as they were short of a guy. This was around the time of Dil Dil Pakistan, in '89, I accepted their offer and - our very first song became a hit changing my life altogether." How so, I inquire, "We were being invited by the Prime Minister, press, people wanting to know us. It was then I knew music was my life, something Allah had bestowed on we, it was preordained, and yet I was in a dilemma, to chose between medicine and music," says Salman. Being pressurised from all quarters, specially his parents, since this profession has no stability or security, he was loyal to his passion and continued with Vital Signs, though feeling stifled at times. "There was no artistic satisfaction," he recalls. "They just enjoyed being celebrities, staying in the limelight and not working enough," his dissatisfaction evident even now though it has been a long time. If I scrounge my not so rusty memory, I still recall, Salman himself had cited the reason for leaving the group in an interview as he being rock oriented, wanting to steer in that direction, whereas Vital Signs were mild and mellow in music. Hence, they parted ways. "Nobody wanted to interview me then, I was out of the arena as far as the people were concerned. It was then I decided to stand up on my feet, and stand tall." With such conviction and dedication, anything is possible and attainable. "I contacted Ali Azmat, my Lahori neighbour, who people often considered, was raw and could never be a good singer, I countered them saying one day he'll be the best, proving how correct I was. We toiled and worked very hard for four