I’ll have to agree with a lot of things Junooniest has said. I have been a huge fan of Junoon since their first album, i had watched Ali perform when he had teeny tiny hair, seen them perform with in the early days with their full might and strength. They were so young and willing to take so many chances back then and were simply not scared of anything or anyone. That’s the Junoon i remember.

What the bulk of you don’t realize is that the music biz is anything but good to you. Selfishness sets in, people want higher cuts than other members etc. People change, even bandmates and good friends. Musical direction and appreciation changes. Ali was always a risk taker, he wanted to do something unique and different each time with each album, but it is fairly obvious that Salman plans on riding out this whole “Sufi” rock n’ roll thing until the end of time. It gives him a better competitive advantage over other musicians and ultimately, it’s all about survival of the fittest in this industry. You will do whatever it takes to set yourself apart, ride it out for as long as possible, just so you can survive.

The poor starving musician is always the one that puts his or her heart into the whole thing, and it shows. Look at Ali’s new material, it is wild, crazy, just like him. I bet he barely makes a 1/4th the money selling his entire album in Pakistan and neighboring countries compared to what Salman is going to make from a single. But the quality reflects from someone wanting to reinvent themselves over and over again, versus someone riding something out for as long as they can since they’ve found their niche.

I don’t hate Salman by any means. I just don’t like what he has become over time. He has become the Axl Rose of Junoon. Keep the name Junoon to yourself, hence retaining all royalties for any new material, bring in session players like John Alec and whomever else when needed, do a piss poor but barely ok to survive job on vocals etc., and milk it for as long as possible.

As a die hard Junoon fan, my advice to Salman would be to get a real vocalist, there are many to choose from back home, but he doesn’t live back home either so that won’t work. Fine, pick someone in the States instead. Have that person sing and write an album from the heart like you had done over and over again in the past.

Peace out!

I have been an ardenant junooni from the very first album “Junoon” and transgressed and acknowledged years of my life through their music. I am no rookie just for assurance and FOR the musical record, so when i speak i assure you A Message OF Maturity and a Reason. Will use this Platform to speak my heart and mind out cause I am a junooni to the core.
First and foremost junoon was and will always be remembered as the pioneers of sufi rock and salman bhai the man behind the musical legacy ” the star gate to scathism”. It is needless to say they came and they conquered with their music avator and their junoonism of meaningful journalism and soul.
What all junoon has transgressed into is a meare shadow of it’s “golden era” Junoon, Talash, Inquilaab, azadi, Parvaaz, Ishq/Andaaz and truly the Halt “DEEWAR” we were inspired and revolutionized because of the sound and heart of the meaningful music and its significance and its resolution for a CHANGE.
Sadly whats left is a meare sense of sadness. A methodology gone wrong.
The word “Jihad” is a sheer muslim significance and a pure terminology, to use it in sense such as the above garnishes mismanagement and misunderstanding.
To reflect to what Junoon is today and by all means I respect Salman Bhai a lot is a sheer sadness. Junoon was the baby and brainchild of salman bhai and to leave it lost to such a cause is sheer homicide.
There are many ways to showcase ones junoonism and take Junoon to another level but singing by the guitar maestro to some of his grand compositions, is definately not one.
If the ship has to sail then be it, I am not living in the past but excepting reality, the ship can sail and hail on with new crew-men and life high aloft with a whole lot of better junoonism, but to sink it in the way it is, is nothing sort of wonder gone wrong.
Once again I would like to reinstate that I respect Salman bhai a lot and all the junoonis cause I am one myself but i cannot see through this sheer insanity. May the aspiration and meaning of true junoonism be with us always AMEEN.