…..THE FLIGHT OF THE LIFETIME on the 4th October 1999

Yes, friends, are you set for the flight of a life-time..with superstars JUNOON and their eagerly awaited BRAND-NEW album "PARVAAZ"! "PARVAAZ" is indeed an awesome album, and is certain to emulate the phenomenal success of "Azadi", which established JUNOON as virtual house-hold names, selling in millions! It will be spear-headed by the lead track, "BULLEYA" which is also the first video clip if you thought "Sayonee" was brilliant, wait till you see "Bulleya", which will shortly be saturating the top TV channels in our region! Other prime cuts on the album include "Sanwal", "Mitthi", "Ghoom" and "Ronde Naina" to name just some of the 10 outstanding tracks on the album! As everyone knows, JUNOON are fantastic live performers, and will be embarking on a series of major concerts (in the USA, UK and Gulf) in support of the album. They recently also ventured into new territories like Scandanavia, and performed to ecstatic audiences there! They will also headline a major concert at the Wembley Arena - London on 10th Oct. '99 So, fasten your seatbelts and gear up for the flight of a lifetime with JUNOON and "Parvaaz".

Junoon, meaning 'obsession' or 'passion', is South Asia's biggest rock band.  They sing mostly in the language of Urdu, in a style blending Western hard rock with Sub continental folk and Qawwali. "The band's appeal reaches beyond the Westernised elite", says Newsweek International. Junoon, in effect, had to create an audience for rock
music in Pakistan, which didn't happen right away. The band struggled financially for the first few years. Group members remember months of eating 'daal' and rice, the Pakistani poor man's staple. It all paid off in the spring of 1996, when Junoon scored its first big hit with the song "Jazba-e-Junoon" ("The Spirit of Passion").

Hai Jazba-e-Junoon, tho Himmat na haar! Justuju joh kurreh voh chueh Aasmaan! If you have the Spirit of Passion(Obsession), Never give up! The one who Perseveres reaches the Stars. (c1996 Nameless Music.)

"Jazba" became Pakistan's Official Song of the 1996 Cricket World Cup, co-hosted by Pakistan & India. In December of 1996, Junoon released another hit single called "Ehtesaab" (Accountability), which mockedPakistani politics. The bitingly satirical video for this song was banned from PTV, Pakistan's State television, which claimed that it would destabilize the country before elections...This only increased its popularity.

In 1997, Junoon recorded their latest album, AZADI. AZADI was released by EMI Music, and became Junoon's debut album in India (though actually their fifth effort). "Sayonee", the first single off Azadi, became an instant hit in South Asia and the Middle East, shooting to the top of all the Asian charts, and staying at the Number One position on both Channel [V] and MTV Asia for over 2 months. AZADI hit platinum sales status in a record 4 weeks. ZEE TV invited Junoon to perform at the star-studded ZEE Cine-awards in Mumbai in March 1998, where the group received accolades from the creme de la creme of India's entertainment industry.

In April, Junoon embarked on their first tour of India, which broke many records. Junoon played to baying crowds of 30, 40, and as many as 50,000 Indian Junoonis, across the length and breadth of India. From Chandigarh to Madras, and from Lucknow to Bangalore, the fans had the same message: "We Love Junoon". There was such chaos in the mad rush to get tickets to Junoon's premiere performance in Delhi, that the organisers added extra dates to satisfy fans.

During Junoon's tour in India, the Indian Government decided to conduct nuclear tests. In interviews to the BBC, ZTV, and CNN, Junoon spoke out against nuclear proliferation in all parts of the world, especially South Asia: "In a region mired with poverty and destitution, with millions of starving souls living in pitiful conditions, can we afford a
nuclear arms race?" asked Salman Ahmad. "Would it not be better for India and Pakistan to try to inspire each other in the areas of education, health, and economic development?" The group was lauded for their comments by many in both Pakistan and India.

The Pakistan Government did not share such sentiments however. The ban on Junoon's music was prolonged. Throughout Junoon's meteoric rise, PTV refused to show a single glimpse of Junoon, with the Censor Board giving
one lame excuse after another: "Your hair is too long"; "You are offending national sensibilities"; "You have blasphemed against our mystical poets"; "You have sacrileged the Saintly shrines". Returning from their Indian tour, things took an ugly turn. The Ministry of Culture baselessly charged Junoon with making comments in India which
amounted to sedition and treason. The band members vehemently denied these charges, ascribing them to the same campaign that has been fought against Junoon since they released the song "Ehtesaab", which exposes the corruption of the political class.

In November '98, Junoon won the "Best International Group" title at the Channel [V] Music Awards in New Delhi, where they performed along with worldwide icons Sting and Def Leppard. AZADI was nominated for Best International Album, having achieved the prestigious honour of being the highest selling album in both Pakistan and India this year.

From Delhi, Junoon flew to the UK to perform in the BBC Mega Mela, which was the largest Asian festival outside of the Subcontinent. On all three days of the Mela, as well as the star-studded BBC Asian Awards, Junoon closed the show. They shared the stage with Asian superstars such as Shahrukh Khan and Pankaj Udhas.

In March '99, the Prime Minister of India invited Junoon to perform at the anniversary of his government at Delhi. Junoon crossed the Wagah border from Lahore into India in the same gilded bus that Mr. Vajpayee entered Pakistan to sign the historic Lahore Declaration earlier. Junoon performed their song "Dosti", on stage with an Indian group called Silk Route, with the PM as Chief Guest.

Junoon's career has just begun. An international release is imminent. If this is your first taste of their passion, get ready to go Junooni!

Please visit Junoon's website:          www.junoon.com

1999 Dahijifus Inc.

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