Brian O'Connell (musician)
Encyclopedia
Brian O'Connell is an American
multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger, record producer and actor
. Best known as the bassist
and producer for Pakistani sufi rock
band Junoon, O'Connell has since gained respect as both a musician and a producer in the Pakistani music industry.
O'Connell and Salman Ahmad
were friends with one another since high school. O'Connell joined Junoon when keyboardist, Nusrat Hussain
, left the band and Salman Ahmad contacted and invited him to play bass on the band's second album, Talaash
. He is known for harmonizing the western 5-string bass riffs with the traditional tabla and drums. After the release of the band's seventh studio album, Dewaar
, O'Connell went back to his native land the United States
. Since his departure, Pakistani musician Mekaal Hasan
and the band's producer John Alec have been playing bass guitar for live shows. He was married to Pakistani actress and model Ayeshah Alam.
Recently, he is currently residing in New York and play live concerts with former Junoon band member, Ali Azmat
, that are held in the United States.
, in the 1970s. He also befriended Salman Ahmad
in Tappan, another young aspiring musician, with whom O'Connell formed their first band together by the name of "Eclipse". Before the two friends could take their aspirations out of the basement and onto a bigger stage, Salman Ahmad's parents moved back to Pakistan in 1981, and Salman began to study medicine at Lahore's King Edward's Medical College.
departed from the band and then Salman Ahmad
contacted O'Connell and invited him to play bass on the band's second album. O'Connell quit his job as a social worker and traveled to Karachi
, Pakistan
, where he reunited with his old friend. It was after ten years the friends reunited. In 1992, the band started working on their second studio album
. The album was recorded and mixed at Tahir Gul Hasan's Sound On Sound recording studios in Karachi. While working on their second album at one side, on the other hand the band also featured in a television series, Talaash
, directed by Atiqa Odho
and written by Anwar Maqsood
, based on the true story of the band in which the band members acted themselves and due to its novel storyline it became an extremely popular television series in Pakistan. The television series were aired on PTV
.
O'Connell continued to play for Junoon until their seventh studio album, Dewaar
, the album which last featured the trio together. However, after the release of the album O'Connell went back to United States. Since his departure, Pakistani musician Mekaal Hasan
and the band's producer John Alec have been playing bass guitar for live shows in place.
Salman Ahmad
confirmed that he is set to celebrate Junoon’s 20th anniversary with the band's former bassist Brian O Connell. “We are reaching Junoon’s 20th anniversary, so I’m excited about more projects coming up regarding that,” Ahmad told The Express Tribune. Ahmad also confirmed that Junoon’s 20th anniversary celebration concert will be held at the Asia Society on September 24 in New York
. The band announced that it will release an album to mark two decades of Junoon. The album will be featuring Strings
, Bilal Khan, Outlandish
, Usman Riaz and Laal
’s Taimur Rahman
. Shoaib Mansoor
will be writing lyrics for the band's anniversary album.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger, record producer and actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
. Best known as the bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
and producer for Pakistani sufi rock
Sufi rock
Sufi rock is a subgenre of rock music that combines rock with classical sufi music traditions. It emerged in the early 1990s and became widely popular in the late 1990s in Pakistan. The term "sufi rock" was coined in 1993 by writer Nadeem F...
band Junoon, O'Connell has since gained respect as both a musician and a producer in the Pakistani music industry.
O'Connell and Salman Ahmad
Salman Ahmad
Salman Ahmad is a Pakistani musician and former actor, who used to be a member of Vital Signs but left after their debut album due to creative differences. He went on to form Junoon, South Asia's biggest and longest-lasting rock band. While still enjoying the success of Junoon, he was involved in...
were friends with one another since high school. O'Connell joined Junoon when keyboardist, Nusrat Hussain
Nusrat Hussain
Nusrat Hussain began playing keyboards with bands that his friends formed in Islamabad. He began his professional career in the music industry with Vital Signs...
, left the band and Salman Ahmad contacted and invited him to play bass on the band's second album, Talaash
Talaash
-Personnel:All information is taken from the CD.Junoon*Salman Ahmad - vocals, lead guitar*Ali Azmat - vocals, backing vocals*Brian O'Connell - bass guitar, backing vocalsAdditional musicians*Bass guitars played by Assad Ahmed...
. He is known for harmonizing the western 5-string bass riffs with the traditional tabla and drums. After the release of the band's seventh studio album, Dewaar
Dewaar
Dewaar is the seventh studio album and the thirteenth overall album of the Pakistani band, Junoon released in 2003...
, O'Connell went back to his native land the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Since his departure, Pakistani musician Mekaal Hasan
Mekaal Hasan
Mekaal Hasan is a leading Pakistani musician and record producer from Lahore. He has worked in the capacity of a guest artist and/or record producer in the music industry of Pakistan with many Pakistani bands and solo artists at home and abroad. He is also the leader and composer for Mekaal Hasan...
and the band's producer John Alec have been playing bass guitar for live shows. He was married to Pakistani actress and model Ayeshah Alam.
Recently, he is currently residing in New York and play live concerts with former Junoon band member, Ali Azmat
Ali Azmat
Ali Azmat is a Ali Azmat is a...
, that are held in the United States.
Early years
O'Connell's roots stretch back to Tappan, New YorkTappan, New York
Tappan is a hamlet in the Town of Orangetown, Rockland County, New York, United States located north of Old Tappan, New Jersey; east of Nauraushaun and Pearl River; south of Blauvelt and west of Palisades and Sparkill...
, in the 1970s. He also befriended Salman Ahmad
Salman Ahmad
Salman Ahmad is a Pakistani musician and former actor, who used to be a member of Vital Signs but left after their debut album due to creative differences. He went on to form Junoon, South Asia's biggest and longest-lasting rock band. While still enjoying the success of Junoon, he was involved in...
in Tappan, another young aspiring musician, with whom O'Connell formed their first band together by the name of "Eclipse". Before the two friends could take their aspirations out of the basement and onto a bigger stage, Salman Ahmad's parents moved back to Pakistan in 1981, and Salman began to study medicine at Lahore's King Edward's Medical College.
Junoon (1992-2003)
After Junoon released their self-titled debut album Nusrat HussainNusrat Hussain
Nusrat Hussain began playing keyboards with bands that his friends formed in Islamabad. He began his professional career in the music industry with Vital Signs...
departed from the band and then Salman Ahmad
Salman Ahmad
Salman Ahmad is a Pakistani musician and former actor, who used to be a member of Vital Signs but left after their debut album due to creative differences. He went on to form Junoon, South Asia's biggest and longest-lasting rock band. While still enjoying the success of Junoon, he was involved in...
contacted O'Connell and invited him to play bass on the band's second album. O'Connell quit his job as a social worker and traveled to Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
, Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, where he reunited with his old friend. It was after ten years the friends reunited. In 1992, the band started working on their second studio album
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
. The album was recorded and mixed at Tahir Gul Hasan's Sound On Sound recording studios in Karachi. While working on their second album at one side, on the other hand the band also featured in a television series, Talaash
Talaash (TV series)
Talaash is Pakistan television mini-series featuring Junoon, a popular Pakistani sufi rock music group. It was written by Anwar Maqsood and directed by Atiqa Odho. Due to its novel storyline it became an extremely popular drama in Pakistan.-Cast:*Salman Ahmad*Atiqa Odho*Ali Azmat*Brian...
, directed by Atiqa Odho
Atiqa Odho
Atiqa Odho is a Pakistani television and film actress and television host. She debuted in Anwar Maqsood's TV series Sitara aur Mehrunissa and later starred in a string of successful films, including Jo Darr Gya Woh Marr Gya, Mummy and Mujhe Chand Chahiye.-Biography:Odho was born in Karachi,...
and written by Anwar Maqsood
Anwar Maqsood
Anwar Maqsood Hameedi commonly known as Anwar Maqsood Urdu: انور مقصود) is a Pakistani playwright, poet, television host, satirist, humorist, infrequent actor and painter. He has worked in the entertainment industry for over 35 years.-Life and career:Anwar Maqsood studied at the Gulbarga trust...
, based on the true story of the band in which the band members acted themselves and due to its novel storyline it became an extremely popular television series in Pakistan. The television series were aired on PTV
Pakistan Television Corporation
The Pakistan Television Corporation is Pakistan's national television broadcaster. The first live transmission of PTV began on November 26, 1964, in Lahore...
.
O'Connell continued to play for Junoon until their seventh studio album, Dewaar
Dewaar
Dewaar is the seventh studio album and the thirteenth overall album of the Pakistani band, Junoon released in 2003...
, the album which last featured the trio together. However, after the release of the album O'Connell went back to United States. Since his departure, Pakistani musician Mekaal Hasan
Mekaal Hasan
Mekaal Hasan is a leading Pakistani musician and record producer from Lahore. He has worked in the capacity of a guest artist and/or record producer in the music industry of Pakistan with many Pakistani bands and solo artists at home and abroad. He is also the leader and composer for Mekaal Hasan...
and the band's producer John Alec have been playing bass guitar for live shows in place.
Junoon 20th anniversary (2011)
On August 12, in an interview with The Express TribuneThe Express Tribune
The Express Tribune is the first internationally affiliated newspaper in Pakistan, in partnership with The International Herald Tribune, the global edition of The New York Times....
Salman Ahmad
Salman Ahmad
Salman Ahmad is a Pakistani musician and former actor, who used to be a member of Vital Signs but left after their debut album due to creative differences. He went on to form Junoon, South Asia's biggest and longest-lasting rock band. While still enjoying the success of Junoon, he was involved in...
confirmed that he is set to celebrate Junoon’s 20th anniversary with the band's former bassist Brian O Connell. “We are reaching Junoon’s 20th anniversary, so I’m excited about more projects coming up regarding that,” Ahmad told The Express Tribune. Ahmad also confirmed that Junoon’s 20th anniversary celebration concert will be held at the Asia Society on September 24 in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. The band announced that it will release an album to mark two decades of Junoon. The album will be featuring Strings
Strings (band)
Strings are an internationally acclaimed pop rock band comprising two members from Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. The band was initially formed by four college students, Bilal Maqsood , Faisal Kapadia , Rafiq Wazir Ali and Kareem Bashir Bhoy in 1988...
, Bilal Khan, Outlandish
Outlandish
Outlandish is a multi-award–winning hip-hop group based in Denmark. Formed in 1997, it consists of Isam Bachiri , Waqas Ali Qadri , and Lenny Martinez . All three members are religious, with Isam and Waqas being Muslims and Lenny being Catholic...
, Usman Riaz and Laal
Laal (band)
Laal is a musical band from Pakistan known for singing socialist political songs, especially on the poetry written by leftist Urdu poets such as Faiz Ahmed Faiz and Habib Jalib...
’s Taimur Rahman
Taimur Rahman
Taimur Rahman is an academic, political activist and a musician from Pakistan. He is the band leader and spokesperson for the music group named Laal. His father Rashid Rahman is the editor of Daily Times. He is also the General Secretary of the Communist Mazdoor Kissan Party. He was involved with...
. Shoaib Mansoor
Shoaib Mansoor
Shoaib Mansoor , PP, SI, is an acclaimed Pakistani film and television producer, director, writer, lyricist and composer.-Career:...
will be writing lyrics for the band's anniversary album.
With Junoon
- TalaashTalaash-Personnel:All information is taken from the CD.Junoon*Salman Ahmad - vocals, lead guitar*Ali Azmat - vocals, backing vocals*Brian O'Connell - bass guitar, backing vocalsAdditional musicians*Bass guitars played by Assad Ahmed...
(1993) - KashmakashKashmakash-Personnel:All information is taken from the CD.Junoon*Salman Ahmad - vocals, lead guitar*Ali Azmat - vocals, backing vocals*Brian O'Connell - bass guitar, backing vocalsAdditional musicians*Female vocals on "Jogia" by Fifi Haroon...
(1995) - InquilaabInquilaab-Personnel:All information is taken from the CD.Junoon*Salman Ahmad - vocals, lead guitar*Ali Azmat - vocals, backing vocals*Brian O'Connell - bass guitar, backing vocalsAdditional musicians*Drums by Malcolm Goveas*Tablas and Dholak by Ashiq Ali Mir...
(1996) - AzadiAzadi (album)Azadi is the fourth studio album and the fifth overall album of the Pakistani sufi rock band, Junoon. The album was released in 1997 and establishes the Sufi rock sound that the band pioneered on their previous album, Inquilaab...
(1997) - ParvaazParvaaz-Personnel:Junoon*Salman Ahmad - vocals, lead guitar*Ali Azmat - vocals, backing vocals*Brian O'Connell - bass guitar, backing vocalsAdditional musicians*Malcolm Goveas - drums*Ashiq Ali Mir - tabla, dholakProduction...
(1999) - Millennium 1990-2000Millennium 1990-2000 (album)Millennium 1990-2000 is the second compilation album and the seventh overall album released by Pakistani rock band, Junoon. It was released in 2000. The album features some best songs of band. It also includes two live versions of "Allah Hu", "Lal Meri Pat". It includes emotive song "Azadi" from...
(2000) - AndazAndaz (album)-Personnel:All information is taken from the CD.Junoon*Salman Ahmad - vocals, lead guitar*Ali Azmat - vocals, backing vocals*Brian O'Connell - bass guitar, backing vocalsAdditional musicians*Female vocals on "Azadi" by Samina Ahmad...
(2001) - Daur-e-JunoonDaur-e-JunoonDaur-e-Junoon is the second live album and overall the twelfth album released by the Pakistan rock band, Junoon. The album was released on March 29, 2002....
(2002) - Junoon for PeaceJunoon for PeaceJunoon for Peace is the first live album and the eleventh overall album by the Pakistani band, Junoon. The album was recorded live on October 27, 2001....
(2002) - DewaarDewaarDewaar is the seventh studio album and the thirteenth overall album of the Pakistani band, Junoon released in 2003...
(2003) - Dewaar: The Best of JunoonDewaar: The Best of Junoon-Personnel:All information is taken from the CD.Junoon*Salman Ahmad - vocals, lead guitar*Ali Azmat - vocals, backing vocals*Brian O'Connell - bass guitar, backing vocalsAdditional musicians*Vocals on "Azadi" by Samina Ahmad...
(2004)
Filmography
- TalaashTalaash (TV series)Talaash is Pakistan television mini-series featuring Junoon, a popular Pakistani sufi rock music group. It was written by Anwar Maqsood and directed by Atiqa Odho. Due to its novel storyline it became an extremely popular drama in Pakistan.-Cast:*Salman Ahmad*Atiqa Odho*Ali Azmat*Brian...
(1992) - United for PeaceUnited for PeaceUnited For Peace is the second video album and the tenth overall album by the Pakistani band, Junoon. The album contains four music videos from Junoon's previous albums, which include "Azadi", theme from "Jinnah the Movie", "Bulleya" from Parvaaz, "Jazba-e-Junoon" from Inquilaab and "Zamane Ke...
(2001) - Islamabad: Rock CityIslamabad: Rock CityIslamabad: Rock City is a 2001 documentary film produced by Michael Hirschorn and Shelly Tatro. The film follows the journey of the biggest South Asian rock music band Junoon and struggle they face to become one of the biggest band in the world.-Synopsis:...
(2001)