VH1 Profiles Cat Stevens in "Behind the Music"

Author: Anayat Durrani

In the 70s British singer-songwriter Cat Stevens was bigger than life. He was an international superstar and had almost everything he could imagine. He was loved by millions of fans for his soul-searching folk-pop-rock songs like "Peace Train," "Wild World," "Moon Shadow," and many others. But then, to the surprise of fans, Cat Stevens disappeared from the music world, retiring following the release of his 1978 album "Back To Earth". After embracing Islam, he would reemerge as Yusuf Islam closing the door on his former musical career to devote his life to Islam and his family.

This past summer, after more than 20 years outside the music industry, the 52-year-old re-released the "Cat Stevens" catalogue and a boxed set is planned for next year. Aside from re-releasing his classic albums, his songs are featured in the movie "Rushmore," and the recently released Cameron Crowe film "Almost Famous." He will also be featured in the season premiere of VH1's "Behind the Music" series documenting Cat Stevens' life from childhood to stardom, spotlighting his musical and spiritual journey from rock icon to his conversion to Islam including his charity and humanitarian work. In the 90 minute special, Islam explains misconceptions about the Islamic faith and tells fans about his life after the music. The program will feature exclusive on location footage in England, Bosnia, California and Turkey, and includes interviews with childhood friends, family, and music industry insiders. The program will air today, October 1st.

Filming of the VH1 special was disrupted in July when Islam traveled to Jerusalem with the VH1 crew and was denied entrance into the country by the Israeli government. He was accused of allegedly supporting Hamas. However, Islam issued a statement strongly denying the charges saying that he had no connections to any groups and gives donations for humanitarian causes. "I want to make sure that people are aware that I've never knowingly supported any terrorist groups -- past, present, or future," he said.

Islam was born with the given name Steven Demetri Georgiou but changed it to Cat Stevens in 1966, and became a British teen idol in the mid-'60s. The folk singer's spiritual journey was set in motion in 1968 after he became ill with tuberculosis and was hospitalized. The experience was a time of deep reflection and soul-searching. He began to question the meaning and purpose of life and embarked on a spiritual path that began with the study of Eastern mysticism. His music would also begin to reflect what he studied, such as the song "The Way to Find God Out," and "I Might Die Tonight." Some of his most famous songs were written during his search for truth. "I became even more famous in the world of music. I really had a difficult time because I was getting rich and famous, and at the same time, I was sincerely searching for the Truth," he said, in his personal account called How I Came to Islam.

Then, in what he describes as a miracle, the Qur'an fell into his hands. After his older brother David came back from a visit to Jerusalem he brought with him an English translation of the Qur'an as a gift to give to his famous brother. "You have before you someone who had achieved fame and fortune. But guidance was something that eluded me, no matter how hard I tried, until I was shown the Qur'an," he said. In 1977, a year and a half later, Cat Stevens converted to Islam and changed his name to Yusuf Islam, parting ways with his old lifestyle.

Since Islam left the music business, he has lived a humble life mainly out of the spotlight. However, in 1989, Islam made world headlines when the press used his explanation of Islamic law and ruling on blasphemy to mean he supported the Ayatollah's fatwa calling for the death of Salman Rushdie, author of The Satanic Verses. The headlines which read "Kill Rushdie Says Cat Stevens," caused angry reactions from fans and deejays who destroyed his albums in protest. The group 10,000 Maniacs also reacted by removing their version of Cat Stevens' "Peace Train" from copies of 1987's In My Tribe and from their shows. Islam later released a press statement explaining his views and Islamic law, and said the book should be banned because it "insults God and His prophets - including those prophets honored by Christians, Jews as well as Muslims."

Since his conversion to Islam, much of his life has been devoted for Islamic education and work with humanitarian organizations. In 1995, he produced The Life Of The Last Prophet, a primarily spoken-word album, and in 1998, Prayers of the Last Prophet. He has established four Islamic children's schools in London and the Mountain of Light label which sells religious books and music. He also started an organization called Small Kindness and co-founded Muslim Aid. He recently released ''A Is For Allah,'' a new double CD and book for children based on a poem he wrote for his daughter Hasanah. He currently lives in the U.K. with his wife and their five children. Islam is scheduled to go on a speaking tour in the United States this month [October 2000].