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In brief, Mohammed has been one of many controversial figures in both the Islamic community and the general community. In late 1995, Mohammed turned to professional tennis at state level. This was the first step into the roller coaster ride of what would draw him into the Victorian tennis media whirlpool. A winner of six Victoria Grand Slam singles titles and two Victoria Grand Slam doubles titles, he was at his best. Then the former Victorian #1 tennis player was faced with horrid allegations and rumors, having him fall unprepared into this media frenzy.
Mohammed Salem had also been a writer of music for 13 years of his life. It wasn't until 2000, that record label IMG picked up on his talents and offered him a deal. Mohammed Salem launched himself as a UK artist in the UK. It was Salem's first trip to the UK and it would be the first time he'd perform in front of a live and testing audience. He performed at Bristol's "The Powerhouse" dance club. He released a number of singles there non-commercially and soon followed with the non-commercial release of his debut album. A duet with R&B bad boy Bobby Brown topped the club charts and a vocal testing ballad topped the UK singles charts. As in the US, UK charts are also based on airplay as well as sales.
However, success in tennis and music wasn't enough. In the early to mid 1990s, Mohammed Salem was also acting in theatrical productions. Admitting to never getting the lead role, he did manage to steal the scenes in whatever role he played. In 1995, Mohammed recorded his first single called, They don't care which was released on a compilation album entitled, Simply Upfield. Mohammed received much media attention for the song which outraged fellow students and teachers who also worked on the compilation album. Insiders reported that the album's executive producer Alexandra Mavridis who also sang on the album was outraged that Mohammed Salem was getting all the media attention for his one song tribute to the album.
Meanwhile, with constant feuding and fallouts with his tennis coaches; Mohammed soon realised he would have to coach and train himself.
After arriving in Melbourne earlier this year, Mohammed Salem was still on a high with his music career still on the take off. Although, the death of a close friend (whom he later found out was still alive), that really shook him up. It made him think twice about the way in which he was leading his life. Only two weeks later, he was informed that the person who told him of the death of his friend was misinformed.
On being controversial; Mohammed was recently quoted by Victorian Tennis Magazine's reporter Steven Campbell as saying, "I don't believe I'm controversial. I believe it is people out there who set out to make me controversial."
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