Get ready to be blown away at a concert that brings together The Strollers, Lord & The Boys and Blues Gang, writes Shuib Taib
WHEN three iconic bands take to the stage for a concert, there will be a flashback to the era of bell bottoms and platform shoes.
After all, the bands in question were formed in the 1960s and 1970s. The Strollers, Lord & The Boys and Blues Gang were pioneers in their respective genres.
Slated for Sept 17 in conjunction with Malaysia Day (Sept 16) at Istana Budaya, the concert will pay homage to these bands which have contributed significantly to the local music industry.
Aptly titled Return Of The Legends, the concert will see a special appearance by Dendang Anak, a nusantara musical cultural group featuring Ahmed Faseeh on guitar and Steve Steels on drums.
The Strollers was formed in 1965 and became a famous rock band in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Comprising Michael Magness, Nand Kumar, Billy Chang, Hussein Idris and Ramli, it was famous for churning out original hits such as Silly Joke, Do What You Gotta Do, Just As I Am and more. It also inspired many to start their own bands.
“Billy Chang, my younger brother Hassan and I are the only original members left. We will be assisted by experience sessionists on the night,” says Hussein Idris, 60.
No stranger to the local music scene, Ito of Blues Gang will be making his third appearance at the prestigious Istana Budaya.
Ito is the lead vocalist for this band which was formed in the late 1970s. Blues Gang created its own sound by fusing rhythm ‘n’ blues and rock. Injecting the Negri Sembilan dialect into its compositions, Blues Gang rose to stardom when Apo Nak Dikato became a major hit.
“I have performed here twice as a solo artiste but this is the first time we will perform as a band,” says Ito, 65. He adds that aside from Apo Nak Dikato, Blues Gang’s six original members will render songs it hardly performed such as Khatulistiwa, Ibu and Mak Siti.
For Lord & The Boys, being invited to perform at the prestigious venue with his favourite bands is a huge honour.
“I can’t tell you how grateful and proud I am to be able to share the stage with The Strollers, which had such a big influence on us. The legendary Blues Gang... in our younger days, Blues Gang often invited us and gave us space to perform with them,” says Lord.
“For this concert, our lead singer Nadia will do cover versions made popular by Ella, like Dua Insan Bercinta which I had written. Nadia will inject her own flavour in our repertoire,” said the rock queen maker, who turns 60 this year.
Born Ahmad Lokman Ismail in Kelantan, Lord had early exposure to music, thanks largely to his family who were heavily involved in the arts as well. Lord started his first band in school that included Jay Jay (of Carefree) and Datuk Nasser Abu Kassim on vocals.
He later joined The Pilgrims which included Boy and Jay Jay (both of Carefree) and Zainal Rampa. After that, he joined many other bands such as 2nd Impression, Search and Blues Gang.
Still yearning to perform his own kind of music, Lord created The Boys in the early 1980s with Ayie on bass, Suhaimi on drums and a young up-and-coming Ella on vocals. Playing from one club to another, the band gained popularity in no time.
After Ella was snapped up by a record label to perform as a solo artiste, Lord found another talent in the form of Shima who soon came into her own.
Like Ella, Shima received offers to record a solo which she did, leaving The Boys to their own devices. In retrospect, Lord deserves a pat on the back for having discovered two of the finest female rock stars in the country.
Organised by N2 International Services, its group president and executive chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Nasser Ismail Al-Hashemi, a true-blue musician himself, says: “I’ve known them from young. I used to play with Lord, Jay Jay (of Carefree) and Ghani (Blues Gang) from 1975 till 1977 before leaving for the US to pursue my studies,” said Mohd Nasser, better known as Abang Archer.
“I was in Europe one day when I heard a busker play a song by The Strollers! It gave me goosebumps.”
He will also make a special appearance onstage and says that organising the concert is his way of expressing his gratitude for his friends.
Return Of The Legends
When: Sept 17, 8.30pm
Where: Istana Budaya Kuala Lumpur
Tickets: redtixairasia.com or call Istana Budaya at 03-4026-5558.