Ahmad Syech Albar (Arabic: أحمد شيخ البار 'Aḥmad Šayḵ Al-Bār), better known as Ahmad Albar (born 16 July 1946), is an Indonesian rock musician and vocalist of mixed ethnic Arabic and Javanese descent. [citation needed] He is the founding member of God Bless.
Ahmad Syech Albar أحمد شيخ البار | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Ahmad Syech Albar |
| Also known as | Ahmad Albar |
| Born | 16 July 1946 Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia |
| Genres | Rock |
| Occupation | Vocalist |
| Years active | 1970–present |
| Labels | HP Record Musica Studio's |
| Member of | God Bless |
Biography
editEarly life and career
edit
Albar was born in Surabaya, East Java on 16 July 1946 to Syech Albar and his wife Farida Alhasni.[1] Both of his parents were of Arab descent.[2] He was the couple's fourth child.[1] In 1958 he played in the film Djenderal Kantjil (General Kancil).[1]
Albar moved to the Netherlands in 1965.[1] In 1970 he sang "Don't Spoil My Day" and "Tell Me the World" with Clover Leaf, which charted.[1] After his return to Indonesia, he founded God Bless with Jockie Soerjoprajogo, Fuad Hassan, Donny Fattah, and his friend from Clover Leaf, Ludwig Lemans; Albar was lead vocalist.[1] The band's first performance was in Taman Ismail Marzuki on 5 May 1973, and on 16 August 1973 they held the Summer 28 concert, the first (and, as of 2004, largest) open-air concert in Indonesia.[1] The band, with Albar, also played in the 1973 comedy Ambisi (Ambition), directed by Nya Abbas Akup.[1]
God Bless
editIn 1975, Albar and God Bless opened for Deep Purple at a concert in Jakarta.[3] On 27 September 1975, Albar appeared on the cover of Tempo, with a full feature on him inside; the coverage compared his costume to Zorro's and described him spinning the microphone over his head as if he were competing in a hammer throw event.[1] Other magazines, such as Junior, Aktuil, and Top, soon followed; Aktuil named him the best vocalist of 1976.[1]
In 1976, Albar and God Bless released their first album, Huma di atas Bukit (House on the Hill).[1] The titular song was an adaptation of "Firth Of Fifth", from Genesis' 1973 album Selling England by the Pound.[1] The same year Albar played in Laila Majenun (Laila is Possessed), directed by Sjumandjaja; "Huma di atas Bukit" was used as its theme song.[1]
Duo Kribo and other projects
editThe following year, Albar recorded "Neraka Jahanam" ("Blasted Hell"), a duet with Ucok Harahap released on an album of the same name; the two called themselves Duo Kribo, based on their frizzy hair.[1] The titular song was based in the concept of original sin.[4] That same year he recorded "Jelaga" ("Soot"), a winner of Prambors FM's Teenage Song Writing Competition.[1]
Duo Kribo released their second album, Pelacur Tua (Old Prostitute), in 1978.[1] Albar was then invited by Guruh Soekarnoputra to perform the song "Anak Jalanan" ("Street Children") at Guruh's Swara Mahardhika concert; it ran from 6 to 7 January 1979.[1] Later in 1979 he and Harahap released their third album, Panggung Sandiwara (Theatre Stage), featuring compositions by former God Bless member Ian Antono and lyrics by poet Taufiq Ismail.[1] He also recorded a dangdut album, Zakia, that year; the album featured six compositions by Albar and three by other artists, including Antono and Titiek Puspa.[1]
Albar later appeared in the film Irama Cinta (Rhythm of Love) along with dangdut singer Elvy Sukaesih; the pair sang five songs together.[1] Afterwards, in 1980, God Bless released their second album, Cermin (Mirror).[1] With God Bless later going into limbo, Albar recorded two solo albums, Dunia Huru-Hara (World of Commotion) and Syair Kehidupan (Poems of Life); he also recorded an album with Fariz RM, entitled Secita Cerita (An Idea for a Story).[1] In 1983, Albar sang "Rahasia Semesta" ("Secret of the Universe") at the 11th National Pop Music Festival.[1]
In early 1990, Albar formed Gong 2000 with Yaya Muktio, Harry Anggoman, Donny Fattah, and Ian Antono.[1] Their first concert, held in Senayan, Jakarta, on 26 October 1991, attracted 100,000 viewers.[1] Together the group released four albums, Bara Timur (Ember of the East; 1991), Gong Live (1992), Laskar (Screen; 1993), and Prahara (Tempest; 2000).[1] During the same period he was still active with God Bless, releasing Semut Hitam (Black Ants; 1988), Raksasa (Monster; 1989), and Apa Kabar? (What's Up?; 1997).[5]
Focus on God Bless
editIn 2003, Albar and Jockie had a large fight which led to Jockie leaving the group.[6] According to a 2011 interview with Jockie, Jockie and some fellow band members had been discussing Albar's drug habit when they decided to ask Albar to abandon drugs.[6] When Jockie did so, Albar reportedly pulled a pistol on him.[6] Guitarist Ian Antono confirmed that a pistol was involved, but he thought it could be a toy; he stated that the argument flared up when Jockie insulted Albar's family.[7]
On 7 February 2004, Albar and a group of Indonesian performers, including Glenn Fredly, Armand Maulana of Gigi, and Duta of Sheila on 7, held a concert to commemorate the founding of the Malaysian rock band Search.[1] At the end of the concert the singers sang "Rumah Kita" ("Our House"), from Semut Hitam.[1]
In November 2007, Albar was arrested for possessing ecstasy and hiding a drug dealer.[8][9] Tried in June 2008, he was convicted and sentenced to eight months in prison.[8] He was paroled in July for good behaviour and counting previous time served.[9]
In the middle of 2009, Albar and God Bless released 36th.[10] Later, in October of that year, Albar participated in a tribute concert to Chrisye, entitled "Chrisye: A Night to Remember".[6] With God Bless, in mid-2010 he went on a national tour sponsored by PT Multi Bintang Indonesia Niaga.[3] In June 2011, the band performed for Hard Rock Cafe Jakarta's 40th anniversary.[10] The following month, from 22 to 24 July 2011, he and God Bless performed at the InterMusic Java Rockin' Land alongside The Cranberries and Neon Trees.[11]
Legacy
editIn a 2009 issue, Rolling Stone Indonesia ranked several songs which Albar sang or wrote as being among the 150 best Indonesian songs of all time.[4] God Bless' song "Kehidupan" ("Life"), which he sang, was ranked 8th, while "Rumah Kita" ("Our Home") was ranked 22nd.[4] Duo Kribo's song "Neraka Jahanam" was ranked 18th, while "Panggung Sandiwara" was ranked 21st. [4] Gong 2000's song "Kepada Perang" ("To War") was ranked 114th.[4]
Personal life
editAlbar married Rini S. Bono on 28 April 1978; she had previously acted with him in Laila Majenun, with whom he has three children.[1] They divorced on 30 September 1994.[1] In May 2011 it was reported that he would be marrying Dewi, his girlfriend, while going on the hajj.[12]
Albar is a maternal half-brother of dangdut singer Camelia Malik and father of actor Fachri Albar.[12] His sons Ozzy and Fachri Albar are also musicians, playing in the band Jibriel; his nephew Bagoes is also a member of the band.[13]
References
edit- Footnotes
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad Theodore KS 2004, Achmad Albar, Sang Ikon.
- ^ Dari Gambur Melahirkan OM dan Dangdut.
- ^ a b Leo 2010, Godfather of Rock.
- ^ a b c d e Rolling Stone Indonesia 2009, 150 Lagu Indonesia.
- ^ Yudono 2011, Yockie, Tondongan.
- ^ a b c d Maullana and Kamil 2011, Wawancara dengan Yockie 3.
- ^ Maullana and Sofyan 2011, Ian Antono: Malu.
- ^ a b The Jakarta Post 2008, Ahmad Albar gets.
- ^ a b The Jakarta Post 2008, Singer Ahmad Albar.
- ^ a b The Jakarta Post 2011, Keep on Rocking.
- ^ Setiawati 2011, The Cranberries channel.
- ^ a b The Jakarta Globe 2011, Rocker Ahmad Albar.
- ^ Maullana and Kamil 2011, God Bless Bikin.
- Bibliography
- Shahab, Alwi (2004). Saudagar Baghdad Dari Betawi (in Indonesian). Penerbit Republika. p. 25. ISBN 978-97932-10308.
- "150 Lagu Indonesia Terbaik Sepanjang Masa" [150 Best Indonesian Songs of All Time]. Rolling Stone Indonesia (in Indonesian) (56). Jakarta: 43, 49, 51, 89. December 2009. Archived from the original on 2012-03-16.
- "Ahmad Albar gets eight months in drug case". The Jakarta Post. 25 June 2008. Archived from the original on 28 June 2008. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
- "Singer Ahmad Albar released from jail". The Jakarta Post. 11 July 2008. Archived from the original on 22 June 2009. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
- "Keep on rocking". The Jakarta Post. 26 June 2011. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
- Leo, P.J. (25 July 2010). "Godfather of Rock". The Jakarta Post. Archived from the original on 15 September 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
- Maullana, Irfan; Kamil, Ati (15 June 2011). "God Bless Bikin Jibriel "Keteteran"" [God Bless makes Jibriel "Keteteran"]. Kompas (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 19 June 2011. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
- Maullana, Irfan; Kamil, Ati (26 October 2011). "Wawancara dengan Yockie 3: Dan di Situlah Dia Mengambil "Beceng"" [Interview with Yockie 3: And then He Took a Pistol]. Kompas (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 28 October 2011. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
- Maullana, Irfan; Sofyan, Eko Hendrawan (8 June 2011). "Ian Antono: Malu, Kita Ini Sudah pada Tua-tua" [Ian Antono: Shameful, We're All Already Old]. Kompas (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 23 October 2011. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
- "Rocker Ahmad Albar to Marry in Mecca". The Jakarta Globe. 23 May 2011. Archived from the original on 26 May 2011. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
- Setiawati, Indah (24 July 2011). "Cranberries channel the past in Ancol". The Jakarta Post. Archived from the original on 2008-08-21. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
- Theodore KS (19 March 2004). "Achmad Albar, Sang Ikon" [Achmad Albar, the Icon]. Kompas (in Indonesian).
- Yudono, Jodhi (20 October 2011). "Yockie, Todongan Pistol dan Hengkang dari Godbless" [Yockie, Gun to His Head and Running from Godbless]. Kompas (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 20 October 2011. Retrieved 6 January 2011.