Received several Whass App messages informing the passing away of Ghani Karim, the ex-guitarist for the 80s to early 90s band, Freedom. Berita Haria has this report here.
Ghani made his mark as guitarist for the JB originate rock band in the early 70s, Heavy Machine before joining Freedom:
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| NST Oct 23rd 1986 |
Freedom found in singer from Kuantan, Seha the ingredient for commercial success.
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| NST Sept 5 1987 |
Every other Johoreans whose into the rock music scene back then swore that they were the nearest best thing to Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Grand Fund Railroad, etc.
Due to it's proximity to Singapore, JB was quite up to date then with the latest music from the West. If memory has not failed us, Heavy Machine was known to have participated in a Woodstock-like rock festival in JB back then.
There was this urban legend that JB boys had traveled and buskered in Europe to be later identified and performed live as sessionist for reknown rock bands in the West. Whether it is true or not, only Kluang boy Dato Shake made it in France. He was no rocker.
That is the very reason that most of the popular rock band during the 80s to 90s Malay rock era including Search and many others came from JB.
So it was a shock to us to see Heavy Machine performing the theme song from SWAT on RTM TV in late 70s. It was a heresy and commercial cop out. Now that we are elderly, we understand the need to make a living
The passing of Ghani Karim is a reminder that father time has caught up on our generation. An icon during our growing up days has passed. It is time to move on and pass the torch to the next generation.
Thank you, Ghani Karim for giving color to our life and music for our young rebelion soul. And, later music to a young working adult seeking relief from stress.
Al Fatihah, may Allah bless you.