WHAT started as a hobby led to the formation of Forever, one of Malaysia’s most enduring bands.
Fondly known for their vocal harmony in the 80s, Forever are set to reunite at the Musicians for Musicians Benefit Concert.
The event on March 15 is touted as the biggest reunion of Malaysia’s top musicians from the 1970s and 1980s.
Forever’s lead vocalist and guitarist Gerard Abisheganaden told theSun the band was formed in 1977 and was famous in the nightclub circuit.
“Besides me, Forever comprises Ainsley King on guitar and vocals, Jimie Loh on bass and vocals and Desmond Gomis on keyboards.
“We got together as a hobby.
“I remember we played several international songs in nightclubs before locals heard them as back in the day, there would be a three-month delay when an American or British artist releases an album before any of the local radio stations played them.
“We could do this because our friends from the United Kingdom would usually bring the cassette for us whenever they came down,” he said.
“We played ‘Last Christmas’ by Wham! before it was even heard here.”
Forever, Gerard said, would often perform in various venues in Kuala Lumpur and other states but they were fondly known for their performances in Fortuna Hotel in Bukit Bintang, where they entertained the crowd to songs from the Eagles, Earth, Wind & Fire, and even the Bee Gees.
“Yes, we played and sang songs from the Bee Gees, we had high pitched voices at that time, now it remains to be seen,” Gerard joked.
He said the band has got together after more than 20 years for a good cause.
Desmond even flew in from Australia to practice in preparation for the concert.
Speaking on their most profound moment, Ainsley said it was when they were flown to Okinawa, Japan to entertain United States air force personnel at the Kadena Airbase.
“My brother was a major in the American air force, and he facilitated our entry and performance there.”
He said they were flown to Okinawa in a C141 Starlifter.
“It was a really big freight plane, and there were only 10 of us, including the pilots, in it,” he said.
“The airbase was a ‘rock house’ and there was always rock music playing.
“They were frontline troops and were always in a tense mood.
“It was really tough to get there in the first place, and entertaining the troops was another matter as they were a tough crowd.”
Gerard said he is now the principal of an international school, Ainsley is a teacher at a music school in Petaling Jaya, Desmond is retired and has settled in Australia while Loh is still active in the music scene as a sessionist but mostly plays for the Alleycats.
