PETALING JAYA: We hear of bands starting in garages, coffee shops and offices, but underground?
In 1972, four musicians dug out their own studio underneath a kampung house on stilts in Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur. That nine-feet deep hole became their studio.
Drummer Ruzlan Omar, lead guitarist Harun Mat‘Arof aka Harun Santana, second guitarist Zain Musa and bassist Mohd Hashim Mohd Noor formed what would be one of Malaysia’s greatest rock bands – Sons of Adam.
“We were very young and we could not afford to pay for a studio. So, in the name of rock and roll, we dug our own studio under Harun’s family house.
“There was no air-conditioning then, so we played and we sweated.
“We practised there until about 10 years later when Harun’s house burned down. We lost most of our memorabilia in the fire but it gave us great memories to look back on.”
Sons of Adam would perform at venues such as Furama Hotel, Majestic Hotel, Beer Garden in Ampang Park, Glass Bubble in Petaling Jaya, the Tin Mine at Hilton Hotel and The House at Jalan Peel in Cheras alongside 70s and 80s legends such as the Falcons.
One of their standout performances was at a concert at Camp Semangat in Balakong in July 1972. Named Woodstock ‘72, it was held in tribute to the Woodstock Festival that was staged at a dairy farm in Catskill Mountains, New York.
“We could see people setting up camp and dressed up like hippies, there was constant smell of ...” he trailed off with a laugh.
In the early 80s Ruzlan left the band to focus on his athletic training, representing Malaysia as a sprinter in various events, including the Jakarta Open in the late 80s where he and his team won the gold in the 4x400m.
Apart from Ruzlan, Hashim also entered the corporate world and left to further his studies overseas.
Harun kept up with the remaining members and formed another Sons of Adam, which cut an album but it was disbanded due to family and work commitments.
Ruzlan and Harun tried to revive the band in the 90s, but there was no continuity as members came and went. Eventually, Harun also left to focus on his family and business.
In 2009, Ruzlan banded up with vocalist and guitarist Deli, Sunny on bass and vocals, and Fahmy on guitars and vocals. They expanded in 2016 with Satiman Ismail on the keyboard and Saat Chan.
Sons of Adam will perform at the Musicians for Musicians Benefit concert 2020 on March 15 at the Mines International Exhibition and Convention Centre in Kuala Lumpur.
