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Posted: 12 Aug 2011 03:58 AM PDT

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Jani Lane, the former lead singer of the metal rock band Warrant, has died in Los Angeles. He was 47.

Officer Sara Faden says Lane's body was found Thursday in a Woodland Hills hotel. She had no immediate information on the cause or circumstances of his death.

With his long blond hair and tight leather outfits, Lane embodied the excess of 1980s "hair metal" rock bands. He joined Warrant in 1984 and wrote such hits as "Heaven," "Down Boys" and "Cherry Pie."

He had an on-and-off relationship with the band, leaving it in 1992 before returning and quitting again several times.

In recent years, he appeared in the reality TV show "Celebrity Fit Club" and made news for a drunken driving arrest.

He is survived by two daughters from two previous marriages.

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All pumped up

Posted: 11 Aug 2011 04:05 PM PDT

With a new guitarist and new album, the Red Hot Chili Peppers proved it hasn't missed a beat during its show in Hong Kong.

There are a lot of ways to open a concert – Lady Gaga claws her way out of an "egg", Justin Bieber pops out from the ground and Paramore drops a big black curtain to reveal Hayley Williams' tasty behind facing the crowd.

But few could be cooler than how the Red Hot Chili Peppers opened its show in Hong Kong on Tuesday – the band members strutted on stage, picked up their instruments, and started playing.

With these guys, you really don't need any theatrics. Once the guitar intro for By The Way started ringing out, there was no turning back. It was funk rock heaven from start to finish.

The sold-out 15,000 crowd at the AsiaWorld-Expo indoor arena grooved along deliriously as Anthony Kiedis, 48, Flea, 48, Chad Smith, 49, and new boy Josh Klinghoffer, 31, rocked the stage. Last seen on tour in this region in late 2002, the Red Hot Chili Peppers picked Hong Kong to kick-off its new world tour in support of its upcoming 10th studio album I'm With You (out on Aug 30).

On the night, the live action just kept getting better and better. Just when you thought the band had hit a high, it would come right back at you with another one of its hits, played with even more groove, even more attitude and even more energy than before.

The group followed By The Way with Charlie and Can't Stop to make up the first set, which already had the crowd in a frenzy. But then it was time for Scar Tissue. Then there was Dani California, I Like Dirt and Otherside. And still there was time to pull out Californication and Under The Bridge, before ending the night with Give It Away for the encore.

It's only at Red Hot Chili Peppers concerts that you really start to realise the breadth of its catalogue. The group played everything from old school funk jams to melodic ballads to punk metal, and still it had songs to spare – it didn't play The Zephyr Song, Parallel Universe, or, and this is a personal favourite, Around The World.

The encore at the end was a real one, too, not the usual obligatory run out. When Red Hot Chili Peppers ended the set proper, the crowd was literally screaming for more, and it was getting a little out of hand as people started to stomp their feet on the bleachers so hard, it felt like there was going to be a stampede or a riot if the group didn't come back out.

The new material played from its upcoming album I'm With You – the band's first in over five years – sounded pretty good, too. The Adventures Of Rain Dance Maggie, the first single, and Look Around both gave good evidence that the Red Hot Chili Peppers are back in business.

The only way the concert could've been any better was if former guitarist John Frusciante was there.

The Los Angeles, California-based band was formed in the early 1983 by Kiedis, Michael Balzary, aka Flea, and high school friends Jack Irons and Hillel Slovak. The Chili Peppers have gone through numerous personnel changes ever since, with Kiedis and Flea the only constants. After the tragic death of Slovak from a drug overdose, and Irons leaving the band as a result of that, Smith and Frusciante were roped in as replacements. That line-up of Kiedis, Flea, Smith and Frusciante would go on to record the critically acclaimed and highly successful Blood Sugar Sex Magik in 1991, and are now widely considered the band's classic line-up.

Frusciante had been crucial in developing the band's musical style since he first joined them in 1988, though he had left the band once in 1992, struggling to cope with the band's fame and falling out with Kiedis. He returned in 1998, and after a decade of further success, left the band again after the Stadium Acadium tour, this time to focus on personal projects.

Klinghoffer had already toured with the band as a back-up guitarist before, and had also collaborated with Frusciante on a side-project; so when Frusciante left, the remaining members invited him to join the band as a permanent member.

Aside from an odd-sounding solo on Look Around, where he seemed to be bending the notes completely off pitch, Klinghoffer gave an excellent Frusciante impersonation.

He has a meatier, more effects-drive sound compared to Frusciante's trademark slinky, melodic sound, but like Kiedis and Smith have said recently – it's "a new beginning" for the band. Don't expect the Red Hot Chili Peppers to sound the same as when it had Frusciante. Smith has even gone as far as to say: "This is a new band. Same name, but a new band."

Age hasn't seemed to have slowed down the three old members (in more ways than one) too much. Kiedis and Flea are turning 49 while Smith is turning 50, and still refusing to admit he's actually Will Ferrell in disguise.

Kiedis delivered his lines with that trademark rhythm of his, though he struggled a little with the melodies towards the end, especially with the second last song, the cover of Stevie Wonder's Higher Ground. A song "written by someone who is a friend of music, a friend of humanity," said Flea before the song.

Kiedis seemed to be limiting his movements to focus on his vocals, so there wasn't much of his usual spazzing-out dance moves. Flea, on the other hand, was free to be his usual crazy self.

His slap and pop part in Can't Stop was a personal highlight, but the handstand he did after dancing back on stage to a fiery Smith drum solo for the encore was pretty awesome too. You won't see too many veteran rock stars do that.

And just simply as it had begun, the concert ended with just one line from Kiedis, one simple message: "If you gotta say something, let it be peace."

Despite the blinding ability of each individual, as a band, the Red Hot Chili Peppers' music and performances are largely uncomplicated. The Mars Volta provided a nice contrast as the opening act with its ridiculously complex rhythms and time signatures.

It was technically fascinating stuff, really mind-blowing, but the crowd came for the headlining act. With the Chili Peppers, it's just a bunch of mostly senseless lyrics, simple funk beats, solid bass lines, a few nice guitar riffs and some mellow melodies thrown together to produce this perfectly balanced material – but yet, somehow, everybody just feels it.

At the end, there were fans giving each other high fives and throwing their arms around each other, still giddy with excitement. It looked like they had just realised some lifelong dream, and that it felt way better than they could've ever imagined.

And that's the beauty of what the Red Hot Chili Peppers do. Everything is simple, but totally awesome.

> Red Hot Chili Peppers I'm With You is released by Warner Music Malaysia on Aug 30.

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Fighting fit

Posted: 11 Aug 2011 04:05 PM PDT

He's kept a relatively low profile for more than a decade, but singer Man Bai is back in the game with Inspirasi.

DON'T you dare call Man Bai a victim of 1980s rock 'n' roll excess. More than anything else, he's a true survivor. At 44 years young, the former Gersang frontman is well weathered by music business experience and deserves to flaunt the "been there, done that, bought the T-shirt" persona.

As a scrawny teenager, he was already working towards stardom. Gersang, formed in 1981, went from high school rock 'n' roll wannabes to chart-toppers. Admittedly, it took a few years to get itself established in the local scene but once Gersang's self-titled debut arrived in 1988, there was no looking back.

Man Bai's career – despite a health scare – didn't exactly suffer after he parted ways with Gersang in the early 1990s. He had success as a solo artiste with that monster hit (Kau Ilhamku in 1995) and stuck his head in and out of Malaysian pop music's consciousness by the various hats he's worn over the years. All said, Man Bai refuses to go away ... and thank goodness for that.

Rejuvenated and ready for action, Man Bai (born Abdul Rahman Osman) is ready to face the music masses again.

"I just wanted to get back to this and remind people that I am still around and going to be making some music again," he said with a twinkle in his eyes during a recent late evening interview at the home to all rockers on their time out – the local mamak.

A hiatus of 13 years is a long time, by anyone's admission, and most of all his, but Man Bai's never-say-never philosophy has kept his motor running. His first album in more than a decade is the Sony Music-released Inspirasi, a collection of new and re-recorded nuggets.

In an industry where you're typically only as good as your last album, Man Bai has retained his relevance as a recording artiste.

"I've seen many new artistes, but they don't seem to have an impact," he shared, somehow, managing to retain a semblance of humility.

"Music is very fast food in nature nowadays," he added, knowing full well he won't be the first or the last person to observe that.

Legacy to inspire

The Johor Baru-born singer's current muse revolves around that super smash hit.

"The success of Kau Ilhamku really highlighted music's potential to bring the various races in this country together. It would be nice to see a new generation like that," he insisted, sure in the knowledge that's what the world needs now.

He also wants to leave behind a legacy – one that transcends colour and creed. His self-titled solo debut (1995), reissued by Warner Music Malaysia earlier this year, has reignited the nostalgia factor. In 1999, he released Positif, his second solo outing.

But Man Bai is moving on to the next chapter – because of his fanbase.

"That's my inspiration. I'm doing this (Inspirasi) album for the fans, who miss my voice. I also want to leave something meaningful behind ... which is the pursuit of peace."

Kau Ilhamku can easily be ranked as one of the most memorable pop songs in Malaysian music history, and even though Man Bai didn't write it, he says there is a formula of interpreting someone else's words.

"You have to know the person," he said, making the point that the lyrics can't be something received in the mail. Kau Ilhamku was penned by songwriter Asmin Mudin (aka Umbut).

"Understand them. Only then can you understand that song. I knew what I wanted the subjects to be about."

On the new album, he chooses to sit out the songwriting duties again, focusing on his singing instead.

It took some work and several hours in the studio to get back to his best. But Man Bai knows his trade well.

He was one of the main creative sources on Gersang's three rock (and progressive flavoured) albums between 1988 and 1989 (Gersang, Takdir and B-29). While success was part of the Gersang early years (Gersang and Takdir sold more than 50,000 units each and B-29 racked up 75,000 in sales), it was Man Bai's creative adaptability which made him a survivor. That prepared him for his latter year achievements like the collaboration with Raihan (Harap Ramadhan) in 2007 and the recent self-penned, Seperti Syurgamu, a double act with local pop rock group Pop Shuvit, to prove his diversity.

"There are only two places to go once your time is up ... heaven or hell. That's what I'm trying to say," he asserted of the song's simple message, reminding us that unity is a great concept for the common good of man.

Man Bai performed that song live with Pop Shuvit at the MTV World Stage 2011 concert in i-City, Shah Alam, Selangor, last month.

The recovery years

The 1980s were as hedonistic as the era has been made out to be and Man Bai knows the territory – that spawned hits Masih Aku Terasa, Suratan Takdir and Bersama Suara Hati for the band – like the back of his hand.

"What else? The parties lah," he frankly offered when prompted to revisit the horrifying days of his tonsillitis "episode".

Right at the cusp of cementing its position as a revered rock band – following the release of Gersang's third album B-29 (1989) – Man Bai's voice began to act up and a trip to the hospital confirmed his worst fears. Following surgery, he was advised to lay off his trade for at least three years, which for most musical careers, is the death knell. But not for Man Bai.

"I suffered from my condition for six years. I couldn't pitch accurately and that rehabilitation process was difficult. I still have to be careful with the choice of song now, choosing only the ones that can suit my voice today."

The amiable singer spent his period of "inactivity" honing his sound engineering and production skills, trades which have kept him busy over the last decade. He also found the time to appear in commercials and movies such as Layar Lara, Syukur 21 and Puteri Gunung Ledang. As the old adage goes, "You can never tie a good man down."

What has he taken from his Gersang days into his solo career? What not to take was his greater concern – as he smiled at the suggestion of partying! But Man Bai singles them out this way: learn from your surroundings, learn about yourself and never forget where you came from.

"I was with RAP (Roslan Aziz Productions) from 1991 to 2000. I learned the life of an artiste and understood my Gersang days better in the process. Roslan made me think about music. I learned a lot about life and music from him," he fondly recalled his time with the revered producer.

"Then I learned about myself. I produced Kau Ilhamku, and it was Lan (Roslan) who pushed me to do it on my own" he added.

Man Bai has moved on from his rock band days, but home is where the heart is and the rocker is looking forward to a project that will see him reunited with his Gersang mates, the likes of Ajib (guitar), Man Greng (bass), Acis (keyboardist ... and yes, hubby to jazz queen Sheila Majid) and Jojet (drums).

"Back then, we were musicians rather than artistes. With the wisdom we've gained over the years, we'd like to revisit the Gersang albums by re-recording them with the aid of today's recording technology," he explained, underlining the potential improvement in sonic quality for Gersang's music in this 2012-slated project.

Looking ahead has always been a part of his psyche and the father of three spends little time resting on his laurels. "I don't think about what I've achieved. I always feel that it's never enough; I always want to do more. I just can't stand still, and ultimately, I will do what I have to do," he professed.

And although an alternative career has never been an option, Man Bai can imagine a less complicated life being a hotel manager, particularly in his beloved Johor Baru.

"That's how I started, so I guess I can picture that. Besides, a lot of the people I knew then in that industry are still there to this day."

Man Bai is only too aware that he is a senior artiste in an industry that is driven by youth culture and trends.

The fact that Sony Music has offered him a recording and management deal is a big boost. He has a two album deal with the label. Over 1,000 CDs have been sold since the album's release on June 30.

"We basically gave Man Bai the freedom to do whatever he wanted on Inspirasi. He is a rare artiste – a self-contained act, a genuine talent. He is all about the music and the fans really appreciate that. We're glad to have him on the label," said Adrian Lim, Sony Music managing director.

As for Man Bai himself, he misses his classic rock.

"The lyrics of old rock was great ... Ronnie James Dio, Ozzy Osbourne. You can talk about rebellion and anarchy all day but you must be prepared to have something to contribute."

Growing up, the avid golfer savoured singers like Freddie Fender, Tom Jones, Cliff Richard and Elton John, along with rock bands like Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Pink Floyd, Rush, The Eagles, Styx, Queen, and Foreigner.

Inspirasi is a coming together of all Man Bai has enjoyed and learned from his involvement in the music industry. While the re-recordings of nuggets like Gersang's Masih Aku Terasa and solo smash Kau Ilhamku are for fans with a taste for nostalgia, four new songs on the album should have old and new fans alike swooning over the singer's voice once more.

There's even a duet with Datuk Khatijah Ibrahim, the love-soaked Kita Cinta. With song titles like Air Mata, Masih Aku Terasa and Tentang Cinta, it's evident Man Bai is dwelling on matters of the heart.

"I guess I just want to do the best I can in this time that I am given. I want to record these songs for what they are. Music is my blood. I don't want to go in circles and be doing the same thing, and with this album, I am just looking to prioritise the value of art."

Not many may know the worth of art, but Man Bai is convinced he's put good value into Inspirasi.

> Man Bai's Inspirasi is released by Sony Music.

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Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

Jumaat, 12 Ogos 2011

The Star Online: Entertainment: Music

The Star Online: Entertainment: Music

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