Ahmad Albar

Syech Albar c. 1939, father of Ahmad Albar

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]

In 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]

The 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]

In 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]