Ahmad Band

Ahmad Band is an Indonesian one-off supergroup rock band formed by Ahmad Dhani in 1998.[1][2] Initially was meant to be Ahmad Dhani's solo album project, he formed the band since he would not like to be known as a solo singer.[3] The band released one album, Ideologi Sikap Otak, in 1998[4] and are best remembered for the hit songs "Distorsi" and "Aku Cinta Kau dan Dia". Inactive since 1999, the band reunited in 2021 with Ahmad Dhani and Andra Ramadhan as the original members (also the remaining original members of Dewa 19), among with others.

Ahmad Band
OriginJakarta, Indonesia
GenresRock, Pop Rock, Grunge, Alternative Rock
Years active1998-1999, 2022-Present (Reunion Concerts)
LabelsAquarius Musikindo
Members
  • Ahmad Dhani
  • Andra Ramadhan
  • Stephan Santoso
  • Thomas Ramdhan
  • Yoyo Prasetyo
  • Ikmal Tobing
Past members
  • Pay Burman
  • Bongky Marcel
  • Bimo Sulaksono
  • Jaya Roxx
  • Tony Monot
  • Tyo Nugros

The formation in 2021 includes Ahmad Dhani (from Dewa 19) and Andra Ramadhan (from Dewa 19) as the original members, as well as Thomas Ramdhan (from Gigi), Yoyo Prasetyo (from Padi and Musikima), Stephan Santoso (from Musikimia), and Ikmal Tobing (from T.R.I.A.D., and Mahadewa) as the new members.[5] Past members in 1998-1999 era include Pay Burman (from BIP, ex-Slank), Bongky Marcel (The Flowers, ex Slank) and Bimo Sulaksono (ex-Netral, ex-Dewa 19).

History

1998: Band Formation

Having achieved mainstream success in 1998, Ahmad Dhani feels that Dewa 19's songs are only about love and relationships. Following Indonesian Revolution in the same year, Dhani needed to express himself in the field of general life and politics, which he has been interested in for a long time.[6] In an interview Dhani said "I really wanted to make social criticism songs with good music. Previously, social criticism songs did not have sophisticated music".[7] Did not want to be known as a solo singer, then Dhani recruited Andra Ramadhan (his guitarist in Dewa 19), and Bongky Marcel, Pay Burman (who just left Slank) which he met earlier in a studio. Bimo (the drummer of Netral at that time) was recruited also, since Dhani like this drumming style.

1998 - 1999: Ideologi Sikap Otak

Differs from his songwriting style in Dewa 19 where he use keyboard as his main instrument, Dhani use composed the songs in guitar, resulting in different chord progressions.[6] Ahmad Band then released Ideologi Sikap Otak, their only album to date, which known for songs such as "Distorsi" and "Aku Cinta Kau dan Dia". The album is currently deleted in physical format. Compared to some of Dewa's million selling album releases, the Ahmad Band project was only moderately successful.

1999 - 2021: Inactive and Other Projects

The band remains inactive since 1999, where Dhani and Andra found even biggger success in Dewa 19's new formation (notably with Once as their new vocalist, and Tyo Nugros recruited into Dewa 19) through the album releases of "Bintang Lima" in 2000, "Cintailah Cinta" in 2002, "Laskar Cinta" in 2004, and "Republik Cinta" in 2006. Andra also found success in his solo project "Andra and the Backbone" with Stevie Item (also known as the member of Deadsquad). Even during the hiatus of Dewa 19, Dhani also formed other groups such as "T.R.I.A.D", "Mahadewa", "The Rock", and become one of the judge for Indonesian Idol and X Factor Indonesia, leaving Ahmad Band out of the equation.

2021 - Present : Reunion

Dhani announced the reunion of Ahmad Band through an Instagram post he made in January 2021. However Dhani used quotation marks in the "reunion", since it will be only Dhani and Andra as the original members will be present in the reunion. Other members present in the reunion are known musicians such as Thomas Ramdhan (from Gigi), Yoyo Prasetyo (from Padi and Musikima), Stephan Santoso (from Musikimia), and Ikmal Tobing (from T.R.I.A.D., and Mahadewa).[5]

Discography
  • Ideologi Sikap Otak (1998)

Band Members

Current Members

  • Ahmad Dhani - lead vocals, keyboard (1998-1999, 2021-present)
  • Andra Ramadhan - lead guitars (1998-1999, 2021-present)
  • Thomas Ramdhan - bass (2021-present)
  • Stephan Santoso - guitars (2021-present)
  • Yoyo Prasetyo - drums (2021-present)
  • Ikmal Tobing - drums (2022-present)

Past Members

  • Pay Burman – guitar (1998)
  • Bongky Marcel – bass (1998)
  • Bimo Sulaksono – drum (1998–1999)
  • Jaya Roxx – guitar (1998–1999)
  • Tony Monot – bass (1999)
  • Tyo Nugros – drum (1999)

Notes
  1. Indonesian rock star aims to fight militant Islam, National Catholic Reporter, October 13, 2006. Retrieved 01-30-2009.
  2. R Anderson Sutton (spring 2004). "'Reform Arts'? Performance Live and Mediated in Post-Soeharto Indonesia", Ethnomusicology 48 (2): 203–228.
  3. Saraswati, Dyah Paramita. "Ahmad Dhani Buka Kisah di Balik Ahmad Band". detikhot (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2023-01-16.
  4. (September 26, 1998). "Dhani back with new Ahmad Band album", The Jakarta Post.
  5. "Ahmad Band Kembali dengan Personel Baru, Ada Yoyo 'Padi' di Drum - Semua Halaman - bangka.sonora.id". bangka.sonora.id (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2023-01-16.
  6. "#SideStory: Sejarah Ahmad Band, Bikin Musik Supaya Orang Tajir Bisa Moshing - Semua Halaman - Hai". hai.grid.id (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2023-01-16.
  7. Sarana, PT Balarusa Mitra (2021-01-26). "Catatan Kecil dari 'Reuni' Ahmad Band". POP HARI INI. Retrieved 2023-01-16.


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