#SHOWBIZ: Rocking for a cause: Keeping live music alive

FOR musicians who have spent decades entertaining audiences, stepping away from the stage is often easier said than done.

Many continue to perform well into their 70s, whether in established bands, hotel lounges or simply on the streets as buskers.

Yet despite their enduring contribution to Malaysia's music scene, recognition and opportunities have not always kept pace.

That is one of the reasons the Musicians for Malaysia (MfM) Benefit Showcase 2026 — Rocking For A Cause will honour 20 veteran musicians aged 75 and above who remain active in the industry.

Scheduled for Oct 10 at Kelab Golf Negara Subang (KGNS), the fourth edition of the showcase is intended to celebrate musicians whose careers have helped shape the country's musical landscape while raising funds for those still struggling to make a living.

MfM honorary secretary Latifah Abdullah said each of the 20 recipients would receive a plaque in recognition of their contribution to the development of the industry.

Among them is 83-year-old Richard Joseph, who continues to perform, including as a busker.

"We want to recognise them because no one has ever given them such recognition, despite their long involvement in the music industry and the fact that they continue to work to this day," Latifah says.

FOR A CAUSE

The acknowledgement is more than a ceremonial gesture.

For MfM, it is a reminder that the industry's history lives in the musicians who built their careers long before today's digital platforms, streaming services and social media transformed how music is consumed.

The showcase will also feature a special tribute to Heavy Machine member Rusli Musif, better known as Olie, who suffered a stroke. The band will perform in his honour, with his son, a saxophonist, joining the group on stage.

Another anticipated reunion will come from Freedom, with former members joining the composer of their hit debut 'Mulanya Di Sini', Royston Sta Maria returning from Perth, Australia, for this special occasion.

Together, they will perform the song, offering audiences a chance to revisit a chapter of the Malaysian music scene through the musicians who lived it.

But nostalgia is only part of the evening's purpose. MfM hopes the showcase will generate at least RM100,000 to support medical assistance for musicians, workshops for younger generations, small-scale music festivals and performance platforms throughout the year.

Latifah stresses that the association's work is particularly important because the difficulties facing musicians did not disappear when the Covid-19 pandemic ended.

"Many people think Covid-19 is over, but the reality is that many musicians are still looking for places to perform as many venues have closed," she says. "We need funds to create more platforms and performance opportunities as a lifeline for them."

MORE OPPORTUNITIES

The problem goes beyond individual musicians. MfM has around 800 members, mainly veteran musicians, night performers and buskers, with about 400 still actively gigging.

With traditional entertainment venues disappearing, even experienced performers increasingly find themselves competing for fewer opportunities.

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MfM president Francis Danker believes one solution could be sitting inside hotels across the country: their lounges.

He hopes to engage the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry, the Communications Ministry and major hospitality associations to explore ways of reopening hotel lounges as performance spaces for musicians.

His proposal is not simply about putting bands back on stage.

Danker sees an opportunity to combine live entertainment with Malaysia's cultural identity, creating fusion performances that blend Western classics with traditional Malaysian instruments.

"We can include instruments like the sape, tabla, or gambus in the performance. Who says 'Hotel California' can't be played with local instruments?" he says.

For Danker, such combinations could give hotels a distinctive cultural attraction while providing musicians with a sustainable source of income.

Tourists could hear familiar international songs reinterpreted through Malaysian instruments, turning an evening of live music into an introduction to the country's heritage.

It is a far cry from the industry's golden era, when venues such as the old Merlin Hotel and Tin Mine were bustling hubs for full six-piece bands.

Those spaces provided not only jobs but also an ecosystem in which musicians could develop, collaborate and make a living from performing.

Today, many of those classic entertainment spots have disappeared. The venues that remain often operate with much smaller budgets, making it difficult to employ full bands.

"They will only hire one or two musicians, forcing six-piece bands to split into smaller groups. This creates more supply in an industry facing diminished demand," Danker explains.

The irony is difficult to miss. Malaysia has no shortage of musicians, yet there are increasingly fewer stages on which they can perform.

The result is a generation of experienced performers being pushed into smaller groups, irregular gigs or entirely different forms of employment.

A DUAL PURPOSE

Rocking For A Cause therefore carries a dual purpose: to look back at the musicians who have kept Malaysia's live music tradition alive and to look forward to what is needed to keep that tradition from fading.

Singer Datuk Francissca Peter and Royston have agreed to perform voluntarily for the charity initiative, while participating musicians without permanent employment will receive honorariums.

The line-up also includes Electric Orgasm, Goblokes, Heavy Machine, Datuk Leonard Tan, Lighthouse with Vijay David, Os Pombos, The Polymaths and The Studio 10 Experience.

Organisers are targeting an audience of about 400 people, with tickets priced at RM105 per person or RM1,050 for a table of 10. The event begins at 4pm, with tickets available through Ticket2U.

For MfM, however, the real measure of success will extend beyond the amount raised that evening. It is about creating a system in which musicians can continue working, older performers can be recognised for their contributions and younger musicians can find stages on which to build their careers.

The message from the association is ultimately simple: live music needs somewhere to live. And if Malaysia's veterans are still ready to rock, the industry must ensure there are stages waiting for them.