Ramli in KL mega-gig

After a lifetime of music, you would expect a veteran rocker to play it cool about his next gig.
Not Ramli Sarip. Not this gig.

After nearly three decades of bringing the house down from Singapore to Malaysia, he is all shiny-eyed -about his big break.

He will be finally rocking with HIS heroes.

There are musicians even Ramli looks up to?

Yes, and you can catch them in action at the RentakAsia concert in Kuala Lumpur this month.

Ramli and his All-Star Band will be the opening act for G3 (made up of guitar legends Joe Satriani, Steve Val and Eric Johnson) and folk-rock legend Jethro Tull.

The band supporting him includes heavyweights like Man Keedal, Jerry Felix, Steve Thornton, Jay Jay, Tom and Belle.

Ramli, 48, will also be jamming with G3 and the other international musicians.

"Ian Anderson (from Jethro Tull) is my second most favourite musician after Carlos Santana," said Ramli in an interview with The New Paper on Sunday.

"I have waited for over 20 years for this," he said with a gleam in his eyes.

"These musicians are lots of peoples' idols and heroes. They were legends when we were growing up," he said.

And, to him, they still are.

So they are to other local musicians as well.

Guitarist Zul, from one of Singapore's oldest-surviving bands, Tania, said: "Remember, the musicians appearing here are not your ordinary Madonna or blues guitarists."

Agreed Ramli: "This is going to be an exciting event, for both local musicians and audiences to come together, listen, watch and play together in such a fantastic festival setting."

Singaporean musician Art Fazil ways not surprised that Ramli was chosen to open for the festival.

Said Art: "Ramli's music has lately been a fusion of ethnic music and rock. Besides, his stage presence is very strong. He is still seen as a Malay artiste first.

"His name rings from Geylang right up to Sungai Petani in the north of Malaysia.

"Even the orang asli (Malaysian aborigines) turn out in large numbers to see him play."

No matter his fame, the longhaired, goateed Ramli is still in touch with his musical and cultural roots.

"Rock and blues are still in my flesh and blood and I am proud of my heritage," he said.

RentakAsia could be a fitting stage for such ethnic pride.

For, as guitarist Zul said, a lot of people will be watching.

"Yes, the multimedia industry people will also be there to watch and hear the talent," said Zul.

"Who knows, one day someone from THX Sound would want to use Ramli's ethnic music for his CD Rom."

Ramli is all game for this.

"I am willing to explore new grounds in music. I like freedom. No boundaries. I want to share my musical heritage, the style of Nusantara (music of the Malay archipelago) with the western artistes," he said.

Tossing back his long hair, he said: "Music is soul. One universal spirit."