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Malaysian drummer Raja Azreen Raja Talib reportedly passed away, at age 56, mid-performance while onstage last month.
Azreen and his rock band Meditasi (Meditation in English) were playing the second track of their 10-song set during the Teruntum Rock Festival in Kuantan, Pahang on July 18 when he suddenly collapsed.
'I rushed towards [Raja], but I could feel that [he] was gone,' Meditasi frontman Bakaruddin 'Burn' Daud told Berita Harian Online, translated into English.
'I called and patted [him], but there was no response. His body was also cold. The fans were quite alarmed when they saw what was happening.
'We carried [him] backstage and within a few minutes the ambulance arrived. Alhamdulillah, everything was made easier.'
Azreen was rushed to the Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital where he was 'given respiratory assistance, but he did not regain consciousness or respond after the collapse.'
Malaysian drummer Raja Azreen Raja Talib reportedly passed away, at age 56, mid-performance while onstage last month
His big brother Raja Azman Raja Taib also told the outlet he had been hospitalized as recently as June due to heart issues.
'He was hospitalized twice; the first stay lasted two to three weeks before he was admitted again,' Taib said.
'It is possible that extreme fatigue took a toll.'
The 62-year-old singer was in shock as Azreen did not appear sick before the music festival.
'The only thing I noticed was that his body was very thin,' Burn recalled.
'After being diagnosed with diabetes last month, [he] was very careful about his diet and avoided sugar.'
The veteran musician evidently joined the rock band – which pulls 46,567 monthly listeners on Spotify - back in 1986, and he ominously instructed them to wear all-black for the concert.
'[Raja] said that no matter what happened, the performance must continue,' Burn recalled.
'At that time, he said that because one of the members of Meditasi, our guitarist Rosli Ahmad, was also not feeling well. So he said that no matter what happened, "the show must go on."'
Azreen and his rock band Meditasi (Meditation in English) were playing the second track of their 10-song set during the Teruntum Rock Festival in Kuantan, Pahang on July 18 when he suddenly collapsed
'I rushed towards [Raja], but I could feel that [he] was gone,' Meditasi frontman Bakaruddin 'Burn' Daud (pictured February 1) told Berita Harian Online. 'I called and patted [him], but there was no response. His body was also cold. The fans were quite alarmed when they saw what was happening'
Azreen was rushed to the Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital where he was 'given respiratory assistance, but he did not regain consciousness or respond after the collapse' (pictured in 2024)
Burn noted that Azreen 'was very happy to be able to see his friends' during the three days of rehearsal leading up to the show.
'We have not yet discussed [the future], but we will continue the group's struggle. Because as [he] said, the show must go on,' Burn said.
'We are no longer chasing money, we just want to find friends and fill our free time.'
English (US) ·