Its name is rock’n’roll: The members of Acid Speed (from left) Herri, Holdun, Boy, Ading, Agus and Anto. JP/Ricky Yudhistira
To see them live you would never guess how shy the members of Acid Speed really are.
The lead singer, affectionately known only as “Boy”, is a spectacle in himself, swaggering around cocksure as the Jagger of yesteryear and making it his duty to energize the crowd, while the rest of the group rocks in lockstep, turning on a dime as only a group together nearly three decades can.
But away from the crowd, on a lazy evening before a rehearsal session, the band is the very picture of lethargy.
You might remember Acid Speed from their heyday as Indonesia’s most in-demand Rolling Stones cover band of the 1980s. They first formed in 1982 when guitarist Holdun, bassist Agus and drummer Ading got together over – what else? – a love of The Rolling Stones. Jakarta was a different place back then, smaller and less diverse, and this was reflected in the music scene.
Today’s indie set were still in nappies and demand for the classics ruled clubs and airwaves alike. Acid Speed thrived in these conditions and soon played to venues packed with audiences 20,000-thick in cities across Java, Bali and even Sulawesi.
“We used to play a Rolling Stones cover band night and we would always close the night because we were the best,” Holdun recalls.
Their first venture into originals — Julia in 1988 — did not go down as well.
“We tried playing the songs off Julia in our live set, but it wasn’t taken very well,” Holdun said, adding, “It’s hard to make the transition from covers to originals.”
No one was keeping close track but the band estimates that Julia, released through Harper Records, sold a modest 40,000 copies.
A second attempt was made with 2005’s Bebeas. The group was not satisfied with the results and the material was shelved.
“People just loved hearing The Rolling Stones songs, that is what they were used to hearing us do and that is what they expected from us,” Ading said.
An indefinite hiatus was soon called, after several line-up changes, culminating with original lead singer Rico quitting, “to get a ‘real’ job”, among the general fatigue.
But right now, it seems the classics are in higher demand than ever. Earlier this week Robert Plant, who will always be best known as Led Zeppelin’s front man, took home this year’s Grammy for album of the year for Raising Sand, a collaboration with 26-time Grammy-winning artist Alison Krauss. 2007 saw the one-time-only reunion of the remaining members of Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd – both the subject of constant rumors that tours will follow. In 2008 the Police did their first world tour in 23 years (The Stones, of course, haven’t rolled anywhere).
With the release of their new album, Namanya Juga Rock’n’Roll – “hopefully next month” – Acid Speed is paddling out once again on their established name to ride this retro wave. The current line-up is rounded out by Herri on guitar and Anto on keys.
“Holdun has a big following from the 80s. People come to the gig just to harass him,” band manager Natalie explains. “He’s the Indonesian Keith Richards,” jokes Boy.
The new album contains five English tracks and three in Indonesian and is, naturally, heavily influenced by the rhythm and blues flavor of the Rolling Stones, but also contains reggae and hard rock sounds.
Boy: JP/Ricky Yudhistira
“We played modern blues, modern love songs. Our guitar sounds and arrangements are new,” Boy said, adding, “We feel very good and have a lot of self confidence about the new album.”
This time around, Acid Speed’s originals are getting a better response. You may have heard the single “Cold, Cold Night” on TRX FM or Automotion FM lately. The band say that not only are the new songs welcomed at gigs, but are actively requested. In an innovative move uncommon for bands in Indonesia, Namanya Juga Rock’n’Roll will be released as a double CD/DVD, featuring the band’s new video and other goodies.
“We found it difficult with Julia but now we’re really making the transition from covers to originals,” Holdun says – the third time, as they say, is a charm.
But it is the live show that has sustained Acid Speed through the ups and downs.
“When I see the reaction of the audience I love it,” Holdun says. “We play from our hearts to the audience and it is their reaction that keeps us going.”
The Boy has taken imitating his idol to the point of ecstatic candor. “When I sing on stage I tell myself it will be my last show, so I have to make it the best one so that everyone will remember it,” he says, adding with great gusto, “I will sing to the death!”
You can check Acid Speed out at either of their two distinct haunts, Eastern Promise (tonight) or one of their more raucous, locals-only engagements in the underbelly of Blok M. “Just don’t tell Mick Jagger,” Holdun jokes. “We’re not paying for the songs.”
acid speed
A dose of LSD typically causes adrenergic effects such as sweating, nervousness, jaw grinding and insomnia in the early stages, which are easily confused with the side effects of amphetamines. Who ever thought this could be so much fun on a Saturday night in Kemang?
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