Indonesian musician Erwin Prasetya has died at the age of 48.

Singer Ari Lasso, a former member of popular rock group Dewa 19, conveyed the news on Saturday with a post on Instagram: “Erwin Prasetya, the first bass player of @dew19wa died this morning. RIP, Win.”

 

 

 

 

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Berita duka. Erwin Prasetya (no 3 dari kiri, sebelah @ahmaddhaniofficial) basis pertama @de19wa meninggal dunia tadi pagi. Karya2 mu akan ABADI, Misteri Ilahi, Restu Bumi, Kirana, Kamulah Satu-Satunya, Sebelum kau terlelap • Kiranya Almarhum mendapat tempat terbaik di sisi NYA. Dan kluarga diberi kekuatan. Amin 🙏🏼 RIP Win.. 🙏🏼😢 #arilasso #erwinprast #dewa19

A post shared by Ari Lasso (@ari_lasso) on May 1, 2020 at 6:53pm PDT

He posted an old photo of the band with its original line-up, which included the remaining members Ahmad Dhani and Andra Ramadhan.

Dhani also posted an old photo of the band on Instagram, with a caption that read: "Between us all, Erwin was the most diligent when it came to praying five times. To die in the month of Ramadan is what we dream of."

 

 

 

 

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Diantara kami ( @de19wa ), Erwin yang paling Rajin Sholat 5 waktu nya Innalillahi wa Inna illaihi rojiun. InsyaaAllah husnul khotimah Meninggal di bulan Ramadhan adalah cita cita kita semua.

A post shared by Ahmad Dhani Prasetyo (@ahmaddhaniofficial) on May 1, 2020 at 8:41pm PDT

Guitarist Andra wrote on Instagram: “Goodbye bro Erwin Prasetya, your songs will always be remembered.”

 

 

 

 

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Innalillahi wa inna ilaihi raji’un, selamat jalan bro Erwin Prasetya, karya2 mu akan selalu dikenang, Husnul khotimah...Aamiiin 🙏🏻🙏🏻😞

A post shared by Andra Ramadhan 🎸📷 (@andra_photo) on May 1, 2020 at 7:08pm PDT

Read also: Ahmad Dhani to tour with Dewa 19 after release from jail

Born in Surabaya, Erwin was mostly known as a member of Dewa 19 during its heyday in the 1990s.

He learned to play the guitar as a teenager, with first influences from fusion acts such as Chick Corea, Casiopea and John Patitucci. With his fellow students in junior high school in East Java's Surabaya, which included Dhani, Andra and Wawan Juniarso, Erwin founded fusion music band Down Beat.

In 1992, the band changed its name to Dewa and released its first album the same year. The band released its most popular and acclaimed albums in the mid-1990s, such as Terbaik Terbaik (1995) and Pandawa Lima (1997).

Some of Dewa 19’s most popular songs, “Restoe Boemi” and “Kirana”, were written by Erwin and showed his wide range of skills. He temporarily left the band in 1998 to take a break and they finally parted ways in 2002.

He went on to become an additional player for TIC Band and Nukla, along with acting as producer for the band EVO in 2006.

The cause of Erwin’s death has yet to be confirmed. (wng)