Chope: Nine Lives

It's silly to lament the pace at which things change today, but at the same time, it's hard not to wonder why things don't last as long as they used to. Pop stars and disposable celebrities are churned out on glorified TV talent time contests faster than making 3-in-1 coffee. A career, it seems, is something you have before you retire at the age of 30.

Around us, multi-million ringgit buildings have gone from pride and joy to crumbling structures in less than a few years. Which is sad, considering most of our architectural landmarks usually take decades of neglect before they become an embarrassment. Perhaps fewer things are permanent these days, and we no longer aspire for the kind of longevity so prized before.

Imagine if you will a band, with the kind of staying power that the Alleycats boasted of, being formed today. Considering the Penang-originated band first started performing together in 1969, that would mean its modern equivalent would have to be playing music from now until 2040. It's hard enough believing that human beings wouldn't have farmed out making music to computers by then, let alone expecting anyone to remain dedicated to their craft for such a long period.

The passing of Alleycats founder Loganathan Arumugam brought to light how the band might be the last of its kind. It's hard to imagine the likes of the Alleycats, or P Ramlee and Sudirman today. It's probably impossible to have the kind of long career in music anymore, not to mention a fanbase that cuts across not only ethnic lines, but national ones too.

The band has released about 29 albums in its career. In comparison, Butterfingers only put out six. Not only that, but Alleycats also continued to actively perform in venues in and out of the country. Sure, the band no longer has the popularity and relevance it boasted in its heyday. One might even say that The Alleycats went from pop stars to being just another bar band doing covers.

But even though the band was no longer on most people's minds, they seemed to remain within the hearts of many. The amount of attention paid to Loga's passing made that clear enough. It also shone the spotlight once again on a band that seemed to know no other future besides one involving music. Whether it was performing to a stadium crowd or just a few devoted fans, Loga and his brother David seemed to go at it with equal devotion. If it was about fame and glory, the band would have called it quits more than a decade ago.

But while it's easy—and frankly, rather annoying—to reminisce about the golden past, it's unfair to ignore the dedication of many of our generation's artists. Whether they can sustain themselves as long as the Alleycats did remains to be seen, but there's reason to be hopeful. For the many Juliet The Oranges and Intoxicateds, there is an OAG or a Seven Collar T-Shirt, which just commemorated its first decade in existence. While many of their early contemporaries have called it a day, there are also quite a few who continue to persevere in a society that rarely rewards such endeavours.

Equally devoted people can be found in various other fields as well. From Jungle Jerry to Mark Teh, Melinda Looi to Amir Muhammad, these are the names of a few who have continued to keep at their craft through thick and thin. There are many others like them, of course, but it's surprising how rare it is for people to desire a career that lasts longer than the Rotiboy fad.

As soon as the week after Loga's passing, the Alleycats began performing again. Though the once-forgotten band has suddenly found itself in the spotlight again, it didn't seem too eager to capitalise on the attention or the tributes. "I don’t think he would have wanted us to have a tribute," David was reported as saying about Loga. "He would just want us to carry on singing. He didn’t like the fame. For him, it was all for the love of music." It has to be. If it had been anything else, the band would have called it quits ages ago. Instead, the Alleycats flag is still flying today, almost forty years later.

Brian Yap wonders if KLue will still be around to celebrate its 40th year. What do you think? E-mail him at brian@freeform.com.my