Getah band

The History of A Rebirth
GETAH was formed in 1996, in Jakarta, Indonesia, over the ashes of Commotion Resources and Java Burn. Getah is one of the pioneers in the Indonesian crossover metal/goth/alternative rock scene. The early incarnation of Getah was heavily influenced by the likes of Jane's Addiction, Testament, Jimi Hendrix, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Motley Crue.

After several line-up changes and few demos, the band managed to score a major label records deal with Warner Music Indonesia. The self-titled debut album was recorded in Jakarta and mixed + mastered in San Francisco, USA. It was released in 1997 with lack of proper promotional efforts from the label.

The band, with Jodie Gondokusumo on vocals, Marcel Marcive on bass and backing vocals, Beoy Feisal on guitars and Tyo Nugros (replacing Reeve who left for USA right before the album was released) did several shows and had their first music video aired for the song "Api".

As the first Indonesian band who supported the Goth-Industrial look, Getah became famous in the underground circuit thanks to its on stage antics and fashion statement. The band's wild life style also became increasingly notorious among fellow musicians and fans.

Drugs abuse that spiraled out of control halted the band's progression and left the fans guessing on the band's ability to survive without killing each other. While still managed to write more materials and did some gigs here there, Getah was slowly entering the limbo.

Then came their first tragedy, Beoy Feisal, their eccentric and brilliant guitarist passed away in late 1998 while visiting a Halloween party in the city of Jogjakarta by himself. His death shocked the band and their friends. The band's additional keyboards player, Peter St. John, was bestowed the honor to fill in as Getah's lead guitarist. Shortly thereafter, Tyo Nugros, the drummer, left to join a famous pop-rock outfit Dewa 19.

With several additional drummers taking turns in handling the duty, Getah managed to record and release a 2-song EP "Green Wine" & "Missing" on cassette in 2001. Limitedly printed and circulated, the EP became a must-have for music collectors in Indonesia. Also in the same year, the song "Closing Chapter" was chosen as a soundtrack for the movie "Gerbang 13". During this period, Adra Dala, a dedicated jazz keyboardist, was abducted and forced to swear allegiance to Getah.

As if serving as a premonition, the song "Closing Chapter" became the last song Jodie Gondokusumo, ever released with Getah. He passed away in 2002 after a long drawn-out battle with his health problems. The band was never more devastated. All friends and many fans attended Jodie's funeral to pay a tribute to him. The rest of the band took a break to mourn and reflect.

With nobody to front the band, Marcel Marcive played double duty as the bassist and the new singer. A new permanent drummer, Agung Cakra Menggala, joined Getah and brought his own unique blues-influenced style to the band. Getah did several shows in Jogja, Bogor and Jakarta. The boys cleaned up their act. Drugs were abandoned for good.

In late 2005, a long time friend of the band, Oddie Octaviadi (frontman and singer of an Industrial metal band, Sic Mynded), went home to Indonesia after spending half of his life in the US. When a local promoter proposed Oddie to do a show in Indonesia with Sic Mynded, he instead offered the gig to Getah.

After a laughters-filled drinking session one night, it was decided mutually that Oddie will front Getah for that one show. The gig fell through but, the bond between Getah and their new singer was created strongly. It was the beginning of Getah's resurrection. The rebirth. The enlightenment through tragedies.

After doing several warm-up shows, the buzz started. Getah reborn. The Indonesian version of the Rolling Stone magazine was first to bring up the story. A three quarter-page length article tells a story of Getah to the old and new generations of Indonesian music lovers.

The band scrambled to restructure their management and musicianship as a gig after another came to their laps. Oddie, Marcel, Peter, & Agung started to write new materials, re-write old materials, record them and rehearse regularly at Peter's SoundX studio in Pondok Indah, Jakarta.

The new album is entitled "Release is Peace" was released in June 2008. It was 10 years in the making and it contains 11 songs that chronicle Getah's movement. "Release is Peace" pays tribute to Getah's friends/fans old and new. It is both an obituary of those who have passed away as well as a joyous celebration of those who are still living. The fans are awaiting in anticipation. They will not be disappointed. They will be hammered by its sheer bright heaviness and sweet slow darkness at the same time.

Discography:
- "Getah" (album, cassette, Warner Music Indonesia, 1996)
- "Green Wine / Missing" (single, cassette, self-released, 2001)
- OST "Gerbang 13" (cassette, 2005)
- OST "In The Name of Love" (cd, Task / Aquarius Musikindo, March 2008)
- "Release is Peace" (album, cd, Off The Records, June 2008)

GETAH "Release is Peace" album (box set edition) is available at:

* Aquarius Music (Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya)
* Aksara (Citos, Kemang, Plaza Indonesia - Jakarta)
* Musiklub (Pondok Indah Mal 2 - Jakarta)
* Disc Tarra
* Twins Music (Blok M Mal, Jakarta)
* Ish Kabible (Plaza Semanggi - Jakarta)
* and other stores.
* It is also now available through an online store ReMix online Distribution.

The Getah revolution starts now.

Booking:
HATEG Inc. +62811182392
GetahArmy@gmail.com

Extended Propaganda:
www.myspace.com/getahlengket
http://www.friendster.com/getah
http://getahlengket.multiply.com