Koes Plus
Encyclopedia
Koes Plus is an Indonesia
n musical group that enjoyed success in the 1970s. Known as one of Indonesia's classic musical acts, the band peaked in popularity in the days far before the advent of private television companies, delivering stripped-down pop and rock songs at the then-only TV station, TVRI
.
In 2007, Rolling Stone Indonesia
magazine placed 6 of the band's studio albums on their "150 Greatest Indonesian Albums of All Time" list. Those are Dheg Dheg Plas (1969) at #4, To The So Called The Guilties (1967) at #6, Koes Bersaudara (1964) at #14, Koes Plus Volume 2 (1970) at #21, Koes Plus Volume 4 (1971) at #30 and Koes Plus Volume 5 (1971) at #38.
In addition, Rolling Stone also put 10 of the band's songs on the "150 Greatest Indonesian Songs of All Time" list. The songs are "Bis Sekolah" (1964) at #4, "Kembali Ke Jakarta" (1969) at #6, "Nusantara I" (1971) at #19, "Kolam Susu" (1973) at #31, "Bunga Di Tepi Jalan" (1971) at #80, "Kelelawar" (1969) at #83, "Manis dan Sayang" (1969) at #88, "Pelangi" (1972) at #92, "Jemu" (1975) at #100 and "Di Dalam Bui" (1967) at #126.
, the band started out as Koes Bersaudara (Koes Brothers), consisting entirely of the Koeswoyo siblings. Its antics of pioneering Beatles
-influenced rock 'n' roll subculture in Indonesia was proven to be controversial, as the brothers were subsequently arrested by the Highest Operation Commando (KOTI) in 1965, as such subcultures had been banned by President Sukarno
in the early 1960s. They were eventually released just the day preceding the nation's coup d'état, on September 29. This experience resulted in their song Di Dalam Bui.
Koes Plus' early days were rugged, as record companies insisted on rejecting them. Murray became frustrated at some point and temporarily quit the band, distributing their records freely as well as joining several other acts. Not until their songs were played on the state radio network
did they gain considerable fame.
pertaining to their works- they were paid only by the time they produced an album. Consequently, the band never enjoyed any form of royalties
whenever their works are being reproduced. In recent years, the band members have apparently been having financial problems despite the fact that their musical legacy has obviously left its mark on the local music scene. The band still performs live, the enthusiastic spirit of these legendary songwriters and musicians belying their age. Oldies but goldies such as CintaMu Telah Berlalu, Mobil Tua, Angin Laut, Diana, Maria, and Kapan-Kapan have lost nothing of their freshness and appeal; the audience, currently consisting of three generations of Koes Plus fans, tends to know all the lyrics by heart. Their only English song, Why Do You Love Me? was a number one hit in Australia.
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
n musical group that enjoyed success in the 1970s. Known as one of Indonesia's classic musical acts, the band peaked in popularity in the days far before the advent of private television companies, delivering stripped-down pop and rock songs at the then-only TV station, TVRI
TVRI
Televisi Republik Indonesia Televisi Republik Indonesia (TVRI) Televisi Republik Indonesia (TVRI) (formerly known as Televisi Indonesia (Indonesian Television in English) and Radio Indonesia (Indonesian Radio in English) is a state-owned television station, the oldest television station in...
.
In 2007, Rolling Stone Indonesia
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
magazine placed 6 of the band's studio albums on their "150 Greatest Indonesian Albums of All Time" list. Those are Dheg Dheg Plas (1969) at #4, To The So Called The Guilties (1967) at #6, Koes Bersaudara (1964) at #14, Koes Plus Volume 2 (1970) at #21, Koes Plus Volume 4 (1971) at #30 and Koes Plus Volume 5 (1971) at #38.
In addition, Rolling Stone also put 10 of the band's songs on the "150 Greatest Indonesian Songs of All Time" list. The songs are "Bis Sekolah" (1964) at #4, "Kembali Ke Jakarta" (1969) at #6, "Nusantara I" (1971) at #19, "Kolam Susu" (1973) at #31, "Bunga Di Tepi Jalan" (1971) at #80, "Kelelawar" (1969) at #83, "Manis dan Sayang" (1969) at #88, "Pelangi" (1972) at #92, "Jemu" (1975) at #100 and "Di Dalam Bui" (1967) at #126.
Early days and controversy
Hailing from the Bojonegoro-Tuban area in East JavaEast Java
East Java is a province of Indonesia. It is located on the eastern part of the island of Java and includes neighboring Madura and islands to its east and to its north East Java is a province of Indonesia. It is located on the eastern part of the island of Java and includes neighboring Madura and...
, the band started out as Koes Bersaudara (Koes Brothers), consisting entirely of the Koeswoyo siblings. Its antics of pioneering Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
-influenced rock 'n' roll subculture in Indonesia was proven to be controversial, as the brothers were subsequently arrested by the Highest Operation Commando (KOTI) in 1965, as such subcultures had been banned by President Sukarno
Sukarno
Sukarno, born Kusno Sosrodihardjo was the first President of Indonesia.Sukarno was the leader of his country's struggle for independence from the Netherlands and was Indonesia's first President from 1945 to 1967...
in the early 1960s. They were eventually released just the day preceding the nation's coup d'état, on September 29. This experience resulted in their song Di Dalam Bui.
Koes Plus
When drummer Nomo quit in 1969, Murry was then invited to fill the niche, but the decision caused an internal uproar as the band was initially projected as a family act. The feud was then resolved by rebaptizing the band as Koes Plus. It consisted of the Koeswoyos plus an outsider; hence the name.Koes Plus' early days were rugged, as record companies insisted on rejecting them. Murray became frustrated at some point and temporarily quit the band, distributing their records freely as well as joining several other acts. Not until their songs were played on the state radio network
Radio Republik Indonesia
Radio Republik Indonesia is the state radio network of Indonesia. The organization is a public broadcasting service. It is a national radio station that broadcasts all over Indonesia and abroad to serve all Indonesian citizens throughout the nation and overseas. RRI also provides information about...
did they gain considerable fame.
Present years
Koes Plus never owned any legal rightsIntellectual property
Intellectual property is a term referring to a number of distinct types of creations of the mind for which a set of exclusive rights are recognized—and the corresponding fields of law...
pertaining to their works- they were paid only by the time they produced an album. Consequently, the band never enjoyed any form of royalties
Royalties
Royalties are usage-based payments made by one party to another for the right to ongoing use of an asset, sometimes an intellectual property...
whenever their works are being reproduced. In recent years, the band members have apparently been having financial problems despite the fact that their musical legacy has obviously left its mark on the local music scene. The band still performs live, the enthusiastic spirit of these legendary songwriters and musicians belying their age. Oldies but goldies such as CintaMu Telah Berlalu, Mobil Tua, Angin Laut, Diana, Maria, and Kapan-Kapan have lost nothing of their freshness and appeal; the audience, currently consisting of three generations of Koes Plus fans, tends to know all the lyrics by heart. Their only English song, Why Do You Love Me? was a number one hit in Australia.