Massada (band)
Encyclopedia
Massada is a Dutch-Moluccan band named after the Jewish town long besieged by the Romans
. The members combine their Moluccan heritage with Latin-percussion rhythms. The line-up has changed through the years with lead singer Johny Manuhutu being the sole constant member.
, Java
in 1949 as the son of a local-based Moluccan soldier. It was the same year that Indonesia gained independency from Dutch colonialism while the Moluccans were denied a republic of their own. Trying to solve a difficult situation, the Dutch government brought the Moluccan soldiers and their families over to the Netherlands while trouble lasted; they ended up staying there.
Johnny arrived early 1951 in a converted deportation camp in Huizen
, halfway Amsterdam
and Hilversum
. "Not the type of place you'd wish on your dog but we lived there for 20 years" he told Aloha magazine in 2004. "I think we had a more carefree youth than most Dutch kids ever had".
Growing up with his brothers Eppy and Jopie, Johnny was exposed to a musical diet of Nat King Cole
, Perry Como
, soul and Santana
. In 1963 he formed a band with other boys from the camp including bass-player Usje Sabander. The Eagles mainly performed at Moluccan weddings and discos. With the arrival of New Guinea
-born guitarist Chris Latul, Johnny switched to vocals and percussion.
The hard-gigging Massada (five to six times a week) invested their earnings in a PA-system, recruited Jopie as one of the roadcrew-members and took a manager. Johnny refers to Joke Zonneveld as "a B" due to her no nonsense-attitude. "She could be tough but she's been good to us".
. Massada, augmented by additional percussionist Nippy Noya, grabbed the most attention and were offered a record contract; they turned it down because "We're not ready yet". Noya, an in-demand musician, left in 1976 but remained available for guest-appearances.
Massada's rise to the top coincided with rebellious actions by Moluccans who were disappointed that things weren't happening after more than 25 years; hijacking trains, taking school children hostage. Pro-RMS though they were, Massada disapproved said actions but inevitably paid the price by seeing several gigs cancelled in case hell would break loose. But in other places they were given the opportunity to explain what was going on, even though the subject would haunt them for years to come.
and drew comparisons to Santana
; however, critics regretted the "wafer-thin production". The band themselves dismissed the Latin rock-tag in favour of the more melodic percussion rock.
Astaganaga spawned the top 40 hits Latin Dance and Dansa (Don't Quit Dancing) and was certified gold. By now, Massada were pop-mag fixtures and on 28 December 1978 they appeared at the Hitkrant Awards to collect a trophy and to liven up the after-party
In May 1979 Massada released their second album. Pukul Tifa had a stronger Moluccan flavour (RMS-themed lyrics included) and a less commercial appeal. On the sleeve-cover the band posed as Native Americans
, a recurring subject in their heyday photo-sessions. Three singles were lifted; the Latul-written instrumental Arumbai, Unknown Destination and Feeling Lonely (the one vocal track).
Highlight of the year was a performance at the Pinkpop Festival
with a horn section and backing singers added to the mix. Backstage the boys found himself playing football with Mick Jagger
who was flown in to make a guest-appearance during Peter Tosh
' set but only to withdraw himself at the last minute due to broken promises. Massada themselves nearly did likewise because there was not enough space left on the revolving stage where headliner Rush
had stored their instruments. "There we were bickering with the organisation and Rush's management to move their gear to the back ... but we managed to talk it out".
The same could not be said of Latul, Sabander and Eschauzier who were evicted from the band. Confronted with this touchy subject Johnny told Aloha: "(It) wasn't a case of 'let's-kick-out-the-unwanted-players-and-move-on'. It really struck me, also because I'm viewed on as the bad guy. Every band has its weakest links; (verbally) lesser gifted musicians who bond together to get things done. And rather than single out the main offender we decided to drop them all". Replacements were found in Rudy de Queljoe (guitar; formerly of Brainbox), Turu Leerdam (bass: formerly of stable-mates Vitesse), Walter Sell (keys) and hornmen Peter Kuyt (trumpet) and Jan Stam (sax).
The success of Sajang E spread out to other countries, ensuring some European dates. There was also talk of a three-month Indonesian tour, but "it was cancelled; those dodgy bank-insurances appeared to be worthless and we could kiss the whole thing goodbye, an absolute disaster".
-comparisons were gone, but so did the fans who couldn't feel the funky Latin vibes, and even within the band there were confused faces. Mustamu (whose conga-playing was relegated to a supporting role), Kuyt, Stam and Sell left early 1982; former three went on form Sambita
The 'Baru'-tour continued with Martino Latupeirissa (percussion) and Lino Emerencia (keys).
The record company wanted to release Tomorrow Has Its Own Sorrow (sung by guest vocalist Lisa Boray) but this was quickly withdrawn as a non-Johnny-led Massada would cause further alienation.
In 1983 Massada recorded Surat Kaleng as the theme song for television series Briefgeheim (starring a 16-year-old Leontine Borsato) and it wasn't till late 1985 that their next release emerged; a cover-version of Loggins & Messina's hit Vahevala. Its failure to reach the top 40 indicated that things had moved on.
By now live-performances took a backseat to family life and side-projects. Latupeirissa left in 1988 and recorded a solo-single (Love Wave). New contract offers were turned down because there was no new material in the pipeline. A 1990 comeback-single was considered but didn't happen; thus it looked like Massada was finally laid to rest.
In 1991 a barely recognisable Mustamu was interviewed about his personal growth; following a spell as a social worker he'd become a Pentecost Church
minister.
The new semi-professional Massada played their first gig in 1997 at The Hague's Pasar Malam Besar
(a major event celebrating Indonesian culture); two years later they made several television-appearances including RTL 4
's live-music programme De Vrienden van Amstel. The band played their own songs as well as backing former Frizzle Sizzle
-vocalist Laura Vlasblom.
In 2000 the Manuhutu brothers and Jeremias recruited James Sabander (bass), Chanelsy Moniharipon (percussion) and Steven van Gestel (drums). Lino Emerencia temporarily returned.
This line-up appeared in 2001 at a Moluccans' benefit following the islands' internal conflict (which prompted Johnny to cancel his first-ever homeland trip). Moniharipon left in 2003 due to other commitments.
On 27 June 2004 Massada (featuring Jan Peter Strater on drums) celebrated their netto 25th anniversary by taping a concert DVD at the Graaf Wichman, Huizen
. Rudy de Queljoe and Nippy Noya came round for a couple of songs. The DVD was launched on 18 March 2005 at the local Club Silverdome with Alwin Manuhuwa as the new sticksman.
Augmented by Rudy de Queljoe, Nippy Noya and Wolfgang Roggenkamp (keys), Masssada finally went to Indonesia for four Jakarta
-shows in March 2006; highlight and centre-point was the performance at the Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival
as part of a Moluccan showcase. Jeremias and Roggenkamp left in 2007–08, the latter being replaced by Emerencia.
In January 2009 Massada joined forces with (reformed) contemporaries New Adentures, Powerplay, Urban Heroes and Livin' Blues XPerience for the 'Dutch Rock Nights Tour' in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. In October two shows were played on Ambon.
On June 17, 2011 Massada staged a one-night only Astaganaga-concert at the Paradiso.
That didn't stop Chris Latul, Zeth Mustamu, Nino Latuny and Usje Sabander from getting back together as the core-members of tribute-band Massiada (We're still here). Their repertoire also includes Santana-classics and a few originals.
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
. The members combine their Moluccan heritage with Latin-percussion rhythms. The line-up has changed through the years with lead singer Johny Manuhutu being the sole constant member.
Early years
Johnny Manuhutu was born in CirebonCirebon
Cirebon is a port city on the north coast of the Indonesian island of Java. It is located in the province of West Java near the provincial border with Central Java, approximately 297 km east of Jakarta, at .The seat of a former Sultanate, the city's West and Central Java border location have...
, Java
Java
Java is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java...
in 1949 as the son of a local-based Moluccan soldier. It was the same year that Indonesia gained independency from Dutch colonialism while the Moluccans were denied a republic of their own. Trying to solve a difficult situation, the Dutch government brought the Moluccan soldiers and their families over to the Netherlands while trouble lasted; they ended up staying there.
Johnny arrived early 1951 in a converted deportation camp in Huizen
Huizen
Huizen is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland.The name "Huizen" is Dutch for "houses" and this usage has been linked to the belief that the first stone houses in the region appeared here.-History:...
, halfway Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
and Hilversum
Hilversum
is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. Located in the region called "'t Gooi", it is the largest town in that area. It is surrounded by heathland, woods, meadows, lakes, and smaller villages...
. "Not the type of place you'd wish on your dog but we lived there for 20 years" he told Aloha magazine in 2004. "I think we had a more carefree youth than most Dutch kids ever had".
Growing up with his brothers Eppy and Jopie, Johnny was exposed to a musical diet of Nat King Cole
Nat King Cole
Nathaniel Adams Coles , known professionally as Nat King Cole, was an American musician who first came to prominence as a leading jazz pianist. Although an accomplished pianist, he owes most of his popular musical fame to his soft baritone voice, which he used to perform in big band and jazz genres...
, Perry Como
Perry Como
Pierino Ronald "Perry" Como was an American singer and television personality. During a career spanning more than half a century he recorded exclusively for the RCA Victor label after signing with them in 1943. "Mr...
, soul and Santana
Santana (band)
Santana is a rock band based around guitarist Carlos Santana and founded in the late 1960s. It first came to public attention after their performing the song "Soul Sacrifice" at the Woodstock Festival in 1969, when their Latin rock provided a contrast to other acts on the bill...
. In 1963 he formed a band with other boys from the camp including bass-player Usje Sabander. The Eagles mainly performed at Moluccan weddings and discos. With the arrival of New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
-born guitarist Chris Latul, Johnny switched to vocals and percussion.
Name-change
In 1973, when their US-namesakes started having hits in Europe, the Eagles re-christened themselves to Massada; a well-chosen decision. Johnny: "I looked to Israel as an example of a small country fighting the hostile neighbour; that's exactly how we felt". By this time Eppy Manuhutu (drums) and Zeth Mustamu (percussion) joined the band; Nino Latuny (guitar) and Frans Eschauzier (keys) were later additions.The hard-gigging Massada (five to six times a week) invested their earnings in a PA-system, recruited Jopie as one of the roadcrew-members and took a manager. Johnny refers to Joke Zonneveld as "a B" due to her no nonsense-attitude. "She could be tough but she's been good to us".
Breakthrough
On 26 February 1975 music monthly Oor staged an unsigned bands' evening at the Amsterdam ParadisoParadiso (Amsterdam)
Paradiso is an iconic rock music venue and cultural center in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.-History:It is housed in a converted former church building that dates from the nineteenth century and that was used until 1965 as the meeting hall for a liberal Dutch religious group known as the "Vrije...
. Massada, augmented by additional percussionist Nippy Noya, grabbed the most attention and were offered a record contract; they turned it down because "We're not ready yet". Noya, an in-demand musician, left in 1976 but remained available for guest-appearances.
Massada's rise to the top coincided with rebellious actions by Moluccans who were disappointed that things weren't happening after more than 25 years; hijacking trains, taking school children hostage. Pro-RMS though they were, Massada disapproved said actions but inevitably paid the price by seeing several gigs cancelled in case hell would break loose. But in other places they were given the opportunity to explain what was going on, even though the subject would haunt them for years to come.
First two albums
Finally Massada found a record company that respected their artistic freedom, and in 1978 they released their debut album. Astaganaga contained songs in English, Spanish and MalaysianMalay language
Malay is a major language of the Austronesian family. It is the official language of Malaysia , Indonesia , Brunei and Singapore...
and drew comparisons to Santana
Santana (band)
Santana is a rock band based around guitarist Carlos Santana and founded in the late 1960s. It first came to public attention after their performing the song "Soul Sacrifice" at the Woodstock Festival in 1969, when their Latin rock provided a contrast to other acts on the bill...
; however, critics regretted the "wafer-thin production". The band themselves dismissed the Latin rock-tag in favour of the more melodic percussion rock.
Astaganaga spawned the top 40 hits Latin Dance and Dansa (Don't Quit Dancing) and was certified gold. By now, Massada were pop-mag fixtures and on 28 December 1978 they appeared at the Hitkrant Awards to collect a trophy and to liven up the after-party
In May 1979 Massada released their second album. Pukul Tifa had a stronger Moluccan flavour (RMS-themed lyrics included) and a less commercial appeal. On the sleeve-cover the band posed as Native Americans
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
, a recurring subject in their heyday photo-sessions. Three singles were lifted; the Latul-written instrumental Arumbai, Unknown Destination and Feeling Lonely (the one vocal track).
Highlight of the year was a performance at the Pinkpop Festival
Pinkpop
Pinkpop Festival, or Pinkpop for short, is an annual festival held at Landgraaf, Netherlands. It is held annually on the Pentecost weekend...
with a horn section and backing singers added to the mix. Backstage the boys found himself playing football with Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger
Sir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger is an English musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and a founding member of The Rolling Stones....
who was flown in to make a guest-appearance during Peter Tosh
Peter Tosh
Peter Tosh, born Winston Hubert McIntosh , was a Jamaican reggae musician who was a core member of the band The Wailers , and who afterward had a successful solo career as well as being a promoter of Rastafari.Peter Tosh was born in Grange Hill, Jamaica, an illegitimate child to a mother too young...
' set but only to withdraw himself at the last minute due to broken promises. Massada themselves nearly did likewise because there was not enough space left on the revolving stage where headliner Rush
Rush (band)
Rush is a Canadian rock band formed in August 1968, in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario. The band is composed of bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart...
had stored their instruments. "There we were bickering with the organisation and Rush's management to move their gear to the back ... but we managed to talk it out".
The same could not be said of Latul, Sabander and Eschauzier who were evicted from the band. Confronted with this touchy subject Johnny told Aloha: "(It) wasn't a case of 'let's-kick-out-the-unwanted-players-and-move-on'. It really struck me, also because I'm viewed on as the bad guy. Every band has its weakest links; (verbally) lesser gifted musicians who bond together to get things done. And rather than single out the main offender we decided to drop them all". Replacements were found in Rudy de Queljoe (guitar; formerly of Brainbox), Turu Leerdam (bass: formerly of stable-mates Vitesse), Walter Sell (keys) and hornmen Peter Kuyt (trumpet) and Jan Stam (sax).
Number 1 hit
In 1980 Massada issued their third album Pusaka which included Sajang E, a collaboration with a women and children's choir recorded for a Veronica-broadcast documentary. By popular demand it was released on single and topped the Dutch charts for weeks; proceeds being donated to Oxfam Netherlands. Apart from a few television appearances (playback) it was never performed live because it didn't fit in with the band's trademark songs, and an offer to record an album full of Malay language songs was turned down as well.The success of Sajang E spread out to other countries, ensuring some European dates. There was also talk of a three-month Indonesian tour, but "it was cancelled; those dodgy bank-insurances appeared to be worthless and we could kiss the whole thing goodbye, an absolute disaster".
The lean years and solo-projects
Early 1981 saw the releases of Massada Live and Latul's solo-debut (assisted by Eschauzier, Sabander and Noya). Latuny left in June, making Rudy de Queljoe the sole guitarist. Meanwhile it was felt that the percussion-rock formula had run its course and that new grounds had to be explored in order to stay relevant. This resulted in Baru (New Life; hence the sleeve portraying a pregnant woman's body), the first album to omit the Malay language songs. The SantanaSantana (band)
Santana is a rock band based around guitarist Carlos Santana and founded in the late 1960s. It first came to public attention after their performing the song "Soul Sacrifice" at the Woodstock Festival in 1969, when their Latin rock provided a contrast to other acts on the bill...
-comparisons were gone, but so did the fans who couldn't feel the funky Latin vibes, and even within the band there were confused faces. Mustamu (whose conga-playing was relegated to a supporting role), Kuyt, Stam and Sell left early 1982; former three went on form Sambita
The 'Baru'-tour continued with Martino Latupeirissa (percussion) and Lino Emerencia (keys).
The record company wanted to release Tomorrow Has Its Own Sorrow (sung by guest vocalist Lisa Boray) but this was quickly withdrawn as a non-Johnny-led Massada would cause further alienation.
In 1983 Massada recorded Surat Kaleng as the theme song for television series Briefgeheim (starring a 16-year-old Leontine Borsato) and it wasn't till late 1985 that their next release emerged; a cover-version of Loggins & Messina's hit Vahevala. Its failure to reach the top 40 indicated that things had moved on.
By now live-performances took a backseat to family life and side-projects. Latupeirissa left in 1988 and recorded a solo-single (Love Wave). New contract offers were turned down because there was no new material in the pipeline. A 1990 comeback-single was considered but didn't happen; thus it looked like Massada was finally laid to rest.
In 1991 a barely recognisable Mustamu was interviewed about his personal growth; following a spell as a social worker he'd become a Pentecost Church
Pentecost
Pentecost is a prominent feast in the calendar of Ancient Israel celebrating the giving of the Law on Sinai, and also later in the Christian liturgical year commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples of Christ after the Resurrection of Jesus...
minister.
The comeback
In 1995 Johnny married his longtime girlfriend; live music was courtesy of a group of fans who did a set of Massada-classics, thus sowing the seeds for the Massada Revival Band fronted by the man himself. After a few months worth of gigging, Johnny decided to form a proper Massada again and asked Jopie to play percussion. They were joined by Jan Jeremias (guitar/vocals), Justian (keys/vocals) Richard Tamaela (bass), Njong Louhenapessy (drums/vocals) and Dwight Muskita (percussion).The new semi-professional Massada played their first gig in 1997 at The Hague's Pasar Malam Besar
Pasar Malam Besar
The Tong Tong Fair is the largest festival in the world for Indo culture, held annually in The Netherlands. In 2009 it was renamed to 'Tong Tong Fair'. Established in 1959 it is one of the oldest festivals and the fourth largest grand fair in The Netherlands...
(a major event celebrating Indonesian culture); two years later they made several television-appearances including RTL 4
RTL 4
RTL 4 is a commercial television station in the Netherlands. It is the most-watched commercial station in the country, popular especially with those aged between 20 and 49. The station has three sister tv channels: RTL 5, RTL 7 and RTL 8...
's live-music programme De Vrienden van Amstel. The band played their own songs as well as backing former Frizzle Sizzle
Frizzle Sizzle
Frizzle Sizzle were a Dutch teenage girl group of the 1980s. The four members of the group were Karin Vlasblom , Laura Vlasblom , Mandy Huydts and Marjon Keller ....
-vocalist Laura Vlasblom.
In 2000 the Manuhutu brothers and Jeremias recruited James Sabander (bass), Chanelsy Moniharipon (percussion) and Steven van Gestel (drums). Lino Emerencia temporarily returned.
This line-up appeared in 2001 at a Moluccans' benefit following the islands' internal conflict (which prompted Johnny to cancel his first-ever homeland trip). Moniharipon left in 2003 due to other commitments.
On 27 June 2004 Massada (featuring Jan Peter Strater on drums) celebrated their netto 25th anniversary by taping a concert DVD at the Graaf Wichman, Huizen
Huizen
Huizen is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland.The name "Huizen" is Dutch for "houses" and this usage has been linked to the belief that the first stone houses in the region appeared here.-History:...
. Rudy de Queljoe and Nippy Noya came round for a couple of songs. The DVD was launched on 18 March 2005 at the local Club Silverdome with Alwin Manuhuwa as the new sticksman.
Augmented by Rudy de Queljoe, Nippy Noya and Wolfgang Roggenkamp (keys), Masssada finally went to Indonesia for four Jakarta
Jakarta
Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
-shows in March 2006; highlight and centre-point was the performance at the Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival
Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival
Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival is one of the largest jazz festivals in the world and arguably the biggest in in the Southern Hemisphere, held in Jakarta, Indonesia. The annual jazz festival is held every early March and was designed to be one of the largest jazz festivals globally...
as part of a Moluccan showcase. Jeremias and Roggenkamp left in 2007–08, the latter being replaced by Emerencia.
In January 2009 Massada joined forces with (reformed) contemporaries New Adentures, Powerplay, Urban Heroes and Livin' Blues XPerience for the 'Dutch Rock Nights Tour' in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. In October two shows were played on Ambon.
On June 17, 2011 Massada staged a one-night only Astaganaga-concert at the Paradiso.
Massiada: we're still here
Asked why he didn't reform the original line-up, Johny (who nowadays teaches Latin and other percussion at the Conservatory of Enschede) told Aloha: "It ain't no use looking back; let the bygones be the bygones. I'm glad to see the dust settled, but I'm not interested in going through the motions for a few gigs".That didn't stop Chris Latul, Zeth Mustamu, Nino Latuny and Usje Sabander from getting back together as the core-members of tribute-band Massiada (We're still here). Their repertoire also includes Santana-classics and a few originals.