KUALA LUMPUR: Edrie Hashim, the 52-year-old musician from the bands Wings and Projek Pistol, does not support the idea of free concerts for music fans.
In a recent interview with Harian Metro, Edrie said: “I don’t encourage free shows. It’s better to educate music lovers on the importance of helping musicians cover production costs, such as lighting and creating an impressive stage.
“We all want to see a high-quality live performance that we can remember for a long time, and that, of course, requires money.”
For this reason, his upcoming concert Pistol & Bunga, aimed specifically at university students, will not be a free event.
“Making any concert a success requires sacrifices from both the performers and the audience. The performers invest in special effects, a good sound system, a great stage, and talented musicians, while the audience pays to attend, which allows their favourite entertainer to meet all the requirements for a superb concert that is etched in their memories,” he said.
When asked about collaborating with Malaysia’s well-known all-girl rock band, Candy, which is fronted by his wife, Patricia Roberts, Edrie mentioned that both Projek Pistol and Candy are under the Gendang Records label.
“Pistol & Bunga is my brainchild and contribution to the music industry. It’s a first for me, and I’m open to constructive criticism if it falls short in any way,” he said, adding that the concert is their special Malaysia Day gift to music lovers.
The Pistol & Bunga concert will be held at 8.30 pm on Sept 20 at the National Arts, Culture and Heritage Academy (Aswara) on Jalan Tun Ismail, here.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
