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Malaysian rock drummer Raja Azreen Raja Talib tragically passed away after collapsing during a live performance at the Teruntum Rock Festival in Kuantan, Pahang, last month. He was 56 years old.
Azreen was performing with his band, Meditasi, when he collapsed during the second song of their scheduled 10-song set on July 18. The seasoned musician was quickly removed from the stage and rushed to Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital.
Meditasi’s frontman, Bakaruddin Burn Daud, described the moment with deep sadness. “I rushed towards Raja, but I could feel that he was gone,” Burn recalled.
“I called and patted him, but there was no response. His body was cold.
The fans were quite alarmed by what was happening.”
Emergency responders arrived promptly, and Azreen was given respiratory support at the hospital, but he did not regain consciousness.
Azreen’s older brother, Raja Azman Raja Taib, revealed that the drummer had recently been hospitalized twice due to heart issues. “He was admitted twice; the first stay lasted two to three weeks before he was hospitalized again,” he said. “It’s possible that extreme fatigue took a toll.”
Burn noted that Azreen hadn’t shown visible signs of illness before the show, though he did look quite thin. The drummer had been diagnosed with diabetes the previous month and was careful about his diet, avoiding sugar.
A veteran of Malaysia’s 1990s rock scene, Azreen had been with Meditasi for decades. In a poignant detail shared after his passing, Burn mentioned that Azreen had insisted the band dress in black for the festival and emphasized that the show must go on, no matter what. This was partly because their guitarist, Rosli Ahmad, was also feeling unwell.
“Raja said, ‘the show must go on,’” Burn recalled. “He was very happy rehearsing with us in the days leading up to the festival and was glad to see his friends.”
While Meditasi has not yet decided on its future, Burn affirmed the band’s intention to continue playing in Azreen’s memory. “We haven’t discussed the long-term plans, but we will carry on the group’s journey.
As Raja said, the show must go on,” he said. “We’re no longer chasing money; we just want to find friends and fill our free time.”
Raja Azreen Raja Talib’s sudden passing marks a profound loss for Malaysia’s rock community and his many fans.