Founding Blues Gang member, drummer Shaik Karim dies at 70
KUALA LUMPUR, July 10 — Founding member of the legendary Blues Gang, Shaik Karim has died at the age of 70.
The drummer and vocalist of Malaysia’s most successful blues band fell into a coma four days ago after a fall.
Fellow band member Ito Mohd, 72, confirmed the sad news and said that the passing of his friend in Ampang Hospital was a huge loss, reported Harian Metro.
Shaik, who had battled bad health for years, suffered from diabetes and was undergoing dialysis.
In 2019, fans raised funds so Shaik could get the treatment he needed.
Ito, lead singer who plays the harmonica, is still in shock over his friend’s death and said that the band would not be the same without him.
“We were supposed to celebrate our 50th anniversary but his passing makes us feel like we’re no more,” he said.
“I was so sure he’d get better and we’d perform together again. There are so many things I’ll miss about him.”
Shaik together with Ahmad Abdullah aka Mat Dollah (lead guitar), the late Jim Madasamy (bass and vocal) and Rashid Yunus (vocal) formed Blues Gang in 1973 in Johor Bahru.
Ito and keyboardist Ghani Abu Talib aka Tok Ghani joined later. Guitarist Julian Mokhtar became part of the lineup after Mat Dollah left.
The band took inspiration from blues acts like John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Alexis Korner, John Lee Hooker, Peter Green, the Rolling Stones and James Gang.
“Blues Gang is like my life,” said Shaik in an interview with The Sun in 2019.
“I formed the band before Jim and the others came in after the Juara Kugiran contest in 1970.”
