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F.T.G Bio

F.T.G
Band members
Tajul : Vocals Jac : Guitars Zam : Drums Mie : Bass

Genres

F.T.G (an acronym for FREEDOM THAT'S GONE) has been in existence since 1989 and together with CROMOK was one of the very first Malaysian underground metal bands to come into prominence. The original line-up consists of Bart on vocals, Mie on bass, Jac on guitars and Zam on drums. The band issued their first self-titled mini-album on independent label, FGM Productions in mid '91 and it was considered very well received for an English album at that time. The following year, they issued their first full length album entitled "After The Promise" on VSP Records and the album went on to sell more than 20,000 copies, an astonishing fest in an era where commercial Malay ballads ruled.

During this period, the band toured extensively all across the country and built a strong fanbase that will last to this day. By 1994, the band have switched label, signing with PonyCanyon and releasing their third album "Spirit To Rebel". The hard work put into touring paid off , the album went on to sell more than 30,000 copies without any radio airplay whatsoever and minimum media exposure. Other bands may claim that they're 'metal' but none have walked the walk and talked the talk like F.T.G. : they never once compromise their music, even when other so-called 'metal' bands recorded soft rock ballads to get onto radio.

The band took a year off from studio work but they still played an average of two to three concerts per week. In July 1996, they return with their fourth album, "To The Front". Within three months, the album was certified platinum (25,000 copies and above) and by year end, the album have shifted more than 40,000 copies. It was also frontman Bart's last album with the band as he left shortly after the release of "To The Front" due to personal commitments.

However, the band got back on its feet quickly when they recruited one of their old friends, Tajul as the new vocalist. 1997 was spent writing and rehearsing new as well as old material in preparation for their next album. 1998 saw the release of "Stronger Than Steel: The Best Of F.T.G", a compilation collecting material from their very first mini-album to their most recent album, "To The Front". This compilation also marks the beginning of a new chapter in the long-running history of the band which have maintained the same line-up for almost 8 years until the departure of original vocalist Bart. Ladies and gentleman, F.T.G Mark II has arrived.

The year 1998 marked another first in the band's history: a Malay album. Contrary to fears that the band have gone soft and sold out to the corporate machine, the album entitled "Aku Tak Peduli" contains NO ballads. New vocalist Tajul added a much needed neew dimension into the band but it was essentially a F.T.G album: hard, fast and still as heavy as a two ton sledgehammer.

"Aku Tak Peduli" then dumbfounded the critics and even the band themselves by going platinum within a month of release and reached number 2 on the RIM Malay Album Chart. To date, "Aku Tak Peduli" have sold more than 40,000 copies. In between their tours, the band went straight back into the studio to record a follow-up English album.

But the project got sidetracked when bassist Mie decided it would be fun to play some cover versions of their favorite songs for their shows. In the end, they had rehearsed enough cover songs to record another album, "Made In Malaysia". Conceived as a tribute album of sorts to their favorite bands and songs as well as to get away from the monotony and pressure of a full album, F.T.G. covered classic tracks ("Paranoid", "Black Night", "Wish You Were Here") from seminal groups such as Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath and Deep Purple. "Made In Malaysia" was a smashing success, with sales reaching more than 10,000 within the first week of release and the album have sold more than 30,000 copies to date.