Massada (latin-rock band)

Not to be confused with Masada (band).

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.

Biography

Early years

Johnny Manuhutu was born in Cirebon, 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.

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 Paradiso. 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 Malaysian 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).

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 Santana-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; Vahevala, a cover-version of Loggins & Messina's hit neatly missed the top 40 and was a clear sign that things had moved on.

By now Massada's once-busy schedule slowing down to the extent of annual performances; family life and side-projects had taken over. Latupeirissa recorded a solo-single (Love Wave) and left in 1988. New contract offers were turned down because there was no new material in the pipeline. However, the band considered a 1990 comeback single but it didn't happen and it looked like Massada were now a name of the past.

Mustamu, whom Johnnny once described as "a clown who cheers you up", did a 1991 interview about his new day-job as a Pentecost Church ministerm (following his social worker years).

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 (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.

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.