Veteran Malaysian drummer Raja Azreen Raja Talib died after suddenly collapsing in the middle of a live performance at a rock festival. He was 56.
Raja Azreen was performing with the rock band Meditasi at the Teruntum Rock Festival in Kuantan, Malaysia, on July 18 when he collapsed during the band’s second song, according to Malaysian news outlets Berita Harian and the New Straits Times.
The band had planned to perform a 10-song set when the drummer suddenly slumped over his drum kit.
Meditasi frontman Bakaruddin Daud, known as Burn, said he immediately rushed toward Raja Azreen after noticing something was wrong.
“I rushed towards him, but I could sense that he was already gone,” Burn said, according to a translation of his remarks to Berita Harian.
“I called out to him and tapped him, but there was no response. His body was already cold,” he added.
Raja Azreen was carried backstage as emergency personnel were called. An ambulance reportedly arrived at the festival within minutes.
“The fans were quite alarmed when they saw what was happening,” Burn said.
The drummer was transported to Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly before 11 p.m. local time, according to his older brother, Raja Azman Raja Taib.
Raja Azman said medical personnel provided his brother with respiratory assistance following the collapse but were unable to revive him.
“He was given respiratory assistance, but he did not regain consciousness or respond after the collapse,” Raja Azman said.
Raja Azreen reportedly died from heart complications. Further details about the specific nature of the heart problem were not provided in the source.
His sudden death stunned his Meditasi bandmates, particularly because Burn said Raja Azreen had not appeared sick or distressed while preparing for the festival.
“He was really happy to meet up with friends. He didn’t appear sad or unwell,” Burn said.
Meditasi dates back to the late 1980s, with Raja Azreen serving as a veteran drummer for the Malaysian rock group, according to Trending Politics.
Burn said the musician appeared to be in good spirits before taking the stage and gave his bandmates no indication that he was experiencing a serious health problem.
The performance abruptly ended after Raja Azreen’s collapse.
Burn described himself as “truly shocked and deeply saddened” by the death of his longtime bandmate.
Raja Azreen’s death adds a tragic chapter to the history of Meditasi, coming as the veteran musician was doing what he had spent decades doing — performing behind the drum kit before a live audience.
