'He wasn’t arrogant at all, and that’s what drew me to him. Jerry Felix was simply a great guy', says Ruzlan. - filepix
“I first met my friend Jerry Felix around 1969... at the very beginning of the 70s era,” recalls veteran drummer and now great grandfather Ruzlan Omar, who continues to lead Sons of Adam, one of the oldest bands still active in Malaysia’s club scene (they’ll even be playing a Deep Purple showcase soon!)
“From the start, I knew this was a real drummer – his personality, his style, the way he carried himself. He wasn’t arrogant at all, and that’s what drew me to him. Jerry Felix was simply a great guy.”
Felix, who passed away on Oct 12 after a long battle with prostate cancer, was a founding member of veteran Malaysian band The Falcons, and was known as one of the legends of Malaysia's music industry.
ALSO READ: Remembering Jerry “Chit” Felix, Malaysia’s longest-playing drummer
Those who didn’t know Jerry well, says Ruzlan, might have mistaken his quietness for pride.
“At first glance, people may have thought he’s proud or unfriendly – but actually, he wasn’t. He didn’t talk much. But when it came to music, you could ask him anything, and he’d give you the best explanation!”
Ruzlan, who began his music journey in 1969 with a band called Gypsies before it evolved into Sons of Adam, fondly recalls the era of open-air gigs like the “Cheras Woodstock” in 1972.
“Jerry’s drumming style in the 1970s really captivated me,” he says. “At that time, I hadn’t even seen the likes of Ian Paice from Deep Purple performing, but to me Jerry already had that rock flair. His look, his long hair, the way he dressed – he was every bit a rock drummer. That’s why I was so impressed.”
“I remember others like Putera, Khalid Kerinchi (Hi-5), and Hussein Idris (The Strollers) – but Hussein leaned more towards pop-rock. Jerry, on the other hand, was a true rock drummer. Many people said he was one of the best drummers of that era.”
According to Ruzlan, every local band of that time had its own distinct sound. “You had bands like Grim Preachers, The Strollers, Owl Status, Ages and Sons of Adam. Each had its own concept – The Falcons leaned towards Deep Purple, Santana and 70s rock ‘n’ roll; Grim Preachers were more into Jethro Tull and Three Dog Night. Every performance was unique. That’s why gigs back then were so satisfying to watch.”
Ruzlan credits Jerry as one of his early influences. — RUZLAN OMAR
His own style
As a fellow drummer, Ruzlan was fascinated by Jerry’s technique.
“He didn’t follow anyone – he had his own style. His rolls were clean, his tone was classic 70s, and his tempo was solid. Very consistent, very well-controlled – his strokes were beautiful.”
Ruzlan remembers Jerry’s Ludwig drum kit with admiration.
“In those days, if you played Ludwig, it meant you were top-tier. Ludwig was expensive! When The Falcons performed, they had class – they had roadies to set up everything. In the 70s, that was already a professional level – same as The Strollers and The Revolvers.”
Their friendship was forged through music and mutual respect. “I still vividly remember jamming with Jerry. When The Falcons had a show – they called it an ‘Annual Dinner and Dance’ or a ‘Ball’ – the venues weren’t too fancy.
"If you got to play at Dewan Tunku Cancelor, that was considered top-class because it had airconditioning! Jerry never said, ‘Don’t use my drums.’ He’d let others play, as long as you took good care of them.”
Ruzlan credits Jerry as one of his early influences. “I took what I learned from him and applied it to my own path with Sons of Adam. After The Falcons parted ways – Frankie Samuel went to Germany, Jerry Ventura became a freelance musician, and Jerry started teaching – his name was already well-known. He wasn’t just a drummer; he did backup and session work for many artistes. He was very successful.”
In later years, as Jerry’s health declined, Ruzlan stayed in touch. “I used to send him WhatsApp ‘good morning’ messages every day. Whenever we met, we’d reminisce about the old days – those stories always brought joy, especially our time playing at The House.”
“Jerry was humble, never arrogant, never egotistical,” Ruzlan says. “From our 70s generation, there aren’t many of us left. Some have passed on – Matthew Miranda from Ages, Khalid from Hi-5. The ones still around are Hussein from The Strollers and I – old-school drummers still active even in our 70s!”
He smiles at the memory. “Drummers like the late Lewis Pragasam, Tom Anuar and Boy (Raja Rahman) from Carefree came later, in the 80s. I respect them too – they carried on the groove. But Jerry... Jerry was one of the originals.”
