KRU Mega Tour '97

Last updated
KRU Mega Tour '97
Tour by KRU
KRU Mega Tour '97 poster.jpg
Promotional poster
Associated album KRUmania
Start date17 May 1997 (1997-05-17)
End date27 December 1997 (1997-12-27)
Legs4
No. of shows
  • 23 (Malaysia)
  • 1 (Brunei)
  • 24 Total
Guests
  • Elite
KRU concert chronology
  • Awas! da' Concert
    (1995)
  • KRU Mega Tour '97
    (1997)
  • Jammin' the Nation
    (1999–2000)

KRU Mega Tour '97 (originally titled KRUmania Mega Tour '97) was a concert tour by Malaysian boy band KRU in support of their compilation album KRUmania . Sponsored by Peter Stuyvesant Travel, the tour was originally scheduled for 16 locations across Malaysia. [1] It began on 17 May 1997 at the MBJB Indoor Stadium, Johor Bahru, and concluded on 4 October at Stadium Negara, Kuala Lumpur. Due to demand, an additional concerts was took place on 10, 17 and 27 December. [2] [3] [4] The tour received generally positive reviews from music critics, who praised KRU's showmanship and vocal abilities.

Contents

Background and development

Following the success of their 1995 tour, Awas! da' Concert, KRU announced that they will embarked on their another tour to mark the group's fifth year in music industry, aptly titled KRUmania Mega Tour '97, which was their third headlined concert. [5] [6] They will toured 15 locations nationwide for 3 months, which was later extended to 19 locations for 6 months. They also released their debut compilation album, entitled KRUmania on 3 March 1997 to coincide the tour. [7] For their tour, the KRU brothers utilised the Turbo Sound Flashlights audio system which can accommodate a capacity of up to 30,000 audiences for a single performance. [8] The tour, which cost around RM7 million, featured advanced sound and lighting technology operated by specialists from Singapore, Australia, and Japan. [6] Originally titled KRUmania Mega Tour '97, KRU changed the concert name to KRU Mega Tour '97 and dropped the word 'mania' upon the Malaysian Government's order. Peter Stuyvesant Travel become the tour's main sponsor.

Concert synopsis

The concert opened with a dance performance, followed by Elite, KRU's first-ever signed girl group, who performed five of their hit songs including "Tak Tahu", "Catwalk", "Mungkin Belum Kau Rasa", "Manisnya Senyumanmu", and "G.I.G". The KRU brothers later took the stage dressed in prison-themed outfits, performing "Awas!", "Mengerti", "Di Dalam Dilema", and "Freaky G". They continued with a series of popular songs including "Janji Tinggal Janji", "Aneh", "Salah Siapa", "E'nuff Eez E'nuff", "Untukmu", "2", "U Make My Day", "Negatif", "Semuanya OK", and "Ooh! La! La!", during which they appeared in The Beatles-inspired costumes. [9]

A medley segment titled Maniamedley was presented towards the end of the concert, featuring "KRU is Wild", "Go! KRU (T.R.R.G.)", "2020", "Getaran Jiwa", and "Fanatik". During this segment, Norman reads a short profile of the late P. Ramlee, followed by a rendition of "Getaran Jiwa" as a tribute to the legendary artist. The concert concluded with the song "2020", symbolising KRU's support for the Wawasan 2020, introduced by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. [9] [10]

Critical reception and recordings

The concert was met with positive responses from critics and the media, who praised KRU's energetic performance and strong stage presence. Berita Harian described the concert as "a captivating two-hour performance that thrilled fans and showcased the group’s powerful live performance". [11] Harian Metro praised the show, calling it "energetic and powerful", and noting that it gave "immense satisfaction to more than 5,000 audiences". [12]

In 1998, a live recording of the tour was released in VCD by EMI Music Malaysia, featuring 13 live renditions of the group's greatest hits, a live interview segment, and a short feature titled The KRUmania Crisis. [13] The tour's live recording also comes with free KRU sticker. [13]

Commercial performance

The concert tour was a commercial success, with 20,000 tickets sold before the first show began. [11] The first concert at the MBJB Indoor Stadium in Johor Bahru was attended by 5,000 people, while the last concert at Stadium Negara in Kuala Lumpur drew 8,000 fans. [14]

Controversies

KRUmania Mega Tour '97 began in Johor Bahru on 17 May 1997 with a sold-out concert attended by approximately 5,000 fans. [11] The performance received positive reviews and marked the start of the tour, which was originally scheduled to conclude on 6 September 1997 at Stadium Negara in Kuala Lumpur. [2] [1]

However, controversy arose when the second concert in Muar, Johor was cancelled after local authorities withdrew its permit, following complaints from members of the public, organisations, and political groups who claimed that the concert was inappropriate and could negatively influence youths. [15] Reports from the Johor Bahru concert, however, indicated that KRU's performance did not contain any improper elements. [11]

The Kedah State Government later announced that the concert would not be allowed in the state, saying there was public opposition and concern over the word KRUmania, which was said to mean "madness". [16] As a result, the concert scheduled in Sungai Petani on 7 June 1997 was cancelled. The Perlis concert, scheduled in Kangar on 21 June 1997, was also cancelled, forcing KRU to find new venues and reschedule several tour dates. [17] [18]

In response, the then-Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim called on state governments to reconsider their bans, stating that concerts could continue under stricter security measures and clearer guidelines. [19] Following this, KRU members Norman, Yusry, and Edry Abdul Halim met with the then-Minister of Culture, Arts and Tourism Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir to resolve the issue. [20]

The group agreed to follow the conditions set by the state governments and local authorities, including removing the word 'mania' from the tour's name, renaming it to KRU Mega Tour ’97 and changing promotional materials that were considered inappropriate. [20] [21]

Shortly after, the Cabinet approved the continuation of the concerts nationwide, as long as KRU followed the performance rules and the audience behaved properly. [22] The KRU Mega Tour '97 eventually concluded on 4 October 1997 at Stadium Negara in Kuala Lumpur. [14]

In later years, Norman revealed that the bans and cancellations during the KRUmania Mega Tour '97 had caused financial difficulties for KRU, as the group had taken loans and secured sponsorships to fund the tour and pay their staff. [23]

Set list

The set list is adapted from a concert in Stadium Tertutup Indera Mulia, Majlis Bandaraya Ipoh. [10]

Elite segment
  1. "Tak Tahu"
  2. "Catwalk"
  3. "Mungkin Belum Kau Rasa"
  4. "Manisnya Senyumanmu"
  5. "G.I.G."
KRU segment
  1. "Awas!"
  2. "Mengerti"
  3. "Di Dalam Dilema"
  4. "Freaky G"
  5. "Janji Tinggal Janji"
  6. "Aneh"
  7. "Salah Siapa"
  8. "E Nuff Eezz E Nuff"
  9. "Untukmu"
  10. "2"
  11. "U Make My Day"
  12. "Negatif"
  13. "Semuanya OK"
  14. "Ooh! La! La!"
  15. "Maniamedley"
    • "KRU is Wild"
    • "Go! KRU (T.R.R.G.)"
    • "2020"
    • "Fanatik"
    • "Getaran Jiwa"

Tour dates

List of tours, showing date, city, venue, and attendance [a]
DateCityVenueAttendanceNotesRef.
Leg 1
17 May 1997 Johor Bahru, Johor MBJB Indoor Stadium5,000 [12]
24 May 1997 Muar, JohorAuthority did not allow [15]
7 June 1997 Sungai Petani, Kedah Dewan Besar Cina Lip SeangThe state government did not allow [16]
10–11 June 1997 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah [24]
14 June 1997 Seberang Jaya, Penang Seberang Jaya Expo Park [24]
June 1997 Labuan [25]
17 June 1997 Sandakan, Sabah [25]
20 June 1997 Tawau, Sabah [25]
21 June 1997 Kangar, Perlis Sheikh Ahmad StadiumThe state government did not allow [18]
25 June 1997 Brunei [25]
Leg 2
6 July 1997 Ipoh, Perak Indera Mulia Indoor Stadium5,000 [9]
11 July 1997 Seremban, Negeri Sembilan Seremban Municipal Council Hall1,500 [26]
19 July 1997 Klang, Selangor Hamzah HallAuthority did not allow [27]
2 August 1997 Kuantan, Pahang Indera Mahkota Stadium [28]
19 August 1997 Malacca Pay Fong Chinese School General Hall [29]
23 August 1997 Taiping, Perak [30]
28 August 1997 Petaling Jaya, SelangorPetaling Jaya Civic Hall1,500 [31]
Leg 3
13 September 1997 Sungai Nibong, PenangSungai Nibong Fiesta Square3,000 [32] [33]
21 September 1997 Pasir Gudang, Johor Pasir Gudang Indoor Stadium [34]
4 October 1997 Kuala Lumpur Stadium Negara 8,000 [14]
Leg 4
10 December 1997 Kajang, SelangorKajang StadiumAdditional show [b] [35]
17 December 1997 Kuala Pilah, Negeri SembilanKuala Pilah District Council Field
24 December 1997 Bayan Lepas, Penang Penang International Sports Arena
27 December 1997 Shah Alam, SelangorTapak Ekspo Shah Alam

Personnel

Notes

  1. ↑ Changes to the date, venue, time, or concert cancellations may occur.
  2. ↑ Free admission.

References

  1. 1 2 Zek Zek (14 June 1997). "KRU terus usaha cari tempat" . Harian Metro. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  2. 1 2 Gerald Chuah (5 May 1997). "KRU to embark on mega tour" . The Malay Mail. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  3. ↑ "Konsert KruMania dijangka hebat" . Harian Metro. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  4. ↑ "KRU jelajah negara" . Harian Metro. 8 March 1997. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  5. ↑ Gerald Chuah (5 May 1997). "KRU to embark on mega tour" . The Malay Mail . Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  6. 1 2 "Kos tinggi untuk Krumania Mega Tour" [High costs for Krumania Mega Tour] (in Malay). Harian Metro. 6 May 1997. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  7. ↑ "KRU muncul dengan Krumania" [KRU came up with Krumania] (in Malay). Harian Metro. 14 January 1997. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  8. ↑ Azlan Adnan (18 May 1997). "KRU perintis revolusi konsert" (in Malay). Berita Minggu. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  9. 1 2 3 "5,000 at KRU performance in Perak" . New Straits Times. 7 July 1997. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  10. 1 2 "Konsert KRU pukau peminat di Ipoh". Berita Harian. 8 July 1997.
  11. 1 2 3 4 Arlyana Saliman (24 May 2020). "Ooh! La! La! seronoknya". Berita Harian. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  12. 1 2 Mohamad Hussin (23 May 1997). "KRUmania pukau ribuan penonton" . Harian Metro. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  13. 1 2 KRU Mega Tour '97 (VCD). KRU. EMI Music Malaysia. 1997.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. 1 2 3 Saniboey Mohd Ismail (7 October 1997). "Gema KRU Megatour '97 berakhir" . Harian Metro. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  15. 1 2 "Pejabat Daerah Muar batal konsert KRU" . Harian Metro. 21 May 1997. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  16. 1 2 Abdullah Abdul Rahman (29 May 1997). "Kedah batal konsert KRU" . Harian Metro. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  17. ↑ Zek Zek (14 June 1997). "KRU terus usaha cari tempat" . Harian Metro. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  18. 1 2 "Perlis batal KRUmania" . Berita Minggu. 1 June 1997. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  19. ↑ Si Kalam (6 June 1997). "Isyarat jelas" . Harian Metro. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  20. 1 2 "KRU mesti patuhi syarat" . Harian Metro. 13 June 1997. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  21. ↑ Hardi Effendi Yaacob (15 June 1997). "KRU setuju tukar nama konsert" . Berita Minggu. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  22. ↑ "Cabinet nod for KRU concerts" . New Straits Times. 19 June 1997. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  23. ↑ Norhayati Nordin (12 August 2025). "Ujian besar KRU". Harian Metro. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
  24. 1 2 Hafidah Samat (29 May 1997). "Have you heard". New Straits Times. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  25. 1 2 3 4 Tan Ling Ai (7 Jun 1997). "KRU : Where have we gone wrong ?". New Straits Times. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  26. ↑ Gerald Chuah (11 July 1997). "KRU concert in Seremban" . The Malay Mail. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  27. ↑ "Klang tidak benarkan konsert Krumania" . Berita Minggu. 29 June 1997. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  28. ↑ Gerald Chuah (1 August 1997). "KRU Mega Tour to attract 4,000 spectators" . The Malay Mail. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  29. ↑ Roslen Fadzil (16 August 1997). "KRU pilih Melaka" . Harian Metro. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  30. ↑ KRUmania Mega Tour '97 television advertisement
  31. ↑ Saniboey Mohd Ismail (29 August 1997). "KRU terus bertenaga" . Harian Metro. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  32. ↑ Daut Noor (15 September 1997). "3,000 banjiri konsert KRU" . Harian Metro. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  33. ↑ Gerald Martinez (11 September 1997). "KRU to perform in Sungai Nibong" . The Malay Mail. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  34. ↑ "KRU ke Johor" . Harian Metro. 20 September 1997. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  35. ↑ "Konsert terakhir KRU" . Harian Metro. 26 December 1997. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
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