Koes Plus

Koes Plus was a famous music group.

They lived in Indonesia.

They started as five brothers. They played rock and pop songs. People loved their music on the radio.

One man joined the group later. He played the drums. This helped them play more rock tunes.

They made many albums. Some of their songs are very great. Many people still listen to them today.

They are even on a stamp!

This shows how special they are.

Koes Plus was a famous music group from Indonesia.

They were very popular in the 1960s and 1970s. At first, they were five brothers. Their names were John, Yok, Yon, Nomo, and Tonny Koeswoyo. They played rock and pop music. This style was new in Indonesia at that time.

In 1965, the brothers were arrested. This happened because they played songs by the Beatles. They were released just before a big change in the nation. They even wrote a song called "Di Dalam Bui" about this time.

Later, a man named Murry joined the group. He was a drummer. This changed the band. They became known as Koes Plus. This name meant the Koeswoyo brothers plus one outsider. Murry's heavy drumming helped them play more rock songs.

Many people think their music is some of the best. A magazine put six of their albums on a great list. They also had ten songs on a list of the best songs ever. They are so special that they are on an Indonesian stamp.

Koes Plus was a very famous musical group from Indonesia. They were famous for playing pop and rock songs during the 1960s and 1970s. People loved their music because it was catchy and new for that time. They became icons of Indonesian music history. Many people still listen to them today. Their music helped shape the sound of the country.

The band started with five brothers from the Bojonegoro-Tuban area. Their names were John, Yok, Yon, Nomo, and Tonny Koeswoyo. They first performed together as Koes Bersaudara, which means Koes Brothers. In 1965, the brothers faced a hard time. They were arrested for playing songs by the Beatles. This happened because certain types of music were banned back then. They were released on September 29, just before a big national change. They even wrote a song called "Di Dalam Bui" about being in prison.

Later, the group changed how they worked. The drummer, Nomo, left the band in 1969. A new drummer named Murry joined them to fill the spot. This caused a big argument because the band was a family act. They solved the problem by changing their name to Koes Plus. This name meant the Koeswoyo brothers plus an outsider. Murry's heavy drumming style helped the band play more rock tunes. This was a change from their older, slower songs.

Koes Plus was incredibly successful and released many albums. In 2007, Rolling Stone Indonesia named six of their albums as the greatest of all time. These included "Dheg Dheg Plas" from 1969 and "To The So Called The Guilties" from 1967. Their album "Koes Bersaudara" from 1964 was also on the list. They also had ten songs chosen as the best ever. Some of these famous songs were "Bis Sekolah" and "Kembali Ke Jakarta." These songs helped them become stars on the radio and TVRI.

Even though they were stars, they did not make much money from their work. They were paid a flat fee of about 3 million rupiahs for each album. They did not get royalties, which is extra money when music is played again. Still, their impact on music was huge. They are so important to Indonesia that they are featured on a 2020 stamp.

Their story shows how music can bring people together through hard times.

Koes Plus was a legendary musical group from Indonesia. They were incredibly successful during the 1960s and 1970s. The band is considered one of the country's most classic musical acts. They specialized in delivering stripped-down pop and rock songs. Much of their fame came before private television existed in Indonesia. Instead, they reached huge audiences through the state station, TVRI. Their music helped define the sound of an era.

The group began as a family act called Koes Bersaudara, or Koes Brothers. They originated from the Bojonegoro-Tuban area in East Java. The original lineup consisted of five brothers: John, Yok, Yon, Nomo, and Tonny Koeswoyo. In the early 1960s, they pioneered a Beatles-influenced rock and roll subculture. This was a controversial move at the time. President Sukarno had banned such subcultures in the early 1960s. In 1965, the brothers were arrested by the Highest Operation Commando, known as KOTI. They were detained for performing covers of Beatles songs. They were released on September 29, just before a national coup d'état. This difficult period inspired their song "Di Dalam Bui."

A major transition occurred in 1969 when drummer Nomo left the group. The band invited a musician named Murry to fill the role. This decision caused an internal uproar within the group. People were used to seeing the band as a strictly family act. To resolve this feud, the band changed their name to Koes Plus. This new name represented the Koeswoyo brothers plus the outsider, Murry. Music historians believe Murry changed their sound significantly. His heavy drumming led the band to include more rock tunes. This was a shift from their previous, ballad-heavy albums.

Despite their fame, the band faced many early struggles. Record companies frequently rejected them during their early days. Murry even temporarily quit the band out of frustration. During this time, he distributed their records for free and joined other acts. The band only gained considerable fame once their songs played on the state radio network. Even at their peak, the band did not own legal rights to their work. They received a flat payment of approximately 3 million rupiahs for each album. Because they did not receive royalties, they earned no extra money when their music was reproduced. However, this allowed labels to produce a huge number of albums for them.

The musical legacy of Koes Plus is massive and well-documented. In 2007, Rolling Stone Indonesia recognized their immense impact. The magazine placed six of their studio albums on a list of the 150 Greatest Indonesian Albums of All Time. These albums included "Dheg Dheg Plas" from 1969, which ranked at number 4. "To The So Called The Guilties" from 1967 reached number 6. Their 1964 album "Koes Bersaudara" was number 14. Other honored albums were "Koes Plus Volume 2" (number 21), "Koes Plus Volume 4" (number 30), and "Koes Plus Volume 5" (number 38). These rankings prove their lasting importance to Indonesian culture.

Their individual songs also achieved legendary status. Rolling Stone Indonesia included ten of their songs in the 150 Greatest Indonesian Songs of All Time list. "Bis Sekolah" from 1964 held the number 4 spot. "Kembali Ke Jakarta" from 1969 was number 6. Other notable tracks included "Nusantara I" (number 19), "Kolam Susu" (number 31), and "Bunga Di Tepi Jalan" (number 80). The list also featured "Kelelawar" (number 83), "Manis dan Sayang" (number 88), "Pelangi" (number 92), "Jemu" (number 100), and "Di Dalam Bui" (number 126). This wide range of successful songs shows their versatility.

Today, the influence of Koes Plus extends into many different musical genres. They recorded albums in various styles, including Pop Melayu, Pop Jawa, and Pop Keroncong. They even explored genres like Reggae, Disco House Music, and Qasidah. Their discography is vast, spanning from the early 1960s through many decades. They remain so culturally significant that they were honored on a 2020 Indonesian stamp.

Their journey from a family band to a national icon remains a vital part of Indonesian history.