ROCK singer Awie pushed through nearly four hours on stage despite suffering a second bout of bronchitis, which he attributed to the haze that has affected the country in recent weeks.
Awie, whose real name is Ahmad Azhar Othman, 57, said the condition had affected him physically, but he was determined to deliver his best performance at the Awie Rock King – Last Man Standing 2026 concert at Stadium Merdeka last night.
“You saw me jumping around, but actually I am not well. The haze damaged my lungs and I got bronchitis for the second time.
“Whatever happens, the show must go on and I will finish all the songs tonight,” he said during the concert.
The nearly four-hour show featured five segments — Kita Bersama, Legasiku, Cinta dan Filem, Tribute, and Aku dan Mereka — backed by five bands and 20 musicians.
Awie also surprised his wife, Sharifah Ladyana Syed Shamsuddin, by performing Maharani as a special gift to mark their 10th wedding anniversary.
“This song was created for my ‘housemate’. This is our 10th wedding anniversary gift,” he said, drawing cheers from about 20,000 concert-goers.
Recalling his past with actress and singer Erra Fazira, Awie jokingly said he had chosen not to perform Tragedi Oktober as the song reminded him of past speculation about their relationship.
“We were together before and then separated, and then we got together again, but as friends and siblings. Now Erra remains a primadona and holds that title,” he said.
Erra, who joined Awie on stage, acknowledged his role in her journey as an artiste, saying she had received much guidance from him.
Awie performed 36 songs during the concert, with guest appearances by Datuk Hattan, Black, Akim, Stacy, Amir Masdi, Merah and Hannah Delisha.
Despite performing past midnight, Awie maintained his energy on stage until the show ended at 1am, an hour later than originally scheduled, with Terima Kasih.
“Thank you for being willing to wait for me until 1am tonight. It was supposed to end at midnight, but we extended it until 1am.
“Thank you also for staying with me throughout my 41 years in the industry. God willing, we will meet again. Thank you,” he said. - September 13, 2026
