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Ir-Rifffs.... il-bierah u illum
L-ahbar tar-ritorn tar-Rifffs intlaqghet tajjeb hafna u kienet ta’ sorpriza kbira ghal dawk kollha li kienu attendew ir-Reflex 80’s Party li sar f’Gianpula f’Marzu li ghadda. Waqt li l-folla kbira kienet mitlufa tkanta u tizfen ghal-Dance Music For The 80’s Depression (success kbir ghar-Rifffs fl-1981), Ray l-‘Ingliz’, Rayvin, Cooks u n-Najju, il-membri tal-grupp, taw sorpriza sabiha lil dawk prezenti meta inghaqdu ma Alex Grech u fuq il-palk habbru li regghu inghaqdu.
Ir-Rifffs huma popolari kemm ma dawk li ghexu l-era tas-snin tmenin kif ukoll mal-generazzjonijiet li gew wara. Fuq kollox “Music for the 80’s” kienet wahda mill-aqwa diski maltin ta’ kull zmien u tintghogob minn kulhadd. Il-lirika tirrifletti l-hajja u l-ambjent tipiku tas-snin tmenin fl-Ingilterra, fejn qatta hafna snin jghix Ray ‘l-Ingliz’, il-kantant tal-grupp. Il-muzika hija tipikament ska, b’ritmu u stil li kien ukoll invoga u popolari hafna fl-Ingilterra. Fil-fatt is-single kellha potenzjal qawwi u mill-ewwel giet irrekordjata fuq Alternative Music Records fl-Ingilterra. Ir-Rifffs baqghu jghixu u jdoqqu f’Londra filwaqt li s-single kienet qed tindaqq regolarment fuq stazzjonijiet tar-radju inglizi. Kienet irrakomandata minn bosta prezentaturi maghrufa barranin fosthom John Peel (li miet ftit taz-zmien ilu). Dan kollu kien juri li r-Rifffs kienu se jiksbu success kbir barra minn xtutna. Pero sfortunatament id-destin kien wiehed kiefer, il-holma tar-Rifffs taret mar-rih meta gara l-‘impossibli’…id-dar tad-diski ingliza falliet u waqaf kollox. Ir-Rifffs irritornaw Malta pero b’rashom mghollija. Bdew jaghtu kuncert kbir wara l-iehor fosthom fir-Raffles, l-Ambassador, Caesars u f’Tigne bhala supporting band ta’ Classic Nouveaux. L-ahhar kuncert taghhom kien gewwa r-Raffles fil-Milied tal-1982.
“Jien bhal hafna ohrajn kelli xewqa kbira li nerga nara lir-Rifffs flimkien. Ikkuntatjajt lil Ray l-‘Ingliz’ diversi drabi pero kien difficli peress li Rayvin kien jahdem u jghix barra minn Malta ghal hafna snin. Pero n-nostalgija tas-snin tmenin m’ghandiex limiti. Rayvin gie lura jfittex lil shabu biex dak li kienu bdew flimkien jitlesta u jigi rrekordjat. B’hekk ix-xewqa ta’ hafna segwaci tar-Rifffs zgur li ser issir realta!” Alex Grech qal.
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Rifffs are back !!
Alex Grech had just returned from the Rifffs rehearsing studio.
'It's kind of scary because I remembered these guys well, back in 1981 when Dance Music for the 80's Depression was out. They were so cool and popular. Ok... they were in their 20's back then, so called post punk teenagers with a 'happy go lucky' attitude... yet they're over the moon now, so excited and full of energy to take the stage again, 24 years on. Being at their garage, watching them rehearse and listening to their music was like a rollercoaster ride. They still sound good, positive and happy. Rifffs have matured but they're fun to be with... and take my word... they are still one of the best top three maltese bands of all time" Alex said.
Their last gig was during a Christmas Party at Raffles in 1982. Nobody ever imagined that Rifffs will ever reform and return on stage after such a long time. The Band surprised the whole crowd at the Gianpula Reflex 80's Party held last March when they officially announced their reunion. And they had a very hectic schedule since then. Rehearsals, songwriting, recording of their new single 'Life of Crime' (on air on all local radio stations), interviews with the media and getting ready for their first concert in 24 years.
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