Noah (formerly known as Peterpan; and later stylized as NOAH) are an Indonesian rock band formed as Peterpan in Bandung, West Java in 2000, which consisted of six members: Ariel, Andika, Indra, Lukman, Reza and Uki, with Andika as the leader. Most of their lyrics are written by Ariel, who is the band's lead vocalist. The band currently consists of three members: Ariel, Lukman, and David; and is currently on hiatus since New Year 2024.
Starting their career by playing in cafés, Peterpan gained popularity in 2002 after recording "Mimpi yang Sempurna" for a compilation album Kisah 2002 Malam, followed by a debut album Taman Langit in 2003 that was an enormous hit in the country. They gained further popularity in 2004 with their second album Bintang di Surga, which sold over three million copies and won Best of the Best Album in Indonesian Music Awards (AMI) among other awards. A soundtrack album for the film Alexandria released in 2005, also sold over a million copies. Peterpan has won various awards including two MTV Asia Awards for Favorite Artist Indonesia and Best Contribution Award at the 2007 Asia Song Festival. After keyboardist Andika and bassist, Indra split from the band in 2006 keyboardist David joined in 2006, and later became a permanent member after 2 years. Their third and last studio album as Peterpan Hari yang Cerah launched in 2007 continued the band's success. After that, the band agreed to change their name in 2009.
The announcement of a new name was planned in 2010, but it was delayed because vocalist Ariel was arrested that year. After Ariel was released in 2012, the new name, Noah, was announced. Noah regained their popularity in 2012 with their first album, Seperti Seharusnya, which gained huge success by selling over a million copies in Indonesia and winning their second AMI Award for Best of the Best Album. Drummer Reza split from the band in 2015, around the same time Noah released their second album, Second Chance, where they collaborated with Steve Lillywhite. Rhythm guitarist Uki also split from the band in 2019 after the release of Keterkaitan Keterikatan album which won another AMI Award for Best of the Best Album.
As of 2020, Noah has sold more than 9 million albums in Indonesia and is recognized as the best selling alternative pop/rock band in the country. They are regarded as one of the most successful bands in the history of Indonesia's popular music. Three of their albums are included on the list of Indonesian all time best selling albums at #4 for Bintang di Surga, #5 for Seperti Seharusnya, and #15 for OST Alexandria.
Contents
History
1997–2000: Formation and early years
In 1997, keyboardist Andika formed a school band in Bandung, Indonesia that was called Topi, with Abel as bassist, Ari as drummer, and Lukman as guitarist who joined the band after being invited by Abel. Lukman later asked his friend and a high-school student, Ariel, to be the vocalist since he was interested with Ariel's voice. Ariel then proposed his friend Uki as guitarist and Lukman approved it. Topi played in cafés — starting in the B Club café as their first appearance — birthday parties, independence day celebrations, and art festivals. Uki, Ariel, and Lukman decided to leave the band after seeing no vision for the band and Topi disbanded soon after.
While taking an academic break after graduating from high school, Ariel is requested to join Andika's new band, reuniting with Uki and Ari as well as meeting new additions of Indra (bass) and Nendy (guitar). The band was later named Universe and performed in O'Hara café. Lukman later replaced Nendy due to his mismatch with the band and Reza, Indra's bandmate in Second Act, took Ari's position because he was considered to be unable to follow the band's performance.
2000–2009: Peterpan
Andika regrouped former members of Topi in 2000, the drummer was replaced by Ilsyah Ryan Reza, a college student from Palu. Loekman Hakim, a friend of Indra's elder brother, joined as their lead guitarist. Andika Naliputra Wirahardja suggested Peterpan as the name for the band referring to Peter Pan, the character created by J. M. Barrie, an author (other names they considered were Spiderman and X-Men). But according to Ariel, the name was taken from the name of a rabbit satay stall at the side road in Puncak, Bogor, that Andika and his mom visited while taking a rest on the trip to Bandung from Jakarta. The band was formally founded on September 1, 2000. Peterpan played on Bandung streets and gigged in cafés, with the goal of becoming a house band in one of the city's cafés. They often covered alternative rock and rock songs, (Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Coldplay, U2, Creed, Lifehouse, The Calling etc.) at O'Hara and Sapu Lidi cafés.
While Peterpan performed as a Caffeine's opening act at Sapu Lidi, Noey, Java Jive's bassist, Caffeine's manager, and producer who planned to release a compilation album that was later known as Kisah 2002 Malam, spotted the band and asked them to fill a Musica Studio's album compilation as a replacement for a band that left the project. Peterpan recorded three demo songs: "Sahabat", "Mimpi yang Sempurna", and "Taman Langit". "Mimpi yang Sempurna" was chosen for the album. The album was commercially successful, selling a respectable 150,000 copies, and "Mimpi yang Sempurna" was given heavy rotation on Indonesian radio.
Peterpan later toured to several cities like Malang and Makassar as a part of Kisah 2002 Malam's promotion, that made their first appearances outside of Bandung. While on tour, Peterpan covered several bands' songs such as Red Hot Chili Peppers and Radiohead, where their debut single, "Mimpi yang Sempurna", was performed as an encore. On 15 December 2002, Peterpan made their television debut in Trans TV's first anniversary, "Setahun Melangkah Trans TV".
Musica Studio's offered Peterpan a contract and released their debut studio album, Taman Langit, in June 2003. By releasing mega-hits such as "Sahabat", "Mimpi Yang Sempurna" on a piano version, "Aku dan Bintang", "Semua Tentang Kita", "Topeng", and "Yang Terdalam", their debut studio album instantly become hugely popular around the country and made them superstars. The album has sold over 650,000 copies making Peterpan reach a Multi-Platinum Award.
2009–2012: Unnamed band and instrumental album Suara Lainnya
After retiring the Peterpan name, Ariel, Uki, Lukman, Reza and David continued to play without a band name, using their names as a placeholder. Ariel said that they were planning to announce their new band name in 2010, when they have finished their next album. But this plan was delayed because Ariel was arrested in 2010 for a sex tape scandal.
During Ariel's time in prison, the band worked on an album containing instrumental arrangements of Peterpan songs. Even though the album was instrumental, the vocalist Ariel was still involved by giving the band ideas any time his bandmates visited him in prison. The album, titled Suara Lainnya, was released on 23 May 2012, credited under the name "Ariel, Uki, Lukman, Reza, David". The album's release was supported by a concert, titled "Konser Tanpa Nama", held by Uki, Lukman, Reza and David on 29 May 2012. The instrumental concert was said to be the first of its kind in Indonesia.
2012–2023: Noah
After Ariel was released early on July 23, 2012, Ariel, Uki, Lukman, Reza and David announced their new name, Noah, on August 2, 2012. According to the band, they were not specifically referencing the prophet Noah. Ariel stated that he simply thought the name was simple and fit with their music. Then on August 3, 2012, the band released their first single under then Noah name, "Separuh Aku", via simultaneous airplay on 200 radios at 15.08 WIB, refers to release date. On August 9, 2012, Noah released a book titled Kisah Lainnya.
On 15–16 September 2012, Noah held a concert in five countries in 24-hour span in Melbourne, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, and Jakarta. With this concert, Noah broke another Indonesian World Records Museum (MURI) record, after previously breaking a MURI record in 2004. Their first album under the Noah name, Seperti Seharusnya, was released on the same day. The album was sold through KFC outlets and has sold over 200 thousand copies in three days since its release. By February 2013, the album has sold over one million copies and Noah received a Multi-Platinum Award. With over a million sales, Seperti Seharusnya was one of the best-selling albums in Indonesia.
By the commercial success of their album Seperti Seharusnya, Noah won many awards. In the 2013 Indonesian Music Award (AMI), Noah ranked top in the nominations by obtaining 10 nominations. Four of them were printed through the song "Separuh Aku". Of the 10 nominations, Noah won 6 awards, including "Best Pop Duo/Group", "Best Pop/Urban Recording Producer", "Best of the Best Production Work" for the single Separuh Aku, and "Best Pop/Urban Album", "Best of the Best Album" for album Seperti Seharusnya. At the Anugerah Planet Muzik which is an annual award given to the most popular artists from Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia. Noah won the award "Best Band" twice in the second consecutive year (2013 and 2014) for both songs "Separuh Aku" and "Tak Lagi Sama", and "APM Most Popular Artist" in 2014. Noah also won The Nickelodeon Indonesia Kids' Choice Awards in 2013 as "Favorite Band".
In June 2014, Noah announced that they were making new songs and a new album and that they were working with an English producer, Steve Lillywhite, to produce them. The collaboration resulted in Noah's first English-language song, "Hero", which was released as a single via airplay in 170 radios on August 6, 2014, and in iTunes on August 7, 2014.
Community
Now, NOAH's fanbase has expanded up to 60 communities in Indonesia, and also including Malaysia, Singapore, Hongkong and Taiwan, mainly known as 'Sahabat NOAH'.
Case and controversy
Riots at concerts
Like many other popular musicians in Indonesia, Noah's concerts have experienced problems. On February 22, 2006, at Harapan Bangsa Lhongraya Stadium, at least 30 spectators fainted, most being young women. The concert was also said to have violated Shariah law in Aceh because of the mixing of male and female spectators in the show field.
The riots at concerts not only affected the spectators but also members of the group performing. An example of this occurred on April 11, 2006, during a Peterpan concert in Bima Stadium, Cirebon, when rocks were thrown by the spectators who had no tickets outside of the stadium. This event caused harm to dozens of the spectators inside the stadium which prompted many of them to rush to various hospitals due to being hit by the falling stones, as well as the vocalist, Ariel, who was struck in the chest before he was secured to the outside of the stadium. As a result of the incident, the concert was stopped when the band was performing their fifth song of the night, "Mungkin Nanti", at around 20:30 WIB.
Sex tape scandal
In 2010, Ariel was arrested for violating Indonesian anti-pornography laws, when videos which appeared to be himself having sexual intercourse circulated on the internet, after his laptop was reportedly stolen.
In January 2011, Bandung's District Court sentenced Ariel to three and a half years imprisonment after testimonies by digital forensic experts confirmed that Ariel was the male counterpart in the sex tape scandal, involving Luna Maya and Cut Tari, and that he was responsible for the creation of the videos. In April, an appeal to the High Court was rejected, with judges deciding unanimously to uphold the sentence given by the District Court.
On 23 July 2012, after serving two years in prison, Ariel was released early for good behavior.