PLAGUE OF HAPPINESS started from a bond of friendship build by johorean/malaysia circle of skateborders. Augmenting their music form passion, self taught and by heart. They expand through malaysia music scene by nothing except music.
Plague of Happiness is a third wave ska band formed in early 1999 in pasir gudang/johor bahru, Malaysia. The band was formed with nas long time skate friends since his primary school years. The band has been noted for its strict DIY work ethics and self-promoting of their own shows.
2000 - Record a song for a music video to enter Malaysia Video Awards (MVA) for a friend studied at Lim Kok Wing. But didn’t get the chance to enter MVA, we make our friend miss the submission date. But Plague Of Happiness manages to release their DEMO/EP called nanban. Release in August 2000. It was release independent under friend/mentor grind/metal label called ORGASMATRON RECORD. Surprisingly Plague Of Happiness Manage to sold 1000 unit of cassette less then 6 month independently. First gig in Singapore called AKS UPBEAT at Youth Park.
2001 - Travel and Gigs
2002 - Joining World Of SKA (Germany) website for exposure. Enter studio for the 2nd time for first compilation. Team up with other bands around Johor state and Singapore (SHERZO, FAGS AND STONED and FAIRY GOAT MUDDER). The compilation was called BEFORE WE WERE YOUNG. It was release owned registered label called NYARING. Send A song called “13th May” to an independent label in Bulgaria called TROSKOT Records, for join benefit compilation for spastic children. The compilation was called ZAAAS. First radio airplay at Athens, Greece in a radio show called SPRAWL ZONE. It was played through Athens University Radio Chain.
2003 - Opening Act for THE BUSINESS (30th March 2003). Contribute 3 Songs for GEDEBE soundtrack (Independent Movie direct by Nam Ron/PALOH). Plague Of Happiness in VCD called SKA WARS with GERHANA SKA CINTA, KING DJANGO AND THE SELECTED ALL STARS, SECRET AGENT 606, and etc. Recorded 4 songs for EUROPE 4-WAY SPLIT with LAME DUCK (Norway), THE SQUARE (Norway) and SMOOTH LEE (Belgium). It’s a join release by FUCKING NORTH POLE RECORDS (Norway), TROSKOT RECORDS (Bulgaria) and NYARING RECORDS (Malaysia). The 4-way split release was called ALL OF THE SKA BANDS ARE SPLITTING UP. It was release on 2003 with a short tour. Plague Of Happiness couldn’t join the tour because of financial problem.
2004 - The 4-way split release in Malaysia by NYARING independently. Re-Record BOOKIES in tribute to ACAB under CLOCKWORK RECORDS (Malaysia). It was release on the same year called TRIBUTE TO ACAB VOLUME 1. 17th June 2005 guest at REDROTTW RADIO SHOW under RED104.9 and ROTTW Magazine. Songs “VIVA LA PUNK” and “LEPASKAN” in 4-way split was first Airplay on the day itself. Few days after that “LEPASKAN” was Air played on normal radio show in RED104.9. And entered one of the radio show chart called CARTA 21. The highest rank that Plague Of Happiness goes with “LEPASKAN” is number 6, and the song stays in the chart for about 16 weeks. The band pretty stoked about it because that is so much for a band without an album.The based work for Plague Of Happiness first debut album started. Ask for an old friend to help producing it. He was Rithan (Deja Voodoo Spells).
2005 - 21st April 2005 first appearance on television at 8TV show called LATTE@8. 10th June 2005 first sponsorship on VISION STREET WEAR shoes by N&Z SKATESHOP, PLAZA ANGSANA. August 2005 Plague Of Happiness was invited again by 8TV for a 30 minutes interview and live performance in their program called Homegrown.
2006 - A special project by Plague Of Happiness and CROSSOVER (apparel company) was started on the early 2005 to design and produce a Plague Of Happiness signature skate shoe. The signature shoe was launch on September 2006.
2007 - End of March the band actually gets the chance to record their full length album. Rithan (Deja Voodoo Spells) have to retire producing Plague album due to time constraints. Plague Of Happiness successfully recorded their album end of August 2007. Plague Of Happiness single ‘KAWAN’ is radio airplay on several radio station such as Hotfm, Red104.9 and Suria. Perform a full house gig at ZOUK, KL fighting for poverty on 11 November
2007. Invited to perform at NOKIA Teater, at Esplanade, Singapore on 9th December 2007. Will record KAWAN videoclip on 15/16th December 2007. Self distribute album between 19th December until 30th December throughout Malaysia (Including Sabah/Sarawak).
