Amizan, better known as Mizan, started his performing career in 1980 as a guitarist, in the nightclub circuits up north in Butterworth and Penang. Born in Kuala Lumpur but raised in Kedah, it was already considered an achievement for one to be part of the night music scene at the tender age of 16.

After completing his Sixth Form, Mizan moved to Kuala Lumpur, but gave up performing live for about six years. Instead, he made a living in various industries - hotel management, advertising and computer sales.

As fate would have it, one day, he was introduced to the late, great Mike Bernie Chin and his Asia Entertainment Network, an agency hiring musicians and performers nationwide as club acts. By this time, Mizan had picked up piano & keyboard skills. He became a member of band named HOTLINE that was immediately offered a contract at 11LA Discotheque in Kuala Lumpur in 1991.

The gig lasted for 18 months but, unfortunately, soon after the contract expired, the band could only get gigs as a replacement act at places like Blues Café, Jimmy Dean's, Machine One and Network Bangsar. This eventually led to its breakup.

Mizan went back to working in the day at C K Music Sdn Bhd - a company that distributes musical instruments for the Malaysian market. He was, at the time, travelling around the country and teaching government schoolteachers how to play keyboards.

After being promoted to the manager position, he again quit the performing industry for another two years until he was invited to team up with a band named PRIMADONNA who was already performing at Subang Merlin in 1994. The band lasted for about two years with regular contracts at hotels and dance clubs around Kuala Lumpur. The highlight for Primadonna was when it tied up with Marlboro for a two-year nationwide tour of the country and performing for the Marlboro Adventure Team outward-bound parties.

Still working by day, Mizan ventured into the pub scene by night performing at the popular Man's café in TTDI and Online Pub in Damansara Kim.

FROM SAHARA TO AIR SUPPLY

In 1996, he was offered to be the first act to play at Bentley's Pub of Nikko Hotel, alongside the Malaysia's Tina Turner, Sahara Yaacob. The hotel scene, with its emphasis on jazz and broadway, at the time, was not his cup of tea, so after four months he formed ANIMO - a rock band featuring Jatt (Black Dog Bone), Samad (Lefthanded), Yazit (Search) and Aub (Barongan) for a short stint at Hard Rock Café KL. The band went on later to become ROCKAFELLA - a rock giant in the Kuala Lumpur club scene.

In 1997, Mizan returned to the hotel entertainment circuit by joining JUST FRIENDS, starting off with a contract at Monkey Bar of Legend Hotel. The band did well racking up contracts later at New World Hotel, ParkRoyal Hotel and Concorde Hotel.

That same year, Mizan had a chance to back AIR SUPPLY in an half-hour performance.

In 1998, Mizan formed his own six-piece band named 2520 to perform at the XVI Commonwealth Games, held in Kuala Lumpur. After the Commonwealth stint, he went on to form a successful three-piece act named TRINITY that played at Parkroyal, Impiana Hotel, Nikko Hotel, Corus Hotel and then Eastin Hotel PJ. Trinity was a fixture at the KL hotel/clubs music scene for four solid years.

Another highlight of his career was when he led a band that backed RONAN KEATING for the 'Life Is A Rollercoaster' album launch at Bintang Walk in 2000.

Mizan later re-focused on regular one-night performances around Kuala Lumpur, PJ and Subang area and cashed in on countless corporate dinner functions and wedding events, even doubling as emcee during some Chinese weddings!

Presently, Mizan holds his own as a vocalist and keyboard player for Backyard's regular Friday act, Jericho. He also plays at Waikiki PJ on Wednesdays while holding the fort at C K Music by day.

He can be contacted at tel: 012-224 8801.

Below is a quick reference of the places that Mizan has performed at:

1991/92
- 11LA Discotheque, Kuala Lumpur
1994/95
- Lobby Lounge, Subang Merlin
- Musictheque, Istana Hotel Kuala Lumpur
- Century Park Taman Melawati
- Scandals KL Plaza
1996
- Online Pub, Damansara Kim
- Mans’café, Taman Tun Dr Ismail
- Bentley Pub, Nikko Hotel
- Hard Rock Café
- Rihga Royal, Miri
1997
- Monkey Bar, Legend Hotel KL
- Stage Lounge, New World Hotel
- Lobby Lounge, Parkroyal Hotel
- Crossroads, Concorde Hotel
- Riverside Majestic, Kuching
1998/2001
- Lobby Lounge, Parkroyal Hotel
- Impiana Hotel, Kuala Lumpur
- Bentley Pub, Nikko Hotel
- Lobby Lounge, Corus Hotel KL
- Lobby Lounge, Eastin Hotel PJ
2002 onwards
- Online Pub, Damansara Kim
- Bistro 1997, Sri Hartamas
- Backyard Pub, Sri Hartamas
- Havana Cigar Club, JW Marriot KL
- Replay Club, Pandan Perdana
- Waikiki PJ
- Salsa Funtheque, TTDI

(Updated: June 28, 2005)

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