#Showbiz: Ali of XPDC beats stroke to rock the stage again

KUALA LUMPUR: The current vocalist of legendary 1990s band XPDC, Mohd Ali Ismail, known as Ali, says he can now sing in his original key again, thanks to rehabilitation treatment after suffering a mild stroke in March last year.

The 54-year-old said there were moments he would struggle to speak eloquently, but it was much easier when it came to singing.

"It's different because I may have sung the songs many times before, and sometimes there's the prompter in front of me," he told reporters at an event to announce the upcoming Konsert Lagenda Rock Vol 1 yesterday.

Ali added that he was grateful he was recovering well and that he might not need to go for any follow-up rehab sessions.

"But having said that, I still get anxiety attacks, and my heart will beat faster, especially in a crowd. 

"So, I always bring this medication with me which would help calm me down," he said, hoping he would not be dependent on the pills.

Earlier in September 2021, he was hospitalised after he had a heart attack.

In January last year, he was hospitalised again after he had breathing difficulty due to complications from a heart problem.

In March 2020, he suffered burns on his face and arm when he set rubbish ablaze at his home compound.

Ali, his band XPDC, and Rusty Blade, May and Babylon are scheduled to perform at the concert at Sungei Wang Plaza's Mega Star Arena on July 16.