Atlam, was formed in 1978 by Charles Saliba and his twin brothers, Lizio and Stephen Saliba, in their hometown of Ħaż-Żabbar. Initially, the band performed at local events, gradually expanding their repertoire and influence. With the addition of their cousin, Charles Galea, the band's lineup solidified: Charles on guitars and vocals, Lizio on bass and backing vocals, Stephen on drums, and Charlie on keyboards and backing vocals. Atlam's music was deeply influenced by the rock and roll and pop sounds of the 1960s. Their performances featured covers of iconic bands such as The Beatles, Elvis Presley, The Rolling Stones, The Hollies, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and The Shadows. This homage to the sixties helped them build a local fan-base, playing almost every weekend at weddings, bars, and community events.
The band began to compose their own material, with most songs written by Charles and Lizio, and contributions from the other members. Their first record, F’Imħabba w fis-Sliem, was recorded at LJR Studio in Żabbar. Inspired by their friend Tony Mugliette, they transformed their practice space into a recording studio. During this time, they recorded several tracks, including Atlam (an instrumental), Kemm Nixtieq, Ninsab il-bogħod, Lilek Irrid, Ġrajja ta’ Sajjied, and Tfajla ta’ qalbi. These songs, reflecting their sixties rock and ballad influences, were released on a cassette titled Imħabba w Sliem around 1982.
As their musical style evolved, Atlam began experimenting with harder rock sounds influenced by bands like Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, and Led Zeppelin. This shift was marked by the addition of Tony Mugliette as a vocalist, transforming Atlam into a rock band. Their new style debuted at a three-day rock festival at il-Marsa grounds, followed by a performance at the Ta’ Qali Music Festival. Songs like The End of the World, Ghost Rider, and Desperate Life became staples in their set-list. The departure of Tony Mugliette led to the recruitment of Silvio Bonnici, whose high-pitched vocals inspired new compositions. Atlam's cover versions of Led Zeppelin and their medley Stars of Sabbath, featuring Black Sabbath hits, became crowd favorites. The band's lineup at this time included Silvio Bonnici on vocals, Charles Galea on keyboards, Lizio Saliba on bass and backing vocals, Stephen Saliba on drums, and Charles Saliba on guitars and backing vocals. Their most memorable concert occurred on July 9, 1983, during a Rokarja AST gig at the Tigne Chapel, where Stars on Sabbath had to be performed three times due to popular demand.
To differentiate between their commercial pop side and their rock persona, the band adopted a dual identity. They continued to perform as Atlam for weddings and other events while their rock performances were under the name V-Gile, with Ralph Camilleri as their manager. V-Gile's first notable performance was a Rock Mass at The Stones Discotheque, featuring music composed by Charles Saliba and lyrics by Josette Micallef. This mass was also performed at the Birkirkara Parish Church. Parallel to their performances, V-Gile worked on a rock opera titled Victims, written by Lawrence Micallef. The opera, which aimed to raise awareness about drug abuse, was partially performed at various cultural events but never fully staged due to production challenges. Despite attempts to collaborate with Caritas, disagreements over the opera's title halted its full realisation.
The band's lineup saw changes over the years, with Anton Scicluna replacing Lizio on bass and Edward Mifsud joining on guitars and vocals. Charles Galea left the band due to work commitments. Atlam continued to perform at venues like Jerma Palace and Corinthia, with a consistent presence at an open-air restaurant in Rabat. From 1995 onwards, performances by Atlam and V-Gile became occasional, with Charles and Stephen remaining the core members. Charles kept the band's legacy alive, performing in Libya and notably headlining a concert for the Commonwealth countries in 2009 alongside German and British bands. Atlam participated in tribute concerts, including “Ir-Rock It-Tajjeb” in 2016 and a performance at SixteenSeven Sports Bar & Grill in 2019. Their journey from a local band playing sixties covers to a prominent rock act reflects their adaptability and enduring appeal, cementing their place in Malta's musical history.
References and photos: M3P - Malta Media Memory Preservation
The last concert by Atlam was in January 2020 at The Cavern Liverpool, performing over one hour songs of The Beatles