Ely Buendia, Raimund Marasigan, Buddy Zabala, and Marcus Adoro formed the Filipino rock band Eraserheads, or E-Heads. The band’s songs, albums, and EPs have all charted at number one. The release of their third album, Cutterpillow, which went platinum many times, demonstrated their commercial success. The Eraserheads is one of the most successful musical groups in Philippine history, with a global career that garnered them the MTV Video Music Awards’ “Moon Man” distinction. Their diverse songs were well-received in the Philippines’ underground and mainstream music cultures. The Eraserheads influenced the sound of Pinoy rock by mixing different musical forms like as pop, rock, reggae, and synthpop.
History
During their first year at the University of the Philippines, Diliman, Marcus Adoro (AB Philosophy), Buddy Zabala (BS Library and Information Science), and Raimund Marasigan (AB Mass Communication) were members of The Curfew. Around the time their female vocalist left, Ely Buendia, a Mass Com sophomore, posted a wanted ad in the Kalayaan Residence Hall where the three were housed, looking for possible members of his band, Sunday School. Adoro, Zabala, and Marasigan were the only ones that answered to the advertising. During their audition, Marasigan played bass and Zabala played drums, but Adoro and Buendia ordered them to switch. When they were in their second year at the school, three members of the band relocated to Molave Residence Hall, which also housed the Buendia.
The band’s name was inspired by David Lynch’s 1977 “black and white, dismal” film Eraserhead, which was exhibited in one of Buendia’s Premier magazines. According to Buendia, the film and its title had no value when they were given up. The band began by singing songs by other bands, such as The Cure, Metallica, The Beatles, and The Cult, but swiftly transitioned to presenting original material, especially after their audience responded well to one of Buendia’s earlier works, Pare Ko. They performed on campus often, most notably during Romeo Lee’s annual here Is Elvis? performance series at the University Library. Adoro claimed they had become “mini-celebrities” in the underground collegiate music scene. As a result of a string of successful appearances at student parties, they decided to send out cassettes in the hopes of landing a recording deal.
The band was turned down by every record label they auditioned for and sent their demo to at the time, including the “Araw ng Rejection” day when they visited record labels in Makati and were turned down by everyone on their list due to the rising popularity and preference for balladeers like Martin Nievera and Regine Velasquez. Someone even informed Marasigan that they were turned down because “‘di Kasi kayo gwapo eh.”
Club Dredd, BMG Records
The Eraserheads dissolved soon after, lacking motivation in the underground environment. They were, however, asked to audition at the newly formed Club Dredd. The club’s founders, Patrick Reidenbach and Robbie Sunico, had previously seen them perform at a UP College of Fine Arts event. Buendia, who was working for BMG Records (Pilipinas) Inc. at the time as a label manager and copyrighter, also submitted the band’s demo tape. The Eraserheads quickly became a fan favorite at Club Dredd, especially among UP students. The Eraserheads are usually televised on Tuesday evenings to accommodate the UP audience, which does not have classes on Wednesdays. Club Dredd, according to Marasigan, also pushed them to perform their own work, which helped them develop their skills early on.
Break-up
The departure of Buendia
Buendia said multiple times, long before his departure, that he wanted to seek other chances at the age of 30. He formally departed the band in March 2002, claiming management differences as the cause. Diane Ventura, Buendia’s wife and band manager, told PULP Magazine in 2007 that the feud sprang from a misunderstanding with the band’s roadie, which resulted in Buendia coming late to a mall engagement, which the others misunderstood for unprofessionalism and a “rockstar” attitude. When the subject was raised, Ventura claims that manager Butch Dans arbitrarily preferred the roadie’s story over Buendia’s, even joking that Buendia and Ventura were “probably too high on drugs” to recall the band’s itinerary. Buendia informed the band of his departure by text message, stating that he had “graduated.”
Aftermath
In an interview, Zabala claimed that the band’s members were considering disbanding. He stated they might have broken up on several times, but they did not. Adoro reiterated other fans’ comments that the band was growing too old and that continuing to do so was “selfish,” most likely in response to criticism that other bands should shine instead of Eraserheads. According to the band, Buendia’s departure was not hostile in any manner, and there was no yelling (sigawan) or conflict.
The three remaining Eraserheads decided to keep on. The “new” E-heads made their debut on April 19 in Makati City’s Hard Rock Cafe, with Fatal Posporos’ Kris Gorra-Dancel as the female singer-guitarist. Adoro, on the other hand, was only in the band for a few months before departing. The Eheads’ remaining members renamed their band “Cambio” after adding Diego Mapa and Ebe Dancel to their lineup.
Artistry and Public Image
The Eraserheads were recognized for their carefree and irreverent attitude early in their career, with fans complimenting their casual attire and long hair, as well as their unconventional and hilarious demeanor during concerts and interviews. According to Adoro, their tough look was a protest against ROTC education, which demanded crew cuts. The songs of the band are known for being both unorthodox and lyrical, and they generally deal with teenage themes like as university life, unrequited love, friendships, vices, and petty topics. With declared tongue-in-cheek references to sex and drugs like Maling Akala and Alapaap, or simple obscenity like Pare Ko, these songs tended to create controversy.