Eraserheads: Band of the Masses

Episode on March 9, 2009 Monday night after Saksi It was the year 1993. Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls captured the NBA championship. Bill Clinton is sworn as the 42nd President of the United States. In the Philippines, Eraserheads’ very first album Ultraelectromagneticpop was released in public. And the rest, as they say, is history. Almost a decade has passed since the iconic band Eraserheads shocked the music scene with their controversial split up. In 2002, members Ely Buendia, Marcus Adoro, Buddy Zabala, and Raymund Marasigan, decided to part ways and eventually formed their respective bands. Since then, the “Fab Four" of the Philippines never looked back at the legacy that they have left. Not until last year, when bigwigs in the music industry joined forces and collaborated for a very ambitious project --- a reunion concert for the E-heads. Controversies and technical problems marred the project, but the huge clamor for their comeback paved way for the concert to push through. Tens of thousands of fans trooped to Taguig to watch the four sing and play their songs together. But just after the first set, lead singer Ely had a heart attack. The concert was cut short, and the fans were left hanging and wanting for more. This March, Ely, Raymund, Marcus and Buddy go back on stage for the very last time in the Final Set, the second part of the band’s reunion concert. Jay Taruc, an E-Heads fan himself, documents the preparations behind this much awaited event, and looks back at the huge influence that E-Heads had created among Pinoy bands and musicians today. He gets an exclusive interview with the Fab Four, and talks to the people who have been part of their journey, from their UP heydays up until their disbandment. Relive the magic of the Eraserheads and hark back to the songs that made this band a music icon in this must-see documentary on I-Witness, Monday late night over GMA-7.

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Taong 1993. Nag-champion ang Chicago Bulls sa NBA sa pangunguna ni Michael Jordan. Nanumpa bilang Presidente ng Amerika si Bill Clinton. Dito sa Pilipinas, inilabas ang Ultraelectromagneticpop, ang kauna-unahang album ng bandang Eraserheads. At sa taong ito nila inukit ang kanilang marka sa kasaysayan ng OPM sa Pilipinas. Halos isang dekada na ang lumipas matapos ang kontrobersyal na paghihiwalay ng landas ng mga miyembro ng sikat na bandang Eraserheads. Matapos magkawatak-watak sina Ely Buendia, Marcus Adoro, Buddy Zabala, at Raymund Marasigan, bumuo sila ng kanya-kanyang banda at gumawa ng sariling mga pangalan sa industriya. Hindi na muling binalikan ng “music icon" ng dekada nobenta ang pagsasamang nagluklok sa kanila sa rurok ng kasikatan. Hanggang noong isang taon, nang magsama-sama ang mga kilalang tao sa industriya para sa isang napakalaking proyekto --- isang reunion concert para sa Eraserheads. Pinutakti ng kontrobersya at problema ang proyekto, pero dahil sa matinding ingay na ginawa nito, natuloy ang reunion concert. Libo-libong katao ang dumagsa sa Taguig para muling mapanood ang pagtugtog at pagkanta ng sama-sama ng "Fab Four" ng Pilipinas. Pero sa kasamaang palad, naputol ang concert dahil pagkatapos pa lang ng first set, inatake sa puso ang lead singer na si Ely. Nabitin ang publiko, at nag-demand ng second reunion. Ngayong Marso, muling mabubuo ang banda para sa pangalawa at huli nilang konsyerto bilang Eraserheads. Susundan ni Jay Taruc ang paghahanda nina Ely, Raymund, Marcus at Buddy para sa kanilang "Final Set," at kikilalanin kung sino nga ba talaga ang E-Heads sa mata ng taong kanilang nakasama sa paglalakbay tungo sa tagumpay, mula noong sila’y nasa UP pa lang hanggang sa kanilang paghihiwalay. Muling pakinggan at kantahin ang mga awitin ng ating buhay mula sa “Eraserheads: Banda ng Masa" sa I-Witness ngayong Lunes ng hatinggabi sa GMA-7.