Francis Magalona

YEARS ACTIVE IN MUSIC: 1989 – 2009

GROUP AFFILIATION/S: FRANCIS MAGALONA, THE EVIL STEPSISTERS, HARDWARE SYNDROME

90’S HITS: KALEIDOSCOPE WORLD, BAHAY YUGYUGAN, BOW-WOW-WOW, GIRL BE MINE, KABATAAN PARA SA KINABUKASAN, MAHIWAGANG KAMOTE, THREE STARS AND THE SUN, WHOLE LOTTA LOVIN

Francis Durango Magalona (October 4, 1964 – March 6, 2009), also known as FrancisM, Master Rapper, The Mouth and The Man From Manila, was a Filipino rapper, entrepreneur, songwriter, producer, actor, director, and photographer.

Born in Mandaluyong City, he was the first Filipino rapper in the Philippines to cross over into the mainstream. He was credited for having pioneered the merging of rap with Pinoy rock, becoming a significant influence to artists in that genre as well. He was also a television host on MTV Asia and Channel V Philippines and on noontime variety television show Eat Bulaga! Magalona died seven months after being diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia.Magalona was later awarded a posthumous Presidential Medal of Merit. The award's citation noted that it had been given "for his musical and artistic brilliance, his deep faith in the Filipino and his sense of national pride that continue to inspire us.

Magalona was the eighth of the nine children of actors Pancho Magalona and Tita Duran, popular film stars of the 1940s and 1950s. His grandfather, Enrique B. Magalona, was a politician and served as a Senator of the Philippines from 1946 to 1949 and from 1949 to 1955. He graduated from High School at the Don Bosco Technical College in Mandaluyong City from 1978 to 1981 and studied at the San Beda College in Manila from 1981–1984.

Magalona started out as a breakdancer in the 1980s. He was cast in several Filipino movies including Bagets 2. He was the resident DJ/rapper in the IBC-13 variety show Loveli'Ness.

Magalona was introduced by co-actor Richard Gomez to Pia Arroyo at a party in a disco owned by film director Ishmael Bernal, and the couple got married in 1985. The couple had eight children, two of whom were Magalona's stepchildren: Unna, Nicolo, Clara, and television personalities Maxene (Max) (1986), Francis Jr. (Frank) (1987), Saab (1988), Elmo (1994) and Arkin Magalona, who entered showbiz to follow their father's footsteps.

In 1990, he released the album Yo!, the first commercially released Filipino rap album. Yo! included several popular singles such as "Mga Kababayan" (Fellow Countrymen), "Gotta Let 'Cha Know", "Cold Summer Nights", and a duet with Pia Arroyo "Loving You Baby". With tracks that featured politically conscious and thought-provoking rhymes in both English and Tagalog, Yo! was a big success and helped catapult Filipino hip hop from underground to mainstream status. It also marked the birth of Makabayang (nationalistic) rap in Filipino hip hop.

In 1992, Francis Magalona released Rap Is FrancisM (1992). With tracks addressing the various cultural and social problems that plagued his country such as drug addiction in "Mga Praning" (Paranoids), political instability in "Halalan" (Elections) as well as the detrimental effects of a colonial mentality in "Tayo'y Mga Pinoy" (We Are Filipinos), the record's complexity and conscious message quickly earned it its classic status and became the standard by which future albums of the genre were to be compared]. This album helped tag Magalona as one of the most politically conscious voices of his generation.

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Agaw Agimat

YEARS ACTIVE: 1993 – PRESENT

GROUP ROSTER: QT PADUANO-NADELA, RENMIN NADELA, HANK PALENZUELA, JEPHTHAH WENCESLAO

90’S HITS: SABI NILA, KISS-A-ME, NAIS KO, WANLITELTU, KULANG, MIRAKOL, PROPETA NG BAYAN, TO OUR DEAR COMRADES, KULANG 
 Ang Agaw Agimat ay isang grupong Pinoy rock na sumikat noong kalagitnaang bahagi ng dekada 1990 sa Pilipinas. Kilala ang bandang ito sa kanilang mga awiting may temang politika o mga may kaugnayan sa pagbabago ng lipunan.

Mga kasapi

• QT Paduano Nadela, bokalista
• Renmin Nadela, taga-tambol
• Teta Tulay, bahista
• Jephthah Wenceslao, gitarista

Dating Kasapi : Lee Nadela, Jerem Sison, Hank Palenzuela

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Razorback

YEARS ACTIVE: 1990 – PRESENT

Members: KEVIN ROY, DAVID AGUIRRE, LOUIE TALAN, MIGUEL ORTIGAS, TIRSO RIPOLL, BRIAN VELASCO* (*replaced Ortigas when he left the band in ’96)

90’S HITS: GIYANG, TABI NG BULKAN, PEPE THE HEPE, PAYASO, IKOT NG MUNDO, VOODOO WHO DO, MY BANYO SONG, MUNTING PARAISO, AS SPICY AS IT GETS

Razorback is a Filipino hard rock band formed in 1990. Originally known for being regulars at the now-defunct Kalye, a club in Makati, the band has performed at full-scale concerts and opened for Silverchair, Rage Against the Machine and Metallica.

Razorback first began performing covers of legendary rockers such as Led Zeppelin, Juan de la Cruz Band, Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden. The group was put together by drummer Miguel Ortigas and guitarists Tirso Ripoll and David Aguirre.

In 1982, Miguel Ortigas met Tirso Ripoll through Ripoll's cousin in LSGH. Ortigas first handled guitars then later moved on to drums. Ortigas also studied in Yamaha School of Music, under Benjie Zialcita, who also taught Tirso Ripoll, Louie Talan and David Aguirre. It was in 1988, when they would usually watch their idols Pepe Smith, Sampaguita, Billy Bonnevie, Edmund Fortuno, and many others, in Electra Bar, Makati, where they decided to create something better.

One of their first songs was "Highway to Hell" by AC/DC, and with only Tirso, Miguel and David in the line-up, they first recruited Tirso's brother, Junus as bassist and Isabel Lozano as vocalist. During their formative years, the band was known as “Outrider”, with their first gig at Big Bang, Alabang. The group later joined Upsilon Sigma Phi-NU107's Battle of the Bands and won. From here on out, the band as “Razorback” was officially formed and played regularly in local bars such as Kalye, Club Dredd and Peligro.

Members of Razorback and Wolfgang used to jam onstage billed as the Flaming Hemorrhoids. Five years later, the band, original vocalist Jose Mari Cuervo was replaced by Kevin Roy on vocals, alongside Ripoll and Aguirre on guitars, Ortigas on drums and Louie Talan on bass, released their debut album entitled "Hebigat Sounds Volume One". (Hebigat is a portmanteau, created by fusing the words Hebi, a play on the English word heavy, and the Filipino word bigat, literally, heavy.) The album contained such tracks as "Giyang", "Tabi ng Bulkan (Beside the Volcano)" and "Pepe D' Hepe".

David Aguirre is now the lead guitarist for the Southern California-based band 3 Headed Dog. Manuel Legarda, also of Wolfgang, has taken over his guitar duties for Razorback. Brian Velasco, who was a drum instructor at RJ Guitar Center, later joined and replaced Miguel Ortigas on drums.

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Parokya Ni Edgar

YEARS ACTIVE: 1993 – PRESENT

Members: CHITO MIRANDA, VINCI MONTANER, BUHAWI MENESES, DARIUS SEMANA, GAB CHEE KEE, DINDIN MORENO

90’S HITS: BULOY, TRIP, MANIWALA KA SANA, LUTONG BAHAY, SILVERTOES,

HARANA, PANGARAP, PICHA PIE, INUMAN NA, HALAGA 

Parokya ni Edgar (English: Edgar's Parish) is a multi-award winning Filipino band formed in 1993. The band is famous for its original rock novelty songs and often satirical covers of popular songs both foreign and local. The band is adept at playing in various musical genres.

Parokya ni Edgar has been referred to by local media as "Pambansang Banda ng Pilipinas" (The National Band of the Philippines).

Despite having "Edgar" in the band's name, none of the members are named Edgar.

Originally named Comic Relief, the band's initial members were a group of high school students composed of vocalists Chito Miranda, Jeric Estaco, and Vinci Montaner, along with guitarists Mikko Yap and Gab Chee Kee, all hailing from Ateneo de Manila University. They were regulars in after-school jam sessions, before performing an opening number for an Eraserheads concert. This served as their break in the music industry and prompted them to add a drummer and bassist – schoolmate Dindin Moreno and Buwi Meneses, respectively. Around the same time they changed the band's name to Parokya ni Edgar. After high school, Mikko and Jeric withdrew from the band to pursue other interests. Soon after, the remaining band members invited their friend Darius Semaña to take the role of lead guitar.

The band name's origin has been a long time subject of disputes and debate from fans and audience a like as the band members has been evasive when it comes to the said topic since the group's inception, but not until 2013 when Chito Miranda officially posted the subject matter and confirmed it in their Facebook page. The name "Parokya Ni Edgar" actually came from a joke by a classmate named Bambi Cuna during one of their high school classes. Sources state that the class subject was Filipino. When the teacher asked Cuna where Jose Rizal's fictional hero, Crisostomo Ibarra (in the novel Noli Me Tangere), was educated, it was said that Cuna answered with the daft remark "sa Parokya ni Edgar". For some reason, former vocalist Jeric Estaco then decided to declare "Parokya ni Edgar" as their band name during an introduction on one of their first live performances in an impromptu manner and got stuck by it ever since.

Current members

    Chito Miranda – lead vocals (1993–present)

    Buwi Meneses – bass guitar (1993–present)

    Darius Semaña – lead guitar (1993–present)

    Gab Chee Kee – rhythm guitar, vocals (1993-present)

    Dindin Moreno – drums (1993–present)

Former members

    Vinci Montaner – backup vocals, occasional percussion, monologue, live comic relief (1993–2012) Montaner briefly reunited with the band in 2013 in a one night only appearance during the launching date of PNE's 13th album "Bente".

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Sandwich

(1995 – PRESENT)

Member: RAIMUND MARASIGAN, MARC ABAYA, DIEGO CASTILLO, MIKE DIZON, MYRENE ACADEMIA

90’S HITS: BUTTERFLY CARNIVAL, DI SINASADYA, CHEESE FACTOR SET TO 9

A Filipino alternative rock band from the Philippines. The band released 8 albums Grip Stand Throw (1999), 4-Track Mind (2000), Thanks To The Moon's Gravitational Pull (2003), Five on the Floor (2006), S Marks the Spot (2008), Contra Tiempo (2010), Fat Salt & Flame (2013), and Debris (2015) The band formed in 1998 by Raimund Marasigan (former drummer of Eraserheads) and Diego Castillo (The Aga Mulach Experience) for the purpose of fulfilling their mutual desire to work together. When Raimund Marasigan saw The Aga Muhlach Experience in a gig, He told to diego that he want to form a band that sounds like Weezer and Whales recruiting Diego Castillo and his band mates from The Aga Muhlach Experience consist of Mike Dizon (Teeth & Pedicab) to play drums and Myrene Academia (Imago & Duster) to handle bass duties. Sandwich was searching for a vocalist when music video director Marie Jamora recommended her friend Marc Abaya (Kjwan). After a few years, they met the most awesome band in Taft. Kombo! Kombo!, consists of members such as Patrick Baleros (Guitar), Miguel Pablo (Vocalist), Luis Hidalgo (Bass), Allen Gulmatico (Drummer), Popoy Relano (Hype man).

A few years earlier, Marasigan was a judge at a contest where Marc Abaya jammed to a Beastie Boys song with his high-school band, Shirley Beans. Abaya then joined Sandwich. When Abaya and Marasigan met each other, they jammed together performing Beastie Boys "Sabotage" for 8 hours. Although existing simultaneously with the Marasigan's foremost band at that time, Eraserheads, Sandwich provided a heavier, grittier sound, and built up their own fan base. Abaya was still in college at the time, and Marasigan would still tour occasionally with the Eraserheads, but these weren’t hindering factors for Sandwich, as there were many session musicians ready to take over in case of a member's absence.

Marc Abaya eventually left the band in 2005 and was replaced by Chicosci’s Mong Alcaraz. Raimund has resumed vocal duties

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Greyhoundz

 (1997 – PRESENT)

Member: REG RUBIO, NINO AVENIDO, AUDIE AVENIDO, TJ BRILLANTES, ALLEN CUDAL

90’S HITS: PIGFACE, MR. P.I.G., PARTY AT 802, Y?

Greyhoundz was formed in 1997 by cousins Niño and Audie Avenido who at first just wanted to join a local battle of the bands contest together with other bandmates that included Allen Cudal. The contest was canceled so they opted to audition at the now defunct Club DREDD that was based in Manila.

They later recruited Reg Rubio, who was from another band that also played at Club Dredd and TJ Brillantes came on board shortly after.

On the 6th of May 2004, Allen Cudal died from a car accident. The 2004 Pulp SummerSlam was the last time the band performed with their complete line up.

Despite the tragic event and as a sign of respect for their late band mate, the group now performs as a 4-piece band instead of hiring a new member.

 The name “Greyhoundz” was borrowed from the former band of Audie Avenido’s father.

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Wolfgang

YEARS ACTIVE: 1992 – 2002; 2007 – PRESENT

Members: BASTI ARTADI, MANUEL LEGARDA, MON LEGASPI, WOLF REMORA

90’S HITS: ARISE, HALIK NI HUDAS, DARKNESS FELL, TULISAN, MATA NG DIYOS, ANINO, NATUTULOG KONG MUNDO, ROADWORTHY MAN, CENTER OF THE SUN

Wolfgang is a Filipino rock band formed in January 1992 in Manila, Philippines. Wolfgang is notable for being the only Filipino rock band to release albums in Japan and the United States and for realizing Platinum record sales in their home country. After ten years, the original line-up broke up in 2002. Wolfgang reformed in 2007 with a different roster.

Vocalist Basti Artadi (born Sebastian Artadi) and drummer Wolf Gemora (born Leslie Gemora) began their musical careers with other local bands, while guitarist Manuel Legarda returned to the Philippines from living abroad in Spain. Gemora was inspired to form a band upon frequenting shows of another notable Filipino group, Razorback. He invited Legarda to join him and eventually the two found Basti Artadi singing with his former band, Sin City. Upon Legarda's invitation, Artadi joined the duo. In the first few months of inception, the group went through a number of bass players. They eventually met Mon Legaspi (who was recommended by Rizal Underground bassist, Angelo Villegas) who became their permanent bassist. They first dubbed themselves the "Wolfpack". They later adopted the name for the band, "Wolfgang", upon the suggestion of David Aguirre, one of the guitarists of Razorback.

As much as music in the Philippines was and is greatly influenced by western artists, Wolfgang took their cue from Metallica, Soundgarden, Santana, Pearl Jam, The Doors, Black Sabbath, Free, and their heroes Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Jimi Hendrix, Ozzy Osbourne, Pink Floyd and Aerosmith, among others. They began to play live gigs at Weekends Live! at the Atrium and the now-defunct Kalye Bar in Makati City. Their first big break came playing on Channel 29's RJ Junior Jam. 

 

 

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True Faith

YEARS ACTIVE: 1992 – PRESENT
Members: MEDWIN MARFIL, FRANCIS GUEVARRA, FERDIE MARQUEZ, CARYL CAMPOS, EAZER PASTOR, JUN DIZON, BIMBO YANCE,
90’S HITS: PERFECT, HUWAG NA LANG KAYA, MUNTIK NANG MAABOT ANG LANGIT, SA PUSO KO, ALAALA, BALIW, KUNDI RIN LANG IKAW, AWIT PARA SA KANYA

True Faith (or Truefaith) is a band from the Philippines, formed in 1992. They have become one of the Philippines' most popular and accomplished bands.

The band took its name from New Order's 1987 hit single "True Faith", revealing the group's new wave origins. At first, True Faith mined mid-'80s new wave sounds for its breezy pop formula, but the group eventually ventured further into the Philippine mainstream, firmly embracing middle of the road radio. Under the Viva Records label, the band has 13 best-selling albums. Their music is best described as a blend of jazz, folk, pop and rock music.

In 1993, a demo tape of the band's song "Perfect", a romantic ballad with jangling guitars and longing vocals à la the Railway Children and the Lotus Eaters, hit number one on the Manila Top 40 radio station 99.5 RT FM. The accessibility of "Perfect" opened the doors to the masses, a much larger crowd than the cult of fans who watched them perform new wave covers in small clubs. Signed to EMI Music in the Philippines, True Faith's 1995 album, Build, was the group's first big smash, elevating it to superstar status in its native land.

Current members
Medwin Marfil - Lead Vocals
Eugene Marfil - Acoustic Guitar / Vocals
Macky Macaventa - Bass Guitar
Allan Elgar - Lead Guitar
Jake Lumacad - Keyboards
Kaka Quisumbing - Drums

Former members
Caryl Campos
Eazer Pastor
Ferdie Marquez
Francis Guevarra
Yeng Remulla
Jay Valencia
Jun Dizon
Carlo Sison
Kenneth Ilagan
Bimbo Yance
Benedict Esguerra
Leo Barrite




 

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Yano

YEARS ACTIVE: 1993 – 97; 2007 – PRESENT

Members: DONG ABAY, ERIC GANCIO, ONIE BADIANG

90’S HITS: BANAL NA ASO, SANTONG KABAYO, TSINELAS, ESEM, SENTI, PAALAM SAMPAGUITA

Yano is a Filipino folk/punk rock band formed in 1993. The band members were originally composed of Dong Abay on vocals and Eric Gancio on guitar. Onie Badiang later joined them to play bass. Nowie Favila was the usual drummer but declined to join the group due to commitments with Ang Grupong Pendong. Other drummers of the band included Nonong Timbalopez, Harley Alarcon and Jun Nogoy. The band got their name when Abay looked through an entry in "Talahulugang Pilipino", an old Tagalog dictionary. "Yano" in Tagalog means "simple", a term often used by Tagalog speakers in the Province of Quezon. The group disbanded in 1997 after Abay left the band.

In 2007, Gancio revived Yano as a one-man band, although he continued to use sidemen as backing musicians for live performances. In later years, Gancio while performing vocals and lead guitars is accompanied by JR Madarang on bass and Ronald Madarang on drums. In 2013, Yano released their fourth studio album titled Talâ (Star).

In 1992, Dong Abay, Eric Gancio and Larry Mapolon met in Patatag, a progressive vocal ensemble. Gancio was chosen to represent 'Patatag' to a composite chorale group for a concert tour in Japan where he met Manji Ikuta who would be the front act in all their shows, with his band called 'Soso'. Manji gave Gancio a vintage semi-acoustic electric Yamaha, which Gancio later named 'Kai', in what was a pseudo samurai sort of ritual. In December 1992, Gancio invited Abay to the former's desire to journey into the adventure of writing his own songs. Gancio later met percussionist Renmin Nadela who later became the founder of 'Agaw Agimat'. The word Yano came up while browsing the Filipino dictionary for words. It was a Bisaya (Visayan) word (meaning 'simple'), Gancio then decided that the name appropriately symbolizes the songs that have already been written, as well as the style of songwriting.

They recorded their demo at the home studio of alternative artist Joey Ayala in June 1993. They brought two of the tracks, "Kumusta Na?," ("How Are You?") a song about the "EDSA Revolution", and "Kaka," a song about the 12-hour brownout during that time, to a local radio station L.A. 105.9 where the group was first heard. This paved the way for Yano to become active in the local club circuit. Mayrics, Club Dredd, 70s Bistro were among the first clubs that Yano performed in. Drummers for the band included Nowie Favila (Ang Grupong Pendong), Nonong Timbalopez (Put3Ska, Ex President's Combo), Jun Nogoy (Coffeebreak Island) and Harley Alarcon (Rizal Underground and POT. In 1994, the band's self-titled debut album came out, with rock songs including"Banal Na Aso, Santong Kabayo" ("Holy Dog, Saintly Horse"), "Tsinelas" ("Slippers") and "Esem" (wordplay for SM or Shoemart mall. This was followed by a string of successful concerts around the Philippine archipelago. Their first album from Alpha records (re-issued by BMG) reached quadruple platinum in 1994. After producing three studio albums, Abay quit during the late 1990s because of fame-induced pressure. The group later disbanded after Abay’s absence. 

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