Hungry Young Poets/Barbie's Cradle

YEARS ACTIVE: 1997* – 2005 (*Barbie’s Cradle started in 1998)
GROUP ROSTER: BARBIE ALMALBIS, FRANKLIN BENITEZ, RICCI GURANGO (as HYP), ROMMEL DELA CRUZ (as Barbie’s Cradle)
90’S HITS: As HYP – FIREWOMAN, TORPE, & PERSONAL FLIRT; As CRADLE – TABING ILOG, GOODNYT, & THE DANCE

Hungry Young Poets (aka HYP) was a band founded in the Philippines in 1997. They were originally formed as a duo by Barbie Almalbis (guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter) and Ricci Gurango (bassist). After releasing their first and only self-titled album, Franklin Benitez (drummer) officially completed the lineup as a trio.

In 1998, Gurango left the band to lead the cover band Little Green Men, before forming Mojofly. With Gurango's assertion of rights to the band's name, Almalbis and Benitez would later rename the group to Barbie's Cradle.

Barbie's Cradle later became a popular band, with Barbie Almalbis as lead vocalist, guitarist and songwriter, and Franklin Benitez as drummer. Rommel dela Cruz then joined the group as bassist, and by 1999, drummer Wendell Garcia joined replacing Benitez.

In 2005, the group disbanded and Almalbis went on to pursue a solo career, while Rommel dela Cruz soon became the bassist of Freestyle (the original bassist migrated to Australia).

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Backdraft

YEARS ACTIVE: EARLY 90’S – I DON’T KNOW

90’S HITS: ANAK NG GABI, SMB, SUGO NG DILIM, ANG HIMIG NATIN, DAMA DE NOCHE 

Backdraft was a Filipino metal band back in the 90's whose brand of metal is said to boarder on  "aggressive as well as the progressive." 

The band started out with Bim Samson on vocals, Mirt Togle and Ferdie Aquino on guitars, Tyrone Borromeo on bass, and MM Morales on drums during their 'garage days'. Bim was later replaced with Benedict Versoza and Jigs de Belen took over the skins. Later on, they then released the song that catapulted them into fame, S.M.B. (Sad Mad Ballad), in the now defunct rock station LA 105.9 back in early '94. (thanks R.Ramos for the info)

The band exploded into the Philippine music scene with the release of the 90's metal anthem "Anak ng Gabi" from the 'Dozen Alternatives' compilation album and their self-titled album from Neo Records back in 1994. A lot of the rockers and metal heads back then regard hits like "Asong Ulol", S.M.B. (Sad Mad Ballad), "Munting Hari" and "Sinungaling" as a staple, or a 'must-listen-to primer' into Pinoy Metal. Personally I also like "Manyika" because I get to laugh like a hopped up demon everytime I sing along to that song.

On October 1995, tragedy struck the group during a concert in Cebu as Ferdie Aquino, the guitarist, was rushed to the hospital due to a heart ailment.  Sadly, he became unable to continue with the band, as he slipped into a coma as a result of this. (from "Backdraft: The Reunion" site). I only got to learn about this recently. I knew that Ferdie slipped into a coma, but I never knew from what. ("...gising na kaibigan ko..." -B.Versoza).

In 1996, with the addition of Anton Yap on guitars,  Backdraft released their second album "The Shadowland Deep", which (I think) was more melodic, more theatrical, and more technical than their debut album. Springing from this 12-song album are hits like 'Empty', 'La Propaganda', and the instrumental "Gorgatz". I was even surprised with that epic song... "The Epic" and "The man with no Face" (with its Carnival of Horrors kind of ending).

By 1997, they decided to call it quits after their Philippine concert tour; The Shadowland Tour. The guys went their own ways with Benedict eventually handling the vocals for the rock band Virgin Hunters.

Now, years after they split up, they are going on a reunion gig at Makati's B-Side bar on July 14, 2012 which is dedicated to their long time friend Ferdie Aquino.  Ferdie's ailments and the status of his current condition  has been circulating as urban legend around the underground community about , filling up school forums, music forums and social media. The proceeds of the event shall be used to assist in his medical expenses.

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Rizal Underground

YEARS ACTIVE: 1993 – PRESENT

MEMBERS: STEPHEN LU, MIKE VILLEGAS

90’S HITS: SABADO NIGHTS, YAN NAMAN, BILANGGO, POWDER OR LOTION, ROLLERS ON HER HAIR, SATISFACTION GUARANTEED
    

Rizal Underground is composed of 4 members - Stephen Liu on lead vocals, Angelo Villegas on bass guitar/vocals, Mike Villegas on guitars/vocals and Harley Alarcon on drums. In 1995, its debut self titled album "Rizal Underground" was released followed by "Diskaril" - second album in 1996. Though rock music isn't well known in the Philippines, their 1st album was released during a time of a burgeoning rock movement (things run in fads here), and Rizal Underground album yielded several hits and contributed a great deal to rock's popularity at the time. Diskaril is a fine, solid album, but as a follow-up it lacks the immediate charm compared to their first Album.

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The Jerks

YEARS ACTIVE: 1979 – PRESENT

90’S GROUP ROSTER (KNOWN MEMBERS): CHIKOY PURA, NITO ADRIANO

90’S HITS: RAGE, SAYAW SA BUBONG*, REKLAMO NG REKLAMO*, TAMBOL*, MAD MATHEMATICAL WORLD*, AND HE SAYS* (*from their Jerks Live album)  

The Jerks is a rock band from the Philippines, formed in 1979 and is perhaps the original alternative rock and blues band in the Philippines. The band has undergone a lot of member changes and notably a lot of the previous members of the band are now certified icons themselves in the music scene. Members like Chickoy Pura, Nitoy Adriano, Jun Lupito, Angelo Villegas, and others have carved names in their respective niches. Other performers who have played with the Jerks is former Put3ska drummer Brutus Lacano as a session musician, and drummer Benjie Santos.

Despite having been formed in 1979, they only released their debut record in 1994 entitled The Jerks Live, released under Gary Granada's Backdoor Records. It was recorded live at the legendary Mayric's bar and showcases the raw, passionate musicality of the band never before put into record. The Jerks also released a self-titled album in the late '90s.

By 1997, Star Records managed to convince the band to record a major label album called Haligi Ng Maynila, produced by ABS-CBN's Gabby Lopez, which gave the band the opportunity to reach a wider audience. This paved the way to the band winning the 1998 NU Rock Award for Best Album and the 1998 Katha Award for Best Rock Song, "Reklamo ng Reklamo".

THE JERKS LIVE (1994)

 
THE JERKS (HALIGI NG MAYNILA 1997)

 

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Sugar Hiccup

YEARS ACTIVE: 1994 – I DON’T KNOW

GROUP ROSTER: MELODY DEL MUNDO, CZANDRO POLLACK, RUSSELL DACASIN, MERVIN PANGANIBAN

90’S HITS: FIVE YEARS, WOMB, MODEN DE  

Formed in 1994, Sugar Hiccup was composed of Melody del Mundo, Mervin Panganiban, Czandro Pollack and Russell Dacasin. Named after an obscure Cocteau Twins song, the band was signed up by BMG Records in 1995 and released their hit debut album "Oracle". In 1997, their second album "Womb" was launched, and the band was marketed overseas by BMG. Awards received: 1997 KATHA MUSIC AWARDS "Best Alternative Song" - SYESYATNEBONSOTNEICOSTOLIM "Best Alternative Vocal Performance" - Melody Del Mundo "Best Alternative Group" - Sugar Hiccup NU ROCK AWARDS "Song of the Year" - SYESYATNEBONSOTNEICOSTOLIM "Vocalist of the Year" - Melody Del Mundo (Sugar Hiccup) 1996 AWIT AWARDS "Best Alternative Song" for FIVE YEARS "Best Alternative Recording" for FIVE YEARS KATHA MUSIC AWARDS "Best Alternative Song" - FIVE YEARS "Best Alternative Vocal Performance" - Melody Del Mundo "Best Alternative Group"

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