the history of signal 3

The group's history is not too far flung from any other band's past. Signal 3 was  simply formed by a couple of college cohorts who indulged into aggressive music...influenced by a number of hardcore punk artists. The common story about the " band formed and eventually breaks up...acquiring other members from other groups" was virtually the innates of their past. The ebb and flow to musicville was a tough one for them; nevertheless , it led to a somewhat vociferous recognition of the uncanny. Weird as it may have seemed, the benefits were in heaps. To cleave through the long  story...four guys got together and formed a band that would address the "lexis" of punk to the people who would later be affected by the quartet's sharp, belligerent sound.

Hence, the birth of Signal 3.

The name explains itself. Call it  disaster,  calamity, or  even catastrophe. It all had to reflect from the intensity of the songs, and most notably, the strength of each performance as different gigs in halls and parties were played. But the main event was a festivity called LOKALPINOYSILA wherein bands from around LA gathered altogether for a night of all original Filipino music. In due course, they have made their mark on the local scene.

The departure of bass player Alex , after a short stint with the boys , left a question up in the air. What's next? Whatever transpired from the occurrence did not, at any point, hinder the plans of recording an album. The remaining three members scuttled to a studio and recorded the first Signal 3 album. After which a brief union with the local band Blatant Roots sparked a little buzz around the Filipino underground scene. In spite of the ambitious attempt, the unpredicted merger did not last long. In the wake of the two-band break up, the group hired another guitar player, Jojo , who had enough skills to fill in the vacant spot. Major adjustment took place. Ron decided to try his hand on bass. Persistence helped him develop the new found craft, and eventually became the bottom factor of the infectious SN3 sound. Along came Mon from the defunct thrash band MILEAGE  The guitar player joined forces with the group as they recorded their second album "CONVERGENCE ZONE" in 1998. Critiques in LA spoke in astonished tongues about the release of the cd. It might have been the effort that made it more astounding, since the entire 17 -track album was completed in no more than 4 days. A promotional gig followed after the release including a tough performance at LOKALPINOYSILA  1.0.

Countless performances took place in LA and San Francisco. A deafening rumor with regards to the band's identity scattered around the local scene enthusiasts. The question about the shaved hair, the polished docs, red-white braces, and Fred Perry shirts, instigated a little uncertainty to some. Ignorance, is indeed bliss. Incorporating the skinhead lifestyle into the band's often-doubted existence was just the beginning. If asked why, then it would be simply replied with a short but sensible answer. Five non-racial working class musicians who share the passion for reggae, punk, and oi tunes while maintaining the established quality of their sound.....extremely raw and lyrically intense. An addition to the SN3 circle concurred when Rodney shared his 6 string riot in the band's adamant guitar squad.

The band's notoriety  earned themselves a name as well. Heavy beer drinkers with fully clad skin attire talking about football games, reggae tunes and sickly jokes; getting into occasional scuffles with the bastards, the often misunderstood enmity, and sometimes an upheaval with the law. Nevertheless, it was and forever will be, the music that would engross the people's attention to SIGNAL 3. Perhaps you could call them the  hardest working band this side of Kingsley. Still in tact after all those years, the quintet had to witness such abrupt transitions in the local music biz. The fusion of metal and rap, trance music, industrial sound, and even the boy bands and teenage idol acts. Without a doubt, the styles have turned in conjunction with the world. The quintet however has stayed true to it's form. It could have not been said any better than the  prominent Robert Plant.... the "song remains the same" . For once, it did make sense. In a definitive sense, the sum of it all is about the belief of these people in their roots, their crew, and in their music. The kind of life they painstakingly endure, and perhaps the countless souls that have been moved by the brute and poetry that is SIGNAL 3.