The ERASERHEADS
They took their name from the title of a movie by David Lynch that they read while flipping through the pages of a magazine. When they saw the movie years later, they concluded that it had a dark and confusing theme. Thank God the name didn't bring an omen to their careers. The ERASERHEADS have gone form being the biggest "flukes" to being the biggest thing to ever happen to the Philippine music industry, then just starting to recognize another kind of music -- band music.
ORIGIN
The year was 1989. Four college guys armed with second-hand instruments decided to form a band, thinking of it as a nice way to catch the attention of girls on campus. They did mostly covers, playing at every university gig that they managed to get into. Eventually, they did the rounds of Manila's alternative rock joints but found that though the way to perdition is very easy, the road to superstardom was not.
Add to that the fact that Ely Buendia (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Raymund Marasigan (drums), Buddy Zabala (bass) and Marcus Adoro (lead guitar), collectively the ERASERHEADS realized that they weren't all that good at melting out other people's hits. So, they concentrated on writing their own songs instead. "After all, if we committed a mistake, no one would recognize it since they don't know the song, right?" was how Ely explained the evolution of their originality.
Doing the songs live soon earned for them a cult following in their school which gradually spread beyond the confines of their alma mater. One of the songs, a spicy ballad entitled "Pare Ko" (My Friend) became notorious for its lyrics coupled with a few cuss words at the right places.
Summoning up all their courage, they did the rounds of radio stations and record companies, hoping to have the songs reach public awareness. They were, unfortunately, rejected at every turn.
A professor-friend from their school helped them record a better version of the song which they entitled POP-U in deference to all those who have turned them down. As this demo went around, it found its way to BMG Reocrds (Pilipinas), Inc. a year after it was made and the rest, as they say, is history. The stuff true success stories are made of.
CONQUERING THE RECORDING SCENE
1993. Having been signed to a three-year deal, the ERASERHEADS settled down to work on their debut album. The result was the 'HEADS initial presentation titled as extraordinarily as the music they're projecting: Ultraelectromagneticpop. This featured no less than the eclectic Pare Ko and a host of other novelty pieces that had people listening and discovering more about this quartet.
While their newfound fans and admirers were still reeling from this astounding development, the'HEADS came up with a whopping follow-up: Circus. They said that this aptly describes how their life has been since their smashing debut. Like the title, the album proved to be a roller-coaster ride of unpredictability and unconventionality. its collection of songs range form being euphoric to downright hilarious, interspersed with the occasional tenderness and somber tones. With this album, not only have the guys established themselves as damned good songwriters and musicians, they have also opened a whole new world for music lovers and enthusiasts to wallow in.
Their much-awaited third album, Cutterpillow was launched via an open-air concert attended by fans and followers in colossal proportions. All witnessed what was to be the ERASERHEADS' fitting finale to an otherwise explosive 1995.
With Christmas barely a month over, the ERASERHEADS opened 1996 by making history once more as Cutterpillow turned gold even before it hit the record stores as a result of the pre-selling promo campaign. While Cutterpillow soared to possible heights any album can reach, the guys made things zestier by shooting a music video based on one of the songs in the album, the semi-tragic Ang Huling El Bimbo (The Last El Bimbo).
In the same year, the ERASERHEADS came up with their first Christmas album, Fruitcake. This was followed by the Fruitcake Storybook and the Fruitcake music video which was conceptualized and directed by the 'HEADS themselves.
Their fifth and latest album to date is Sticker Happy, released in September of 1997. Sticker Happy is packed with 18 cuts featuring the carrier single Kaliwete. Of course by this time, news about the ERASERHEADS being a phenomenon no longer surprises anybody.
ALOHA MILKYWAY
The quest for international stardom continues. Asia will had a taste of this musical phenomenon with Aloha Milkyway, the 'HEADS first venture into the foreign recording arena.
Aloha Milkyway contains 9 chart-topping songs that have been re-mastered and re-recorded for their international debut. These include Downtown, Ambi Dextrose, Andalusian Dog, Hard to Believe, and Milk and Money from Sticker Happy; Trip to Jerusalem and Fruitcake from Fruitcake; With a Smile from Circus; and the MTV-winning bonus track Ang Huling El Bimbo from Cutterpillow.
Five songs are new releases: Julie Tearjerky, Tamagotchi Baby, Saturn Return, Small Room and Scorpio Rising. As a bit of trivia, this last cut was part of their demonstration tape Pop-U from way back when they were still hunting for a recording contract.
The ERASERHEADS could have been just one of those groups whose success blazes across the music scene ahead of their contemporaries for one brief shining moment. On the contrary, they have set a trend in Philippine music history with their innate talent and boundless creativity.
Talent and good fortune indeed seldom come in hand. For the 'HEADS, their good fortune was written in the stars. And it spelled S-U-C-C-E-S-S in big, bold letters.
Source: Lips,inc.