IN PHOTOS: Controversial Pinoy band breakups
Band breakups can be extremely painful especially to the fans.
Like any relationship, the split is caused by many reasons.
And while some are amicable, most are acrimonious that lingers on for years, forever straining relationships between former bandmates.
For some, the departure of a member can lead to total disbandment. Others, meanwhile, pressed on and continues to make music and adding a new member to fill the spot.
So, we've taken a look at some of the controversial band breakups and the events leading to the split and the aftermath.
Eraserheads
Ely Buendia, Marcus Adoro, Buddy Zabala, and Raymund Marasigan-collectively known as the Eraserheads-are credited for jumpstarting the Pinoy rock band explosion in the 1990s.
Street-smart, cheeky, irreverent, and armed with hook-filled melodies, the band dished out hit after hit such as “Ligaya,” “Pare ko,” “Magasin,” “With A Smile,” “Ang Huling El Bimbo,” and many more.
The band's glorious run came to an end in March 2002 when frontman Ely Buendia relayed his departure from the band with a short text message that said, “It's time to graduate.”
The roadie incident
In an interview for 'Pulp Magazine,' Diane Ventura, Ely's partner at the time, said that Ely's decision to leave stemmed from an incident involving the band's roadie.
A misunderstanding during a mall show and Marcus, Buddy, and Raymund allegedly taking the side of the roadie offended Ely thus prompting the frontman to call it quits.
Since the breakup, the relationship between the four remained volatile despite getting back together occasionally for reunion shows here and abroad.
Recently, Ely once again surprised fans by candidly talking about the relationship within the band during a podcast interview in March.
“We were never close, we were never friends, as in tight friends. That's why we broke up,” he said.
Raymund, meanwhile, seconded Ely's claim in his own podcast called Offstage Hang.
“It's not a secret that we're not close. In this age of social media, if you check for the past 10 years, 20 years our feeds as individuals, you will easily see who we were hanging out with.”
Slapshock
Formed in 1997, Slapshock rose to fame with its brand of music that combined metal with rap.
The band composed of Jamir Garcia, Lean Ansing, Jerry Basco, Lee Nadela, Chi Evora, and Reynold Munsayac broke new ground in the OPM landscape and helped usher the so-called nu-metal genre.
The heavy yet infectious “Agent Orange” served as the band's ticket to fame and pretty much defined the band's music during its early days.
Tragic ending
Unfortunately, the friendship between the band members foundered after bassist Lee and guitarist Jerry accused Jamir of withdrawing the band's earnings from song royalties and sponsorships without their knowledge.
The dispute led to the band's demise and a court case filed against Jamir by Jerry.
Things took a more drastic turn when Jamir, 42, was found hanging inside his home in an apparent suicide on November 26, 2020.
Orange and Lemons
The quartet from Baliuag, Bulacan, gained a cult following the release of the band's 2003 independent debut album, Love in the Land of Rubber Shoes and Dirty Ice Cream.
Orange and Lemons-made up of Clem Castro, Mcoy Fundales, JM del Mundo, and Ace del Mundo-signed with major label Universal Records, which bankrolled the band's second album Strike Whilst the Iron Is Hot in 2005.
The album was a hit, thanks to the tracks “Hanggang Kailan (Umuwi Ka Na Baby)”, “Heaven Knows (This Angel Has Flown),” and “Lihim.”
Orange and Lemons figured in a controversy after the band was accused of plagiarizing an obscure '80s new wave track and using the melody for a commissioned soundtrack for a reality show.
Drifting apart
It was reported on October 10, 2007 that the band has called it quits due to personal and creative differences.
The band eventually reformed in 2017 but minus Mcoy Fundales.
“Mcoy and I had a falling out a few weeks before the release of our third album. After a bull session he walked out and the following day declared that he won't sing on stage if I'm present,” Clem said in a 2019 interview for PEP.ph.
“That went on for a week and I gave in to his demands (to fulfill obligations) but unfortunately used my absence to try and fire me from the group.”
When asked about the possibility of patching up things in the future, Clem replied, “Magkababata at magkababayan kami. I hope he sees in his heart na magka-ayos kami kahit hindi na with working together. I think that would be everything.”
Bamboo
The superband composed of rock veterans Bamboo Manalac, Nathan Azarcon, Ira Cruz, and Vic Mercado took OPM by storm with the release of its 2004 debut album, As the Music Plays.
Bamboo produced the anthemic hits “Noypi” and “Hallelujah.”
The band was rocking and at its peak that fans and the public were dumbfounded when the group disbanded in 2011.
"THE BAND. IT'S OVER"
"As a group, we've come to a point where you have to trust your gut, your heart and your head and accept that all things change. The hardest part as always is to know when to pack it up and part ways,” vocalist Bamboo said in an open letter addressed to fans on January 11, 2011.
“We've learned that this journey is not only about us but includes all who came along for the trip. Family, friends, and of course our front row believers who were there for the best reason of all. To simply listen. So it didn't come easy winding down to this decision.
“So here we go. IT'S OFFICIAL. THE BAND. IT'S OVER.”
The frontman's sentiments, however, were not shared by the other three members, who regrouped by forming the band Hijo.
“May feeling ka na kung saan papunta, e. Hindi na kami nagsasama sama. Hindi na kami nag-uusap, e. Wala ayaw niya na sa amin, sa aming tatlo,” bassist Nathan Azarcon said about Bamboo in an interview.
Rivermaya
The '90s band that gave us the hits “Awit ng Kabataan,” “214,” “Elise,” “Himala,” among others, has endured several line-up changes throughout its career.
While the departure of guitarist Perf de Castro and vocalist Bamboo Manalac altered the band's direction, it was the exit of chief songwriter Rico Blanco that shook the band to the core.
Rico played his last gig with the band at Metro Bar on May 4, 2007. He went public with his departure from the band on May 24 due to personal reasons.
The timing of Rico's exit came at a time when the band's popularity in Southeast Asia, particularly Singapore and Indonesia, was gaining momentum.
Soldiering on
Lizza Nakpil, Rivermaya's manager at the time, said in a statement that management did its best to “dissuade” Rico from leaving, something “that would delay if not cost all of us our successful entry into the international market.”
Following Rico's departure, the band, now led by the only remaining original member, Mark Escueta, would butt heads with Lizza on several issues including ownership of the band's name.
Today, Rivermaya is still around and composed of members Mark, retuning bassist Nathan Azarcon, and guitarist Mike Elgar.
IV of Spades
The young quartet, right from the onset, looked destined for OPM greatness.
Unique Salonga, Zild Benitez, Blaster Silonga, and Badjao de Castro turned heads with their pop-funk brand of music and '70s-inspired getup.
IV of Spades impressively developed a huge fan base on the strength of its singles, namely, “Ilaw sa Daan,” “Hey Barbara,” and “Mundo.”
Unique, however, broke fans' hearts when he bolted out before the band even release its debut album.
The official confirmation of Unique's split came on May 5, 2018 through the band's social media accounts.
It cited Unique's desire to pursue “personal endeavors” as the reason for his departure.
Trio
IV of Spades as a trio released its debut album ClapClapClap!, on January 18, 2019.
“Hindi kami magkagalit, pero hindi ko rin alam kung matatawag ko sa ngayon na friends [kami],” Zild said about Unique in an interview with Boy Abunda.
“Para kaming bata lang naman na gumagawa lang ng music. So parang 'yong panahon na 'yon parang mahirap siya lunukin,” he added.
“Pero ngayon maiinitindihan mo na minsan meron talagang artistic differences, baka may ibang rason ang mga ibang tao sa ginagawa nila.
“Rerespetuhin mo lang 'yong ginagawa ng ibang tao kung gusto mo marespeto rin 'yong mga desisyon mo sa buhay.”
The Jerks
The alternative-blues band has been around since 1979 but only released its debut album in 1994.
The Jerks was a seminal band, adored by rock fans and musicians alike, and would play a pivotal role in the underground scene that later invaded the mainstream in the 1990s.
Some of the band's memorable songs include “Sayaw sa Bubog” and “Reklamo ng Reklamo.”
The band's line-up changed over the years except for founders Chicoy Pura and Nitoy Adriano.
The bond between Chicoy and Nitoy were so tight in the eyes of many that it was a total shock when news came out that the latter left the band in 2011.
Rumors ranging from Nitoy's alleged substance abuse to constant tardiness went around as the reason as to why the guitarist quit the group.
“Nagkawindang-windang na,” Nitoy told veteran music journalist Eric Caruncho in 2013.
“Tumabang na ako nang tumabang,” he added without offering much details.
Nitoy would bounce back and today is a regular fixture in Ely Buendia's backup band as well as a member of the supergroup, The Oktaves.
Up Dharma Down
Up Dharma Down is the band behind the popular songs including "Tadhana," "Oo," "Indak," at "Unti-Unti."
Armi Millare leaves UDD
In a Facebook post, the band announced the departure of their vocalist-keyboardist Armi Millare on Sunday, December 26, 2021.
They wrote, "We wanted to let you know that Armi has left UDD. We thank her for sharing her talent and artistry in the songs we created together. We'll never forget how the four of us started out, how thrilled we were in 2004 to finally be playing at Saguijo to a crowd of twenty people."
Just the three of us
The remaining members of the band -- Carlos Tañada, Ean Mayor, and Paul Yap -- said they will continue to make music under Terno Recordings.
"We, the remaining members, will continue to make music under Terno Recordings. This will be a new and different adventure for us and we hope you can be a part of it too," they claimed.
Callalily
The band behind the hits songs 'Magbalik,' 'Stars,' and 'Pansamantala,' is now disbanded after 17 years. Kean Cipriano, the former frontman of 'Callalily,' disengaged from the band to pursue "other possibilities" as a musician and an artist.
