'Eraserheads: Combo On The Run' documentary drops official trailer

The trailer for the much-awaited Eraserheads documentary, "Combo On The Run," has been released shortly after its exclusive world premiere at the San Diego Comic Convention on July 27.

The documentary is directed by award-winning filmmaker Maria Diane Ventura.

The trailer begins with the sound and view of audience cheering and clapping from what looks like a drone shot above the SMDC Concert Grounds on the momentous December 22, 2022 reunion concert that gathered over 75,000 fans.

Chief songwriter and rhythm guitarist Ely Buendia is then shown onstage saying one of the quotable lines that memorable night: "It's time to look at the future and honor the past."

The trailer shows flashbacks from their early years, such as guesting on a radio show with Buendia's voice in the background, saying "I wanted a band that had no fear." It is followed by the 1995 Senate inquiry on "Alapaap" and the attempt to ban it on the airwaves because the lyrics allegedly promote illegal drugs, specifically smoking marijuana.

Buendia, lead guitarist Marcus Adoro, drummer Raimund Marasigan, and bass guitarist Buddy Zabala are next shown explaining in their own words what they experienced back then.

As Adoro puts it, there was no manual on how to be a rockstar and suddenly they were thrown into it, doing commercials, guesting on TV shows and movies on top of endless concerts and touring.

The last few scenes in the trailer take a swipe on the 2022 presidential elections and the lingering trauma brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"This disbanded group of punks reunites to provide solace to a nation, unknowingly needing healing themselves," the trailer says.

Like most of their fans, the Eraserheads members are now in their early 50s. They disbanded in 2002 and focused on their own careers, but they came together 20 years later.

Just when viewers thought the trailer is over, the four members are shown together in what looked like the front-row seats at Dolphy Theater, where they rehearsed for their 2022 concert.

A question comes from an unseen speaker: "What's the most difficult thing that you had to overcome for this to happen?"

The men, looking baffled but smiling, find it hard to give a direct response. Zabala answers, "Can we get back to you on that?"

As of this writing, there are already over 6,500 views.

"Eraserheads: Combo On The Run" is produced by Francis Lumen of WEU Event Management Services and Ventura, who owns DVent Pictures.

Ventura also wrote the screenplay with Aldus Santos.

Also credited as producers are Ely Buendia and Voyage Studios. Hilarion Banks, Day Cabuhat, Audry Dionisio, and Janus Victoria are associate producers.

Banks is also credited as director of photography. He and Chuck Gutierrez are the editors. 

Sound design is by Tengal Drilon, former drummer of The Brockas. Project directors are Ronald Allen Esguerra, Toni Rose delos Santos and John Geslani.

Meanwhile, as announced in the band's official social media accounts, the "Eraserheads: Huling El Bimbo" concert in Hawaii will finally happen on August 1 at Hilton Hawaiian Village Coral Ballroom. 

It was originally scheduled on July 6 as the kick-off show for the North American tour.

Eraserheads is also scheduled to perform in Singapore on November 23 and Dubai on December 8.

—MGP, GMA Integrated News