ERASERHEADS

Myth, Magic, Music

Ely, Raimund, Buddy, and Marcus would be the first to tell you they never saw the Eraserheads making it this far, or this big.

When they formed the band in the late ‘80s, the four University of the Philippines had one goal in mind: To play the steps at the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy or Palma Hall, more commonly known as AS Steps to UP students.

The popular origin story goes like this: Ely Buendia had his own band, while Raimund Marasigan, Buddy Zabala, and Marcus Adoro played together. Feeling uncertain about his band, Ely put up an audition announcement on one of the boards at school. Raimund, Buddy, and Marcus were the only people who showed up.

That was in 1989. Their name, inspired by David Lynch’s surrealist horror film “Eraserhead” that they saw in a magazine — they hadn’t even seen the movie.

The four Iskolar Ng Bayan would end up debuting with a smash hit album called “Ultraelectromagneticpop!” followed by bigger releases in “Circus” and “Cutterpillow.” They would go on to play thousands of shows and win millions of hearts, even flying all the way to New York to receive a Moon Man at the MTV Video Music Awards.

As they gear up for their latest reunion, the foursome couldn’t help but look back at their more modest dreams early in their careers in an exclusive sitdown with GMA News Online.

“We're very grateful to be here many, many, many years later playing bigger stages to more people but honestly, we just wanted to play the Tuesday shows at the AS Steps in 1989,” Raimund said.

But Buddy noted they have still “never played” at the venue of their dreams. Ely is quick to chime in: “That's still our goal up to this day. We want to play AS Steps.”

It’s been more than 30 years down the line. The Eraserheads famously disbanded in 2002, with breakup stories ranging from business matters, to fights, to falling out of friendship. To this day, the real story remains unclear.

Solo careers, new bands, and more creative endeavors have presented themselves — as did countless rumors, stories, and myths surrounding the Eraserheads.

Reunions such as the one scheduled to take place on December 22 never seem possible until they actually happen.

Part of the band’s narrative would be the mini-reunions here and there, playing bigger shows in 2008 and The Final Set in 2009, plus touring different countries after that.

A jukebox musical featuring their hit songs entitled “Ang Huling El Bimbo” even debuted in 2018.

The list of stories the Eraserheads have been part of can never be run down, because despite having broken up, they never actually left. The group, more than any other Filipino band, continues to be part of everyone’s personal soundtracks.

But the latest chapter in their journey, which Raimund calls “sketchy,” has turned out to reveal things to a band that has seemingly seen it all.

“I thought I would be sick of the journey by now but so far, it's still been full of surprises.”

The last few years they spent away from each other brings certain freshness to the reunion's proceedings.

“We're still rehearsing, we're still getting to know each other, getting to know the songs intimately,” Buddy said. “I think we've grown as musicians, I think we matured as performers.”

Not a lot of artists can transcend generations — and genders, status, and whatever else category of people you may think of — with songs that hit way too close to home. Eraserheads songs accompany you from childhood, to confusing days in school, to an even more confusing adulthood.

When asked how it felt to know their songs are able to cut through generations, Ely couldn’t help but poke a joke: “Nakaka-lalaki,” he said laughing before getting serious again. “It's very flattering, very mind-blowing, and surreal.”

The vocalist continued, “I think for every musician naman, when people sing your songs and they [know] the lyrics, it never gets old. So that alone is parang the icing on the cake. And the fact that we get to do this for a living and express ourselves without fear of persecution, you know—that's a lot to be thankful for.”

But what is it about the Eraserheads that allows their songs to stay with us? They’ve got no frills, and despite the unconventional and raw storytelling, just works. We might as well call it magic.

“We know there's magic,” Raimund smiled at us. “We don't know how to do it, how to recreate it, how to formulate it, but there's definitely magic. There’s always magic.”

That magic will be on once again on December 22 at the SMDC Festival Grounds in Paranaque City, in what is arguably the biggest concert of their careers.

Given the huge anticipation, the group is feeling the magnitude of the reunion concert. For one thing, Ely’s dad is coming home from the States, and their loved ones will be out to support them.

But the band tries to tune out just how big the concert really is.

“We know it's a big deal. We know it's a high-profile event. And we know there are more seats available and we know that it's going to be streamed worldwide. But we don't think about it,” Raimund said. “Because if we start thinking about it, we’ll be overwhelmed. So we’re focusing on the good show. But we appreciate the big deal — how it is.”

The show is sold out, but fans still have a chance to watch the concert live on streaming. The show will also feature a hologram of the band’s friend and frequent collaborator, the late Francis M.

Even with these latest technologies, the Eraserheads will show what they’re all about: the music. For the first time, they will playing with a full-blown orchestra with conduction and arrangements Mel Villena, another frequent Eraserheads collaborator who has worked with the band for their past albums.

The idea of having an orchestra was brought up at their first meeting, and although the band has their roots in punk, Ely said the classical instruments will only serve their songs well.

“Being true blue music fans, we also dabbled in orchestral arrangements. And I think this is the first time that really we are going to be able to play the songs as we intended,” he said.

Prior to the press conference, the Eraserheads had a rehearsal with the 18-piece ensemble, during which they were able to listen to the orchestral arrangement of “Light Years,” a classic from their Fruitcake album. It easily became their new favorite song.

Raimund said the song hits differently now, “because of everything that sounds good and feels good. It just felt right today.”

“I had to stop playing for a bit,” Buddy said. “I wanted to come closer to the string section and the horn section and [listen]. Because may magic talaga eh yung ganun klaseng ensemble, instrumentation. So I don't know how to explain it. It just so happens lang na nakakatayo balahibo talaga.”

Even Marcus had to pause, “Hindi nga ako tumugtog ng mga ilang licks, baka sumabit ako. Hinihinaan ko yung gitara ko para marinig ko sila, parang wow.”

“Pagdating sa orchestra, you can't say no to the real violins or real cellos or real horn section. Because nothing can beat that,” Buddy added.

“It's a really great orchestra. Mel Villena’s a wonderful conductor, arranger. We'll all see it. We'll all hear it on December 22.”

The band has more surprises up their sleeves.

“There’s actually a Hidden Mickey sa buong show. Like Raimund said sa ibang interview, only the hardcore fans ang makaka-decipher,” Marcus said.

“And nakita namin kanina yung parang preview, presentation ni Direk [Paolo Valenciano]. Parang wow, sa maliit na screen palang, nakakamangha. It’s mind-boggling.”

Still, the show remained a work in progress a couple of weeks before the big date.

“Every week, we get a text and there's a change and it gets better. Well, at least for us. So hopefully it's great for everybody, but we're always working on it,” Raimund said.

“I won't be surprised if next week it’s going to be a slightly different set but we're always working on the set every day.”

For Ely, the hard part is having to cut some personal favorites. “I wish we could play all the songs, even from the underappreciated albums we are very proud of. So maybe someday, we can again do that,” he said.

Buddy pointed out they haven’t jammed together in a while, and that a lot of the songs have never even been played live, or never the way they’re supposed to with the different musical layers, simply because they were meant to stay in the album.

“A lot of the songs will be a surprise. It will be different for us, it will be an exercise for us. It will [hopefully] be an enjoyment for you guys.”

But while they're doing it for the fans, being able to work with the resources of the concert has been a treat for the Eraserheads too.

“Sure, we get senti sometimes. [But] for the most part, there are no tears. Only probably tears of joy,” he said. “Because this is such a mind-blowing experience even for, you know, old geezers like us who we’ve thought have seen it [all.]”

Ely said there are times when they have to pinch themselves and ask, “Are we doing this? Can we really get this for the show?”

“Parang it's like a genie out of the bottle na every wish is our command and you know, that's such a great experience for the band,” he said.

Marcus calls the experience “transcendental,” while Raimund agreed that what they feel is more than just sentimental.

“We feel a lot of things playing the old songs. We play it a little different. We move a little different, we sing a little different, we play a little different. And then when it comes together, it took how many rehearsals — five, six rehearsals and today, we were getting goosebumps,” he said.

“I don't even know how to describe it. But when it comes together, it's that good.”

The Eraserheads started practicing as early as October, and we asked how it felt to be playing together again on a much larger scale than when they started.

Raimund admitted that because it’s been so long, “rehearsals are weird,” and that they were just starting to get the hang of it.

“It's different because when we started, we rehearsed in a little studio beside our dorm in Molave in Diliman,” the drummer recalled. “We probably paid P80 per hour.”

“And it was just the four of us. But now, you know, we're playing with real sound systems and the real crew, real amps. A good theater, nice equipment, nice guitars. [It] sounds great. And we're working with really professional people.”

And although it’s been a while, Ely said overcoming initial awkwardness actually wasn’t hard.

“Personally, I didn't find it that difficult naman. My only problem was what to do with all the [new] toys,” he said. “There’s like a hundred amps behind us, and of course, we bought new [gear]. But as far as playing again, I think it really comes naturally.”

Buddy compared their process of getting back to playing together to riding a bicycle.

“You just get on the bike and then pedal, and if you get enough momentum, I think you're okay. Until you fall, fall down, and then you cry. And then [shout] ‘Daddy, daddy.’ And then, you ask for help. And then you get back on the bike and then you ride,” the bassist said.

“And so right now, I think we're finding our momentum. We've gotten on the bike, we’ve removed the training wheels. We’re going fast. [We] have to go faster. [We] have to go in one direction, all the way to December 22, 2022.”

If there’s one thing Buddy realized from rehearsals, it would be that he missed playing Eraserheads songs.

“I remember I had this feeling when I was recording the songs, when I was making parts for it, recording in the studio. And there are all that — feelings from like 30 years ago, 20 years ago,” he said. “And now, medyo na-re-revisit ko yung mga songs now that I’m figuring out as an older musician, how to perform it. I am reconnecting with those feelings.”

So much has changed and though they have gotten older, their rock ‘n roll spirit remains very much alive.

“We get excited with the music and hindi nakakapagod. Napapagod kami physically because we're not as young as we want to be,” Raimund said. “But we can’t help it. [You] know, when you play rock ‘n roll, you can't just play like 20 percent. It has always to be 110 percent or it won't be rock ‘n roll.”

Add to that would be how the fans play a big role in helping them get energized.

“The crowd gives us something, you know. The band gives us something. The music gives us something,” Raimund said.

A lot of growing up and growing old has happened.

Buddy puts it in perspective. “It's not every day that a lot of people enjoy the music that a band makes, much less this band. It just makes it all the more special,” he said.

“We've been together for [some] 30-odd years. And we’ve had music appreciators who have grown with us. Some have grown out, some have grown older, some have families. Their kids are listening to our music. Their kids’ kids, grandkids listening to the music. We're really grateful.

“Ako, I'm happy that way kasi I have kids who come up and say ‘Hey, I like this song. I like the bass line you did on that. I like the guitar part on this.’ So if that means that our music creates more Filipino fans for OPM, then I'm really happy.”

Thirty years on, we ask: What would the Eraserheads tell their younger selves?

“Eat healthy; stay outta trouble; wear sunblock,” Raimund said.

“Stretch as much as you can; stay in shape; drink a lot of water; sleep when you can,” Buddy said. “Invest well; bikers can be your friends.”

“Don’t believe the hype,” Ely snuck in.

Marcus said, “Rage against the machine.”

“Dami nun, ano?” Buddy looked at his bandmates.

Raimund smiled and told us, “That’s the best question ever, it has the most answers.”

It’s the final reunion in the Philippines, or the last one in the Asia Pacific region, Buddy clarified. In fact, they are “into deep discussion” to going on a world tour next year.

And according to the band, it’s neither a sad ending nor a good beginning.

Raimund said about this final thing, “It's funny. It just is.”

Marcus simply added, “Serious. Funny.”

Following what has been the wildest 10 minutes of our journalism career, pressed for time, we just had to know what legacy these living OPM legends would want to leave, now that the topic of this being the last big event was opened up.

“Honestly, we don’t think about that. We're just very happy that people are still playing and listening to the music,” Raimund said. “I don't think we’ve ever [said,] ‘Let’s sit down and think about the legacy.’ I don't think a lot of artists do that.”

Though he did say that maybe they’ll discuss legacies when they’re a little older. “But we appreciate everything. We appreciate people listening and going to the shows and honoring the music, and quoting the music and everything else that has to do with the music,” he said.

Buddy looks over at Raimund and says a different answer.

“If the legacy — which we're not thinking about right now — is the message, that you have to be kind to yourself and to other people. And there it is,” he said.

“Ahhh, that’s a better answer,” Raimund said. “Good answer,” Ely matched.

“I’ll stop right there while I’m ahead. Be kind to yourself and to other people,” Buddy said.

Asked if maybe Marcus would like to add something, Buddy joked, “No.”

And then the guitarist just merely said, “I agree.”