MANILA, Philippines – It’s no April Fool’s joke. Rock group Urbandub will be going “on hiatus,” as confirmed by vocalist Gabby Alipe.

Alipe says the stresses of the band life, especially the constant touring, have taken its toll on the band members.

“The band thing, the touring, the traveling… pahinga muna,” Alipe tells Rappler early Saturday morning.

Alipe adds, all band members want to devote more time to their respective families.

“I just want some time for my family first, to rest,” he says. “I’m sure sina Lalay (Lim-Geronimo, Urbandub’s bassist) din… puro family ang focus namin.”

The 4 members of Urbandub will perform together for the last time on May 9 at the Metrotent in Ortigas Center, Pasig. This will be Lim-Geronimo and drummer Janjan Mendoza’s last concert with the band, while Alipe and lead guitarist John Dinopol will continue as Urbandub until the end of 2015 to wrap up pending commitments.

The Cebu-based band broke into the Philippine music scene in the early 2000s. Their early hits “Soul Searching” and “First of Summer” gained considerable radio airplay, paving the way for a string of hits and awards from the now-defunct rock station NU107.

But Alipe refuses to consider these latest developments as the end of Urbandub. “There are no such things as endings, only new beginnings,” he says. – Rappler.com