The Eraserheads: Coming full circle

Marga Deona

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The Eraserheads: Coming full circle
The Eraserheads talk about how much they've grown together and apart, and what they've learned in the process
MANILA, Philippines – The year was 1989, when college junior Ely Buendia posted a flyer on the university bulletin board. The young Buendia was on the lookout for bandmates, and not long after, three fledgling underclassmen showed up.
They were Buddy Zabala, a boy from Zamboanga who was looking to hit the drums; Marcus Adoro, a quiet kid who played spunky guitar riffs; and Raymund Marasigan, a multi-instrumentalist from Quezon who was more than eager to take on the bass.
Zabala and Marasigan eventually switched places, and the quartet became known as the Eraserheads. The frenetic boys from the University of the Philippines were a breath of fresh air at a time when grunge was blasting over the airwaves. Their radio-friendly melodies and tongue-in-cheek lyrics spawned 7 studio albums, 4 EPs, and 1 compilation album all within the span of 12 years.
The Eraserheads were, arguably, the biggest to conquer the Philippine music scene during the ’90s. At the height of their fame, they were performing in stages all around the world, from Singapore to New York, from Sydney to Dubai.
But all good things must come to an end.
In 2002, Buendia sent a text message to his bandmates, saying “it’s time to graduate.” It came as a blow to fans and casual listeners alike. Some say the breakup was acrimonious, others say it was timely.
While many mourned the split of the Eraserheads, it led to many things for each of the members. Adoro retreated to La Union to pursue his love for surfing, while occasionally performing with his band, Markus Highway. Zabala is a prolific producer for up-and-coming bands, while juggling bass duties for The Dawn. Marasigan has many bands – Sandwich, Pedicab, Gaijin, Cambio, Squid 9 – on top of production work. Buendia plays for Pupil and The Oktaves, and recently dabbled in film directing.
They’ve grown together, and they’ve grown apart – or so the public thought.
A reunion concert held at the Bonifacio Global City made headlines in 2008, due to the members burying the hatchet and Buendia’s stress-related collapse while onstage.
The reunion was not a one-off for the band. For years, the band would surreptitiously gather in Marasigan’s basement, coming full circle from the days when they recorded their first-ever demo Pop-U in his Candelaria home in 1991.
They continue to perform in gigs abroad, with a London concert this coming Friday, April 4. There will no longer be any new songs to look forward to, as they cease to exist as a studio band.
Here’s what the members of the Eraserheads have to say about how they have been, then and now:

CAMERAMAN: Adrian Portugal
VIDEO EDITOR: Exxon Ruebe
Old Eraserheads photos courtesy of Julius Rosaldo

– Rappler.com

 

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Marga Deona

Marga leads digital and product management for Rappler’s multimedia expansion. Sometimes, she writes about the intersection of technology, culture, and business, as well as the occasional sports and music features.