Anyway, if you clicked the link, you’ll find the criteria... the almost made-it list... and the numbers 50 to 45.
And yeah. Almost forgot about this.
44 FATAL POSPOROS
YEARS ACTIVE: 1998 – I DON’T KNOW (POSSIBLY WHEN KRIS BECAME THE ERASERHEADS’ NEWEST VOCALIST)
GROUP ROSTER: KRIS GORRA, DONNA MACALINO, ANNETE ORTIZ
90’S HITS: COCOBOY GOODNIGHT, PUDGY, HARVEY DENT, SILI SONG, PISO, PEDRO
It all started with a Christmas party and it ended with these girls gaining fame and recognition for their music. While their brand of music barely had airplay (settling in NU107), their gigs are swarmed with appreciative fans. Their songs are danceable and funky and Kris Gorra would later be known as Mrs. Ebe Dancel. She would also sub for Ely Buendia when the latter leaves the Eraserheads. She sustained mixed reviews fronting the epic rock band and she breathe a sigh of relief when the “New Eraserheads” became Cambio.
43 HALF-LIFE HALF-DEATH
YEARS ACTIVE: 1988 – 2003
90’S GROUP ROSTER: ALFIE VERA MELLA, RAINALD PAGGAO, RAMIL AZNAR, BIMBO BALLESTEROS
90’S HITS: HIGH SCHOOL, KAPIT TUKO, WE ARE THE SAINTS, NOSI BALASI (LALA MIX), BUTTERFLIES, ALIMANGO, KAPALARANG KUWAGO
I have been hunting down that band that covered Sharon Cuneta’s High School and turned that song into well... something else. Until this day, that cover is the band’s claim to fame. They released an album in 1995 under recording giant Viva Records but even if their songs are bent to attract the Tunog Kalye faithful, for some reason... they didn’t. Still, you can’t say that their career was a dud because their New Wave-like treatment gained a lot of followers, especially in the gig circuits. Otherwise known as “The Cure” of the Philippines according to their Wiki account, I finally got that tag when I heard We Are The Saints.
42 ORIENT PEARL
YEARS ACTIVE: ALBUMS WERE RELEASED IN 1994, 1996, & 1997
GROUP ROSTER (KNOWN MEMBERS): NALDY PADILLA, DEXTER PANLILIO, LEO AWATIN
90’S HITS: PAGSUBOK, KASALANAN, MAABOT KA LANG
I refuse to think that they are one-hit wonders but you have to admit that it is hard to think of a big Orient Pearl song that is not Pagsubok. Pagsubok was one of the important singles in that decade that launched the band to mainstream success. The vocalist of the band looks like a glam rocker and I think they had a big commercial at the peak. Anyway, Pagsubok was covered by Kitchie Nadal when she turned solo.
41 NEXXUS
YEARS ACTIVE: 1991 – PRESENT
90’S GROUP ROSTER: FRANK SINGCOL, JASON SINGCOL, BOBBY CALICA, MICHAEL JOHN DE CASTRO, MARK ANTHONY DE CASTRO
90’S HITS: I’LL NEVER GO, I KEEP ON SAYING
Among the bands in this list, Nexxus is the most “boyband-ish”. When I first found out that I Keep On Saying came from a local band I was shocked. When I saw the music video and I saw these guys flapping their arms “boyband-ishly”, I was like... damn! The song sounds so foreign! Anyway, the two songs I listed here received massive airplay from the OPM band fanatics. I’ll Never Go is a song that is covered a lot because it registers well in people’s ears.
40 DATU’S TRIBE
YEARS ACTIVE: 1987 – 1998; 2004 – PRESENT
GROUP ROSTER: CABRING CABRERA, DEL VISPERAS, MEL VISPERAS, IAN CABANILLA,
90’S HITS: GALIT KAMI SA BABOY, PRANING, AND I SEE, SARSA PLATOON
This band epitomizes non-stop head-banging action. The band toured metro joints like Mayric’s and Club Dredd to acquire a rabid following. Their music can only be heard on heavy metal stations like LA and NU. However, this didn’t stop the band from getting critical acclaim. Music critics hailed their slambanging-ness and it even gained a nomination from the Awit Awards. The band had a facelift but they retained their music.
39 SANDWICH
YEARS ACTIVE: 1995 – PRESENT
90’S GROUP ROSTER: RAIMUND MARASIGAN, MARC ABAYA, DIEGO CASTILLO, MIKE DIZON, MYRENE ACADEMIA
90’S HITS: BUTTERFLY CARNIVAL, DI SINASADYA, CHEESE FACTOR SET TO 9
Once upon a time, there is a band called The Aga Muhlach Experience. Yes, there is a band named The Aga Muhlach Experience. Then-Eraserheads drummer Raimund wanted to work with guitarist Diego Castillo formerly from... yes, The Aga Muhlach Experience. When I watched Dredd Sessions on VTV, I heard The Aga Muhlach Experience song entitled Aga Muhlach’s Refrigerator. Yes, there is a single called The Aga Muhlach Refrigerator. With Myrene and Mike on board, they tapped Marc Abaya as the frontman of the group. Butterfly Carnival is a great song and it cemented the band’s climb to success. The band scored Album and Song of the Year honors as well as Best New Artist at the 1999 NU Rock Awards. However, Raimund’s commitments with the band kind of caused a rift with Ely Buendia and it more or less played on the E-Heads’ disbandment. Marc Abaya eventually left the band in 2005 and was replaced by Chicosci’s Mong Alcaraz. Raimund has resumed vocal duties.
38 GREYHOUNDZ
YEARS ACTIVE: 1997 – PRESENT
90’S GROUP ROSTER: REG RUBIO, NINO AVENIDO, AUDIE AVENIDO, TJ BRILLANTES, ALLEN CUDAL
90’S HITS: PIGFACE, MR. P.I.G., PARTY AT 802, Y?
Making the 90s with 1999’s 7 Corners of Your Game, this band was one of the major players behind the Pinoy rap-metal genre. Kill me but I am a fan of their rhythmic prowess. I am a huge fan of Party at 802. The band delights in displaying their mellow side before making people unleash their menacing edge. I kind of like this because it gives their music a story and it points out the fact that these guys are not merely shouting nonsense. Perhaps their biggest claim to fame is when their song Hole was used in the J-Horror movie, The Ring.
37 ADVENT CALL
YEARS ACTIVE: LATE 80’S – PRESENT
90’S GROUP ROSTER (KNOWN MEMBERS): KARL ROY, HENRY VITALLI
90’S HITS: PUTING ILAW, MEMORIES OF OUR DREAMS
I had a hard time looking for the band’s info online. It’s a shame because I am a fan of this punk rock act. There was a story on the web that when the band was singing Puting Ilaw live, there is a spotlight stalking the vocalist. The band drew mainstream status with the two songs. Puting Ilaw was an enchanting rock ballad while their Eddie Pelegrina cover was just a fun song to sway your hips at. The band has since returned to the spotlight with a female vocalist and an entirely different look and feel (the Henry guy is the only remaining original member of the band).
NOTES:
Sandwich only had one big song then (Love Is and Two Trick Pony propelled them to the top) and they were known then as Raimund Marasigan’s side project which is why it was ranked low. Greyhoundz is there because they are awesome. You can never go wrong with Fatal Posporos, Datu’s Tribe, and Half-Life Half-Death on the list. Nexxus? No girl will break up with you if you sing “I’ll Never Go” awesomely. Advent Call’s Puting Ilaw is one of the best songs I have ever heard. Ditto for Orient Pearl's Pagsubok.
Hopefully, you’ll stick to Part 3.