Twenty years in the music business is nothing short of astounding. The commercial lifespan of a band is expected to be around five years and constantly at the mercy of changing musical climates and listeners tastes, and in some cases may suffer from implosions. Maintaining a career that lasts four times as long can be attributed to many factors but the simplest and most important is the quality of the music itself. Only one band in Philippine rock history can lay claim to this longevity and consistency: The Dawn.
Formed in 1986 by guitarist and visionary Teddy Diaz and drummer/keyboardist JB Leonor, The Dawn was at the forefront of the local new wave scene. However, to pigeonhole the band as simply new wave even in those early years would be quite inaccurate. When they released their debut album in 1987 with vocalist Jett Pangan and bassist Carlos Balcells, the local rock scene was treated to an opus that combined elements of new wave, metal, jazz, and prog rock with uncanny ease (this cross-pollination of different genres remains the groups sonic raison detre). More importantly, it was the only album by a band that featured all original material; pop balladeers and cover bands were the norm in the Philippine music scene. The single Enveloped Ideas was a huge hit that almost immediately turned the local audience on its collective head. By the time 1988 rolled around, The Dawn was headlining arena gigs and was courted by the countrys major beer brand as its official endorser. Their sophomore album I Stand With You was in the charts, and it seemed the band was unstoppable.
Tragically, in August of that year, founding member Teddy Diaz was murdered. As the band and its fans mourned the shocking loss, it seemed obvious that it was the end of the road. After two months, the rest of the band decided to carry on; inspired by Diazs passion and dedication to music during his short life, the band became a living tribute to his pioneering spirit. By January 1989, Japanese-born Atsushi Matsuura became the bands guitarist. The album Beyond The Bend soon followed, and the single Salamat (co-written with Diaz) propelled the band to even greater success and even more arena gigs. To this day, it remains an anthem etched in the Filipino psyche.
However, the year brought about another change in the guitarist chair. The band was at odds with Matsuura personally and musically after a mere 9 months, and replaced him with Francis Reyes by November. The albums Hearts Thunder(1990), Abot Kamay (1992) and Punot Dulo (1994)were recorded and released by this line-up. The arena gigs, national tours, a three week stint in Guam, and hit singles that followed were testaments to the bands consistency and vitality, and produced yet another anthem Iisang Bangka Tayo. The songs accompanying video gained the attention of MTV Asia, and the band performed before an enthusiastic crowd in Hong Kong in late 1994.
By 1995, The Dawn decided to take a break from the scene to allow its members to pursue individual interests outside music. During this break, its record company released several compilation albums of the bands hits. A successful arena reunion concert in 1997 broke the bands absence but it wasnt until late 1999 that they decided to reconvene properly, with both Reyes and Matsuura sharing guitar duties. The Dawn released the electronica-tinged Prodigal Sun in 2000, and once again roared along the live circuit, including an 8 city US Tour in September 2001 (the band was in NYC on 9/11!). Longtime bassist Carlos Balcells left the next year to pursue a career in politics and was replaced by Mon Legaspi, formerly of local metal superstars Wolfgang. The band played in Vietnam and started working on its next album.
2004 saw the release of the stripped down Harapin and the departure of Matsuura who again was at odds with the rest of the band. The album produced more hits and videos, notably Tulad Ng Dati and its Matrix-style stop-motion visuals. Legaspi amicably left the band in late 2005 to explore other career paths; the band replaced him with Buddy Zabala formerly of the Eraserheads. Zabala's membership has been enthusiastically received by music fans; the Eraserheads were, after all, one of the greatest local bands that ever existed.
The Dawn has starred in a semi-autobiographical movie by Mike Sandejas entitled "TULAD NG DATI" . A Cinemalaya 2006 entry which bagged the Best Sound, Best Editing and the Best Picture awards. The same movie is also one of the country's entry in the forthcoming Pusan International Film Festival and in the Hawaii International Film Festival.
The quartet's much awaited 20th year album is finally out in the market and very much available in your favorite music stores. A grand album launch cum advance commercial screening of their movie is slated sometime second week of November 2006.
Through twenty years of trends, triumphs, and tragedy, The Dawn remains, undoubtedly, the Philippines true premier rock band.
For bookings text/call
Ms. Fran Ribaño at +639189422219 or
April Leah Castañeda at +639164588449
Alvin Rodriguez at +639198134984
For your messages, gig schedules and other information:
[email protected]
www.thedawn.ph
www.myspace.com/thedawnmanila
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thedawnlist
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