If there’s one Filipino band that’s familiar to Pinoys young and old, it has got to be the Eraserheads. If you lived in the Philippines in the 1990s, chances are, you’re a fan; at the very least, you would have heard of their songs. You would have heard it on the radio in the jeepney you rode to school; through your classmate’s Walkman with their Circus (1994) cassette tape na gasgas na; or maybe even in TV shows, mall sound systems, and school concerts. You would have heard about all the rumors and reports dissecting the true meaning behind their songs.
Even if you were no longer living in the Philippines in the ’90s or you were born after the band broke up in 2002, if you’re a Pinoy, you would know Eraserheads songs like “Alapaap,” “With A Smile,” “Ligaya,” “Pare Ko,” “Magasin,” “Ang Huling El Bimbo,” and so much more, which have been revived by other Pinoy artists; used in shows, movies, and advertisements; and played on the airwaves across the country. They even made a musical out of them. The Eraserheads’ songs even went beyond the Philippines to reach other Asian markets and the US in the late ‘90s—long before the age of Spotify and YouTube that allowed OPM songs to be played anywhere in the world.
Formed in 1989, legendary Filipino rock band Eraserheads is made up of Ely Buendia on lead vocals and guitar, Raimund Marasigan on drums, Marcus Adoro as lead guitarist, and Buddy Zabala in bass guitar. Hailed “The Beatles of the Philippines” and the “most influential and successful Filipino band in Philippine music history,” Eraserheads sold nine million copies of their discography throughout their career, spanning seven studio albums (the debut being Ultraelectromagneticpop! in 1993; and the third, Cutterpillow, released in 1995, becoming the highest-selling album ever in the Philippines), two live albums, four compilation albums, and three EPs (extended plays).
But it’s how their music became such a part of our everyday lives as Filipinos that’s hard to shake off, and that’s why we Pinoys cannot get enough of them, wherever we may be now—geographically and in life. We sung them at the top of our lungs. We felt those often relatable, sometimes explicit Tagalog lyrics. And we still do.
Yes, there have been a number of Eraserheads reunion concerts since the much talked about 2008 one at what was then still The Fort Open Field (BGC), which was cut halfway when lead vocalist Buendia was rushed to the hospital after experiencing chest pains. It has since been restaged in 2009, with the sold-out second reunion concert drawing a crowd of 100,000 to the SM Mall of Asia Concert Grounds, followed by sporadic tours abroad in succeeding years. The last one in the Philippines, Eraserheads Huling El Bimbo 2022, drew a crowd of 75,000. And then followed the 2023 world tour.
No matter how many times and wherever they hold a reunion concert, Pinoy fans from far and wide will go, just to catch one of the greatest OPM bands of all time. And so it continues in 2024. Their upcoming stop? The Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California, USA, where the band will play live on July 13, Saturday, at 7PM. It is expected to attract 3,000 to 4,000 concertgoers from the area, who will likely be made up of Filipinos who grew up with the band’s timeless hits from the 1990s that are loved up to the present. Check out ticket prices here.
Ever since the Eraserheads Reunion Concert World Tour kicked off last year, with sold-out venues all over US and Canada, it has been highly anticipated across the globe by countless fans and continues to be a historic event. For many, this reunion represents more than just a concert; it’s a pilgrimage, a chance to connect with fellow fans and celebrate the enduring legacy of one of the Philippines’ most beloved bands. Read this first-hand account that a concertgoer during their 2023 concert in Canada shared with KUBO last year.
Charles Victor Entertainment—in cooperation with LIVE Nation Philippines, TFC, and MYX—is bringing Eraserheads Huling El Bimbo 2024 World Tour to Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California, set to captivate audiences all over and unite generations of enthusiasts in a celebration of nostalgia and musical brilliance.
To get a sneak peek at what songs the Eraserheads would play (or in case you feel you’re missing out), here’s the Eraserheads Huling El Bimbo 2022 setlist, with the 31 songs that they played in the Philippines in December 2022. Play and save the whole playlist on Spotify:
Which of these Eraserheads hits are your favorites? Tell us in the comments section of this post!
About the producer
US-based Charles Victor Entertainment is a rising star in the world of live music production, with the mission to promote and elevate Filipino music and entertainment to international audiences and foster deeper appreciation for Filipino music and heritage. They take pride in discovering and nurturing the stars in the Filipino entertainment scene, from seasoned veterans to emerging artists, through world-class concert productions.
If you need proof, they produced successful shows across the US for Filipino bands and artists like Parokya Ni Edgar with rapper EZ Mil in Hawaii, Florida, New York, and DC from October 2023 to March 2024; KZ Tandingan, Yeng Constantino, and Kyla in the Vocal Champs event at Times Square, New York last July 2023; and co-produced the Arnel Pineda and Lani Misalucha Concert in New Jersey last September 2023.
Besides the Eraserheads, Charles Victor Entertainment will also be bringing another legendary OPM band to the US later this year. Stay tuned for more details! Follow Charles Victor Entertainment on Facebook and Instagram for more info.
With reports from Trixie Reyna
