80s Rock: The Dawn

First feature, yay! 80s Rock acts seemed like a good place to start xxxRock with, seeing as the brain behind it (me) was born the year they were formed. Heh. Anyway, in the spirit of starting off somewhere close to my beginnings, here's an 80s band whose career seemed to grow alongside my life.

Career Run
1985-1995, 1997-present

Current Lineup
Jett Pangan - lead vocals and rhythm guitar
JB Leonor - drums
Buddy Zabala - bass guitar, back-up vocals
Francis Reyes- guitar, back-up vocals

Band History

• "The Dawn" came from a cross given by The Sisters of The Holy Spirit to founding guitarist Teddy Diaz. 'Dawn' had a positive, hopeful vibe that is easily picked up from the bands' songs.
• The Dawn's first gig was at Roxy's, a small restaurant along Kalayaan Ave., Makati. It was held on a weekday.
• At the height of their popularity, Teddy Diaz was murdered in front of his girlfriend's house by two bystanders under the influence of drugs and alcohol. While he spent only a short time with the soon-to-be-legendary band, his mark as a prolific musician and visionary would be felt through the many young artists that flourished in the Pinoy rock scene. (i.e. Perfecto Diaz - former guitarist of Rivermaya, Chuck Isidro - former AfterImage guitarist and founding lead guitarist of 6Cycle Mind, 90s rock sensation INTRoVOYS; to name a few)
• The guitarist void that Teddy Diaz left was filled by two more guitarists - "Zorro"/Noel Mendes and Atsushi Matsuura, respectively - before the band settled with Francis Reyes (a.k.a. Francis Brew of local radio station NU107 Rock).
• Likewise, the bass spot has also been replaced thrice after founding bassist Clay Luna left the band for the US. Replacement Carlos Balcells (Cicada Band) first played with The Dawn in a concert at Mondragon Ballroom Makati. In 2003, Wolfgang bassist Mon Legaspi replaced Carlos after the latter left to perform his duties as city councilor for Talisay City. Two years later, Mon left amicably to work in Hong Kong. Former Eraserheads bassist Buddy Zabala was then offered the spot and has been playing with them since.
  
• The Dawn disbanded in 1995. Jett Pangan went on becoming a recording company executive, and later released a solo album (Spell) and formed a new eponymous act: the Jett Pangan Group.
• In 1997, The Dawn held a sold-out concert at the ULTRA basketball stadium. This concert brought not just a much-awaited reunion concert onstage, but also a first-time moment where the band jammed with two guitarists: Francis Reyes and Atsushi Matsuura at the same time.
• In 1999, the members finally decided to take The Dawn back on the road.
• The release of the album Prodigal Sun in 2000 ushered in their official return to the music scene; very much like the parable of The Prodigal Son from which it is believed to have been named after.
• By 2001, The Dawn was back in the live circuit.They went on an 8-city US Tour after the 9/11 Tragedy, and has since then been regularly releasing singles as well as albums to the a very hungry public.

Discography

• 1987: The Dawn
• 1988: I Stand With You
• 1989: Beyond the Bend
• 1989: The Dawn - Live
• 1990: Heart's Thunder
• 1990: The Dawn (Compilation)
• 1990: Iisang Bangka Greatest Hits
• 1992: Abot Kamay
• 1994: Puno't Dulo
• 1997: The Dawn: OPM Timeless Collection (Gold Series Compilation)
• 2000: Prodigal Sun
• 2004: Harapin
• 2006: Tulad ng Dati
• 2008: The Later Half of Day

Band Anthems

• Enveloped Ideas (1987) - Listen | Lyrics
• Salamat (1989) - Listen | Lyrics
• Tulad ng Dati (2000) - Listen | Lyrics

Spiffy Things Every The Dawn Fan Must Know:,

• The Dawn is considered one of three bands that shaped Philippine rock music. The other two being the Juan de la Cruz Band ("The Godfathers of Pinoy Rock" in the 70s) and the Eraserheads ("The Beatles of the Philippines" in the 90s).
• Founding members Teddy Diaz, JB Leonor and Clay Luna originally wanted a female vocalist. Jett Pangan was only in the audition premises to accompany his friend, but bagged the trio's unanimous nod after he sung on request.
• Carlos Balcells reportedly showed up for his bass slot audition in a business suit.
• The album Prodigal Sun contains a track of Sushi Matsuura snoring. This is also dedicated to the memory of Teddy Diaz.
• Founding member Teddy Diaz has showbiz roots. His father was legendary actor Vic Diaz (Sampaguita Pictures), and his godfather is the King of Philippine Movies, Fernando Poe Jr.
• Vocalist Jett Pangan also has his share of the limelight. He has voiced Saitou Ken'ichi from the anime BECK: Mongolian Chop Squad and Draco from Voltes V, respectively in their locally-dubbed versions. He has also been nominated for Best Actor for the docu-movie Tulad ng Dati in Gawad Urian (considered the Filipino OSCARS) and for Best Breakthrough Actor for the same movie at the ENPRESS Golden Screen Awards.
• The Dawn supports Greenpeace.

Related Media
*Tulad ng Dati (2006)

• Won 2006 Cinemalaya Award for Best Editing, Best Sound and Best Film.
• Won 2007 Gawad Urian Award for Best Sound.
• Read the plot summary here.
• Watch the trailer here.

Where I Stalked Them
Official Website | Official Myspace Page | Wikipedia Page
Yahoo! Groups Mailing List | Pinoy Banda Page

Welcome to xxxRock!

I was born in the 80s. I grew up in the 90s, and now that I'm living in the 00s, I am a tad irked by one problem.

It's not that I have to endure my country's current penchant for screaming in place of singing songs;

Or that I have run out of invectives for the so-called 'musical' careers that have sprung out from Lito Camo's genius;

No, not them. There's a special abyss in my heart for those.

It's that there's a whole century and a half of history - artists, songs, trivia - that I have to backtrack on, and there's just... so little time. And brainspace.

Growing up, I was mostly exposed to the 'tamer' side of music. My granddad was the family music freak; he had a collection of LPs that he considered as his treasure. When I was younger, I watched him put them on the turntable with utmost care and listen to the smooth, silky voices with a smile on his face.

While I have nothing against Mr. Diamond, Mr. Humperdinck and Mr. Sinatra, I learned the moment I could tune in to the radio that I like my music a little rougher 'round the edges and a lot more loud and proud.

I've always been a fan of music; but most especially rock music, its artists and all permutations thereof. Hence, xxxRock: my shrine, library and diary all rolled into one. Here's me paying tribute to the emissaries of the soundtrack of my life since time immemorial to the present.

But because I am neither a musical artist nor an authority figure (and by definition still pretty much an idiot at musical jargon and styles), expect xxxRock to be mostly about the medium, sometimes about the message, and to be peppered by short reports involving both.

At least once or twice a week, xxxRock will feature artists from one sub-cat of rock music depending on the month's theme. My exposure to the genre is limited only to the interpretation of four countries, and while I'm hoping to expand my library in future, we'll have to make do with my chosen ones from the Filipino, American, Brit and J-rock scenes. For now.

And depending on how often I get to go to rock gigs and concerts, I'll be putting up write-ups of those too.

I promise nothing technical.

Just pure, unadulterated fun by a rock fan, for the rock fans. ^_^