The Return of eLf ideas

ideas of an eLven being in Canada

Wednesday, September 21, 2005

A Half Remembered, Half Forgotten Filipino Band

Ruperto "Pet" de Jesus (rhythm guitars / backing vocals), Roberto "Bimbo" Ballesteros (drums), Rainald Paggao (lead guitars), Ramil Michael Aznar (bass), aLfie "eLf" vera mella (vocals / effects / mascot) (1995)

Once again, I'm introducing to all of you my beloved band, Half Life Half Death, which was in activity from 1988 to 2003, the year I left the Philippines for Canada. Since its inception, the band had had various members but the constant of whom until its demise were Rain Paggao (our main melody-maker) and yours truly.

In 1995 Half Life Half Death finally got to fulfill our longtime dream--to be able commercially to record and release our debut album, Pymyth Prahn, under Viva Records' Neo label. From this album rose a few underground-concert favorites which included "Butterflies," the song that best captured the sound and image of Half Life Half Death.


Many of our friends and fans had always wondered why we never took off higher than we reached back in the '90s despite the uniqueness and individuality of our band, and the positive raves which we were earning from people as well as fellow bands who knew us, like The Dawn, Mere Mercy, Alamid, Eraserheads, Introvoys, and Sugar Hiccup.

The answer is, I don't know as well.

Perhaps, we were not prepared for something greater than we could ever manage. Perhaps we were afraid of popularity, which we believed might have derailed us from each of our own professions. Or maybe, the listening public were not ready for our kind of music. Or perhaps, we lacked the determination. Oh, well. Whatever the reason, it no longer matters now.

Summing everything up, I believe that we had achieved more than what we actually wished for. And all those are more than enough laurels in our hearts.

In 2003 my bandmate Ramil made a music video of our song "Butterflies," which I have long been itching to share with all of you. Finally I found a way to upload the video on my blog site. Please take time to watch and listen to it.

Also, check out Half Life Half Death on Wikipedia.

1 Comments:

  • At Wednesday, September 27, 2006 6:28:00 AM, Blogger Jame Mark Pinotes said…

    Hi,

    Salamat sa pagbabasa nitong commentary, actually hindi ito isang commentary, e-share ko lng sa inyo regarding sa band namin at sa buhay banda namin at e-interview ko kayo about sa inyong banda.

    Sorry po ha, hindi ko kasi alam na meron pala kayong "prof" na banda...sikat po ba kayo noong una kayong tumugtog? Hindi ko kasi narinig sa radio yung songs niyo, sensya na ha.

    Nagsimula akong nag-kabanda since high school pa ako, gaya ninyo...ang tawag sa amin "Kafu-Chino Flavored Mushroom" mga five din kami gaya niyo, pero sa tagal ng panahon, nag-kahiwalay din, dahil hindi nga sikat, at kulang din sa timing. Next naman ay "R.A. 1.06" 4th year kami nag-formed, at yun din, hiwalay. At ngayon na college na ako, May banda ulit ako, kaso dalawa. Yun ay "Chutter box" at "Visious Circle".

    Ano po bah talagang requirements upang magkaroon ng isang "pernament" band? Na talagang sikat. Hindi sa gusto kaming sumikat, pero ang gusto ko lang ay ma-iexpress lang ng mga tao yung mga kanta namin.

    Syanga pala, lead guitarist ako at tsaka songwriter. Lahat non-sense at corny, pero lahat din may meaning.

    Alternative rocker ako at sometimes tripping.

    May interest ako sa mga "not so familiar" bands, o kung baga "unsigned" bands...kagaya namin.

    Sa dami-dami na mga bands ngayon, para ng mga sikat. Music-lover ako. Pero ang gusto ko talgang marinig na kanta ay yung mga "unheard compositions" o gawa-gawa lang sa tabi, na nai-publish naman sa mga fm stations.

    Dito sa Cagayan de Oro, marami dito gig na ma-i held, especially sa bars. Iba lang kasi dito, mayayabang at feeling sikat kasi daw ang gagwapo, tulad ko...hehehe joke.

    Nais ko lang po sanang mag-ask kung paano ba tatakbohin ang isang "rock band".

    Ikaw, ganda naman boses mo, pwede mo bang i-share sakin ang mga experiences mo sa singing with the band.

    Ba't po kayo hindi nag-patuloy sa pag-sisikat...?

    Sayang din naman...kung nag-patuloy kayo, siguro isa ka sa #1 fan.

    Ano po bang music genre ninyo?

    Bakit po ba nag-kadisapear ang alamid,the youth,the teeth at yano?

    Nagka-perform naba kayo sa TV?

    Balita ko rin na babalik ka raw sa Philippines next year. Sana sumikat na kayo.

    Paano ba mag-pass ng demo tape sa Sikat na recording company at anong requirements, siguro may experience na kayo sa ganyan.

    Nagka-kilala na ba kayo ni kitche nadal,barbie almalbis,ely buendia,chito miranda at dong abay?

    May balak ba kayong maging manager?

    Anong masasabi nyo sa Kamikazee?

    Naasan na po ba ang "Combio" na original ERASERHEADS?

    Marunong ba kayong mag-bisaya?

    Cge sana masagot niyo lahat ng tanong...at least tinanong ko na lahat ng kinaalaman ko.

    Cge hangang dito.

    Ang inyong lingkod
    JAME

     

Post a Comment

<< Home