Party like it’s 1986! Identity Crisis reunites for one-night gig
Legendary Pinoy new wave band Identity Crisis is back. For one night only, at least.
On the occasion of the band's 25th anniversary, a reunion concert called "Rebel Yell" is set September 9 at the NBC Tent, Taguig. Featured guests are Jett Pangan, General Luna's Nicole Asensio, and 80s tribute band Kudos Loves 80s.
Formed in 1986, the band—"Cool Carla" Abaya and Buddy Arceo on vocals, Leni Llapitan on keyboards, Resty Cornejo on guitars, Marvin Mendiola on drums, and Bogs Ambrosio on bass—is considered one of the pioneers of local "alternative" music, and, along with The Dawn, one of the very few bands of their time to make it to the mainstream.
Their gothic look and accessible melodies cemented their place as an icon of 80s new wave in the Philippines. Sandwich immortalized them in the song "Betamax," while Rivermaya remade two of their hit songs ("My Sanctuary" and "Sumigaw, Umawit Ka") for the 2006 tribute CD to the Pinoy underground scene, "Isang Ugat, Isang Dugo."
Flattered by Rivermaya covers
What did the band think of Rivermaya covering them?
"Old," Llapitan laughs.
"We were flattered actually," adds Arceo.
"Yeah, and Rivermaya's a very well-respected band," says Abaya. "For them to pick our songs is a good thing, and they did it quite well."
With changes in the musical landscape, added with growing internal disagreements and guitarist Cornejo leaving for abroad, the band called it quits in the early 90s. Abaya and Llapitan went on to form the 90s underground outfit Mariya's Mistress (with Abaya eventually going into culinary arts and online radio, and Leni becoming a full-time architect). Cornejo is a Hong Kong-based architect, Arceo works in the airline industry, Ambrosio left for the IT industry in Singapore (he died of a heart attack two years ago), and Mendiola left for the States.
Soon after disbanding, the Nineties "alternative explosion" happened, the effects of which are still felt to this very day.
Today's bands have it easy
"I'm jealous of the bands today," Cornejo candidly admits. "They have music videos and record deals left and right."
Abaya thinks today's acts have it easy. "You don't even need a record label anymore. All you need is a laptop, plug in, do your layovers, and press it. Or even sell your material on the internet."
"We went through it the hard way," says Llapitan. "We did our own promos, our own posters, and we'd even pay our drivers to stick flyers onto the windshields of cars."
And the biggest limitation back then, according to Arceo: "They would only play our material over at XB102 and NU107. Bands now get played everywhere."
Fans have been clamoring for Identity Crisis to return, so why only now?
"There was no reason to hold a concert," says Llapitan. "Now is the best time since it's our 25th anniversary. We would get offers, but no one wanted to fly in the other members. That would have short-changed the fans."
Party like it's 1986
Enter Requiem Rising, the group behind various new wave and dance parties held both here and abroad. Twenty-five years ago, the production held the biggest parties in the metro, and also produced Identity Crisis' first major show at the PICC. Today, they're producing the band's 25th anniversary reunion concert.
"We're going to party like it's 1986 again," says Arceo, "where you have a band, then a mobile playing dance music, and a band again. A dance concert/party."
"Back then, after the bands perform, you still stick around to dance. Nowadays you watch a band, and when they finish, you leave," says Abaya. "This time we're doing it like it was in the Eighties."
"No chairs, everyone stands up and dances, or even slamdances," adds Cornejo.
"We just want to have fun onstage. We want the audience to feel the bonding and the friendship we went through. They're also our friends, so it's like a reunion for everyone."
