Pinoy rock

[3] Other popular combos of the era were D'Swooners (featuring Edmond Fortuno, future drummer for Juan de la Cruz Band and Anak Bayan), D'Downbeats (featuring Pepe Smith, future drummer / lead vocalist for Speed, Glue & Shinki and Juan de la Cruz Band), who were the top billed opening act for The Beatles concert on July 4, 1966, at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila, the Hi-Jacks (featuring Eddie Mesa, "The Filipino Elvis"), the Bits N’ Pieces, the Boots 'n' Saddles, the Moonstrucks, Tilt Down Men and hundreds of others.

Only a few years earlier, teens formed informal groups using instruments like ukuleles, guitars, and gas cans with a single rope for a stand-up bass and often without amplification.

Rico J. Puno's cover of "The Way We Were" dominated the airwaves in the mid 1970s and slowly but surely, the popularity of Pinoy pop continued till the end of the decade.

Also famous for providing subtle rebellious (anti-Marcos dictatorship sentiment was growing at that time) and peace messages behind its skillful vocal harmonizing, Asin gave the masses hits such as "Bayan Kong Sinilangan (Cotabato)" and "Balita".

In the early to mid-1980s, groups like RP, with Goff Macaraeg and Bob Aves, Nuklus, Sinaglahi, UP Sintunado, Patatag, Tambisan, and soloists like the nationalist folk rock singers Paul Galang and Jess Santiago, the progressive folk duo Inang Laya, the progressive Pinoy rock band the Jerks, and Noel Cabangon were a hit on street concerts and campus tours.

These groups of artists reunited and formed Buklod (Bukluran ng mga Musikero para sa Bayan), which later Rom Dongeto of Sinaglahi, Noel Cabangon, and Rene Bongcocan of Lingkod Sining took as their new band name when it disbanded after the EDSA Revolution.

Other bands emerged, including Dean's December, Ethnic Faces, Identity Crisis, and Violent Playground, all of which were able to record and release their respective albums in the years that followed.

Another band named the Wuds was formed in the 1980s; its members were composed of Alfred Guevara (bass), Bobby Balingit (guitar) and Aji Adriano (drums).

Red Rocks (which later became Club Dredd), together with Mayric's (Sazi's Music Bar) and Kampo (Yosh in the mid '90s), were the only venues where unsigned bands were allowed to play their own songs.

The late 1980s and early 1990s marked the beginning of what was known as the era of underground rock and progressive music, with NU107.5 playing unknown bands through Francis Brew's "In the Raw".

Apart from allotting air time to new and known foreign rock bands such as Save Ferris, Veruca Salt, Metallica, Firehouse, Bon Jovi, Harem Scarem, Audioslave and Soundgarden etc., it gave full exposure to Filipino groups such as Sugar Hiccup, Eraserheads, Imago, Cynthia Alexander, Parokya ni Edgar, Wolfgang, Razorback, Ciudad, Teeth, Urbandub, Put3ska, Tropical Depression, Rivermaya, Yano, Siakol, and Cheese.

The commercial success of Eraserheads paved the way for more Pinoy rock acts such as Rivermaya, Siakol, Rizal Underground and The Youth getting record deals and spawning singles such as "Ulan"[7] and "Bilanggo".

[8] Some brave all-female bands got signed (Kelt's Cross, Tribal Fish, Agaw Agimat) and a few solo artists as well (Maegan Aguilar, Bayang Barrios, DJ Alvaro).

Rappers crossed over with great success (Francis M with Hardware Syndrome and Erectus), despite some earlier controversy with hip hop-bashing allegedly incited by some artists.

“All the punks disappeared,” recalls Jep Peligro, creator of Konspirazine, a prominent zine published in the late ‘90s and early ‘00s documenting the local DIY music scene.

[9] In the early 2000s, hip hop, reggae, acoustic pop/jazz and R&B-influenced bands dominated the Philippine music scene, causing Pinoy rock to take a backseat.

According to the Philippine Daily Inquirer, the band started the resurgence of the Manila sound genre into the modern world through their own mix of funky, jazzy electronic rock music.

Following NU leaving the airwaves, another FM station, Jam 88.3 fully transitioned to alternative rock/indie pop, including songs played by local popular rock artists and bands.

Today, various indie bands continue to perform through daily/weekly gig schedules at popular gig places like B-Side and SaGuijo in Makati, Route 196 (closed in 2020) and Mow's Bar in Quezon City, 19 East in Parañaque, 70s Bistro in Anonas, and at various music festivals (such as Wanderland, UP (University of the Philippines) Fair, Rakrakan Festival, and Fete de la Musique Philippines).

The late 2010s/early 2020s gave birth of new breed of rock and indie artists/bands: Magnus Haven, Bandang Lapis, the Vowels They Orbit, Maki, Lola Amour and Nobita.