IT may seem unthinkable for the country’s iconic alternative rock band, The Eraserheads, to regroup after painfully disbanding in 2001, following their last album together, “Carbon Stereoxide.”

For more than a decade, the members – led by Ely Buendia, with Marcus Adoro, Buddy Zabala and Raimund Marasigan – didn’t even speak to each other.

In the years that followed, the guys subsequently formed their respective bands – Pupil, Sandwich, The Mongols, Pedikab, The Oktaves, Aparetel – and continued to make their mark in the OPM (Original Pilipino Music) history.

Yet, the fans became steadily hopeful through the years. Fans took the issues that personally affected the guys as their own personal battles, as well. Fans sincerely hoped the guys would reconcile.

In 2009, the guys staged a well-attended open-air concert at The Fort, that was cut short when Ely had a heart attack.

Still, the fans did not lose hope. In 2022, concert producer Francis Lumen apparently made an effort that the four guys could not resist, that’s why a successful, retrospective concert attended by 60,000 fans, happened at the Mall of Asia Grounds in December 2022.

More than reuniting onstage and agreeing to perform again, The Eraserheads found healing ang agreed to patch up their differences.

Surprisingly, four individuals who were together for the longest time but never seriously became real friends, finally discovered that bond.

After a mere three-day showing of The Eraserheads’ “Combo on the Run,” the documentary film has been extended for a full week in theaters nationwide.

“Combo On the Run,” which title was taken from The Eraserheads’ debut album, “Ultraelectromagneticpop” (1993), took off with the history of the quartet.

The Eraserheads was formed in 1989 following the aftermath of the EDSA People Power Revolt in 1986. Their name was taken from the David Lynch film, “Eraserhead” (1977).

The guys are former schoolmates at the University of the Philippines. That’s why their “Ang Huling El Bimbo” musical staged in 2019, depicted the quartet’s early days at UP.

Through the years, they have been regarded as one of the most influential and most successful bands in the local music scene.

The Eraserheads picked up the pieces and returned for their historic reunion concert, “Huling El Bimbo,” in December 2022, with 75,000 attendees at the SMDC Festival Grounds in Parañaque. That allowed the band to realize their grudges and gave them room to grow and move forward.

The highly-anticipated “Combo On the Run” delved deep into the untold facts and truths about The Eraserheads and their breakup that left many fans sad.

Interviews were recorded with the people who were with the E-heads from the start of their unparalleled career – their recording boss at BMG Records Pilipinas, radio executives and DJs who followed their rise to stardom, even music critics who knew them from the start of their career.

The highs and lows, the success and disappointments of the band that defined a generation were likewise exposed in “Combo On the Run.” Even the dark times with the band that the guys opted to shy away from.

The Eraserheads addressed everything that happened with the band, even the controversial issue that Marcus faced with his daughter. Everything that the guys merely ignored, avoided in the past and brushed off, was tackled.

It helped that “Combo On the Run” director, Diane Ventura, personally knew all The Eraserheads members. She was the erstwhile better half of Ely. So she probably had an edge in pressing the guys for their respective, exclusive interviews.

Even if one is not a hardcore fan of The Eraserheads or is a casual listener, you undoubtedly know their popular songs in their extensive discography through the years.

Their musical importance has created an impact culturally.

Fans loved the recent “Combo On the Run” docu-film that premiered last March 21. The band surprised all those who attended by performing onstage – “Superproxy,” “Alapaap,” “Pare Ko,” “Spoliarium,” “Magasin” and the title track.

“Combo On the Run” brought real fans of The Eraserheads to tears. It may simply be an ordinary story to others, but the moving docu-film got to the core of E-heads fanatics. It immortalizes the legendary quartet.

The resurgence of The Eraserheads brough them to a concert tour in the US, Canada, the Middle East, Australia.

Meanwhile, The Eraserheads are all set to have their first Electric Fun Music Festival and tickets will go on sale starting March 29 until April 16.

The Electric Fun Music Festival was announced at the end of “Combo On the Run.” It will happen on May 31 at the SMDC Festival Grounds in Parañaque.

Ticket tiers range from bronze, silver, gold, platinum, VIP to SVIP, with prices from P1,500 to P12,500.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Leah C. Salterio