Wolfgang (Filipino band)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- This article is about the Filipino rock band. For other uses, see Wolfgang (disambiguation).
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| Background information | ||
| Origin |  Manila, Philippines |
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| Genre(s) | Heavy metal Hard rock Grunge |
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| Years active | 1994–2002 | |
| Label(s) | Ivory Records Sony Music Entertainment |
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| Associated acts |
Razorback | |
| Members | ||
| Basti Artadi (vocals) Mon Legaspi (bass) Wolf Gemora (drums) Manuel Legarda (guitars) |
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Wolfgang was a Filipino heavy metal/hard rock/grunge band formed around 1994. They were named one of the four greatest Filipino rock bands of all time. Joining them in this line-up are the Juan De la Cruz Band, The Dawn and The Eraserheads.[citation needed]
Wolfgang's hard-hitting, loud, grunge sound made them very popular with many rock fans. Their charisma also captured the attention of many music listeners. They were at the height of their fame and popularity in the 1990's and their craft was also recognized internationally namely in Southeast Asian countries, Hong Kong, Japan, United States and Canada.
All of their albums received recognitions and were sold out in different record bars, thier gigs and live performances are surely to be fully watched, crowds in their gigs will surely scream to their performances
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[edit] History
Vocalist Basti Artadi (born Sebastian), bassist Mon Legaspi (born Ramon), and drummer Wolf Gemora (born Leslie) started in other local bands while guitarist Manuel Legarda returned to the Philippines from living in Spain. As much music in the Philippines is greatly influenced by western artists, Wolfgang took their cue from Metallica, Soundgarden, Carlos Santana, Pearl Jam, The Doors, Sepultura, and Led Zeppelin, among others.
[edit] Debut Album
Wolfgang submitted demos of two original compositions, "Darkness Fell" and "Left Alone", to local radio stations, which generated many listener requests. The band signed with Def Tone, a label of local independent Ivory Records. Wolfgang released its first album, the eponymous Wolfgang, in 1995, at a time when a rock craze, started the previous year, was underway in the country.
At the 1995 NU107 Rock Awards, the country's premier rock awards show, Artadi was nominated for Vocalist of the Year, Gemora for Drummer of the Year, and Legarda for Guitarist of the Year. The band was nominated for Artist of the Year and Best Live Act. Legarda was named co-winner for Guitarist of the Year.
[edit] Semenelin
The band signed in 1996 with a major label, Epic of Sony Music Entertainment Philippines (SMEP). Wolfgang's first Epic release, Semenelin, reached at least double-platinum status (80,000 units sold -- Wolfgang would not allow SMEP to release precise figures, but does allow it to state if the album reached gold, platinum, etc.) Wolfgang had become one of the most popular bands in the Philippines.
Semenelin was named Album of the Year at the 1996 NU107 Rock Awards, where Artadi won Vocalist of the Year, Gemora took Drummer of the Year, and the band was named Artist of the Year and Best Live Performer. Semenelin was released in the United States in an all-English version in March of 1997, with two songs originally performed in Filipino, the Philippines' national language, re-recorded in English. The other tracks on Semenelin were originally recorded in English.
[edit] Wurm
Wurm was released in late 1997, and was an outstanding and truly a landmark album that reached platinum status (40,000 units). The lower sales than that achieved by Semenelin can perhaps be attributed in part to the downswing of the rock movement, which had started several years earlier. This, however, did nothing to diminish the standard set by Wurm, which was nominated at the 1998 NU107 Rock Awards for Album of the Year, which also saw Artadi winning his second Vocalist of the Year award, and Gemora winning his second Drummer of the Year award, while the band took honors for Listener's Choice and Artist of the Year.
Wurm, which was recorded entirely in English, was released in early 1998 in Japan, the world's second-largest market for recorded music, and Wolfgang performed several shows in Japan to promote the album.
[edit] Serve in Silence
Wolfgang's fourth album, Serve in Silence, was released locally in March 1999, and saw a return to the style purveyed on 1996's Semenelin. Though another critical and commercial success, it did not, however, see international release.
Serve in Silence was nominated for Album of the Year at the 1999 NU107 Rock Awards, as well as for Best Album Packaging. Wolfgang was nominated for Artist/Band of the Year, and all four band members were nominated for individual awards: Basti Artadi for Vocalist of the Year, Manuel Legarda for Guitarist of the Year, Mon Legaspi for Bassist of the Year, and Wolf Gemora for Drummer of the Year. In addition, Wolfgang was nominated for Producer of the Year. Serve in Silence tied for first place for Album of the Year, and Basti Artadi won again for Vocalist of the Year, his third overall win in this category. Wolfgang also won the Listener's Choice Award.
[edit] Black Mantra
Wolfgang's Fifth and final album released in the latter part of 2001 prior to their breakup in 2002, it's carrier single was "No Falter" was released earlier because of it's inclusion in the Final Fantasy soundtrack.
The album also contained singles that also became certified rock hits, songs like Bow unto thee, idlip and Meckam all became certified hits. The album cover and the materila used on the cover really did paid well for this album it also proved the dominance of the band in the rock scene both local and international.
[edit] Later status
In February 2000, the excellent live album Soundcheck: The Live Recordings, featuring Wolfgang and three other rock bands signed to Sony Music Entertainment Philippines, was released. For the 2000 NU107 Rock Awards, Basti Artadi was nominated once again for Vocalist of the Year, Wolf Gemora for Drummer of the Year, Mon Legaspi for Bassist of the Year, and Manuel Legarda for Guitarist of the Year. Basti Artadi won yet again for Vocalist of the Year, the fourth time he has received this honor.
In late 2000, Wolfgang released a live concert album, Acoustica 9/30/2000, a beautiful set on which previously recorded songs were played in an acoustic manner. Several guest artists, including guitarist David Aguirre of local rock band Razorback, also participated. The album reached gold status.
In April 2001, in conjunction with U.S.-based music retailer Tower Records, Volume, a compilation of Wolfgang material culled from all four of its studio albums, including its first Ivory Records set, was released in Tower Records stores in the U.S. and Australia. Vocalist Basti Artadi's participation in a side project with members of labelmate Razorback culminated in a release in August 2001 of an acoustic-styled rock album entitled, Brain Salad. Wolfgang's next studio album, Black Mantra, a double-album set, was released locally in August 2001.
[edit] Trivia
- Upon the band's dissolution, bassist Mon Legaspi took over bass guitar duties from Carlos Balcells of The Dawn. Legaspi was with The Dawn from 2002 until 2004.
- Wolf Gemora is with a new Southern California-based rock trio, called Lokomotiv.
- Basti Artadi is now frontman for a San Francisco-based group called Kitaan, after fronting for Lokomotiv.
- Manuel Legarda banded with former Gnash vocalist Jay Ortega, Blue Rats' drummer Miguel Ortigas and bassist Paolo Pacia, forming DRT.
- Despite playing Metal and Grunge Wolfgang also play blues & one good sample of their blues song is their Semenelin single "Cathedral of space".
- Wolfgang is one of the four greatest Filipino Rock bands, but among the four they are the only one that did not have any lineup changes.
- Wolfgang already jammed with international rockers like Def Leppard and jason Newsted of Metallica.
- Wolf Gemora is one of the top endorsers of Zildjian sticks and Cymbals
