The Dawn (band)
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| Background information | ||
| Origin |  Manila, Philippines |
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| Genre(s) | Pinoy Rock | |
| Years active | 1985–present | |
| Label(s) | Warner Music Philippines Sony Music Entertainment Philippines OctoArts International |
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| Associated acts |
Jett Pangan Group Eraserheads Wolfgang Afterimage |
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| Website | thedawn.ph | |
| Members | ||
| Jett Pangan JB Leonor Francis Reyes Buddy Zabala |
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| Former members | ||
| Teddy Diaz Clay Luna Mon Legaspi Carlos Balcells Atsushi Matsuura Noel Mendes (Zorro) Dodo Fernandez |
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The Dawn is a Filipino rock band (see Pinoy rock) which gained popularity during the late 1980s in the Philippines. The band broke up in 1995 and eventually, lead vocalist Jett Pangan formed another band bearing his name. In late 1999, however, they again reunited.
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[edit] History
The Dawn was originally formed in 1985 by Teddy Diaz (vocals and guitars), Jett Pangan (lead vocals), Clay Luna (bass), and JB Leonor (drums). They derived the band's name from a portrait of the Holy Spirit that symbolized the dawn of a new day (probably found in a book given by the Sisters of the Holy Spirit to Teddy Diaz,[1] as well as a crucifix which Teddy also received from the same sisterhood), called The Dawning of the Holy Spirit. Diaz, Leonor and Luna initially wanted a female vocalist; but in the course of their search, Jett Pangan auditioned and bagged the trio's unanimous nod. The recharged quartet began performing in clubs and eventually recorded a demo of a song entitled "Enveloped Ideas," a copy of which they submitted to DWXB 102.7, a now-defunct Metro Manila–based FM radio station that played Alternative Rock / New Wave music. It topped the radio station's charts in 1986, helping the group gain a cult following. Heavily influenced by the New Wave style of the '80s, "Enveloped Ideas" is distinct for its introductory operatic vocals a la Klaus Nomi.
While The Dawn was in search of a major record label, Luna left the band to emigrate to the US. Carlos "Caloy" Balcells, bass player of another Filipino group, the Cicada Band, soon replaced him.
[edit] Success and Tragedy
In 1986, The Dawn signed with OctoArts International and, the next summer, released their eponymous debut album, which gained commercial success. Many felt that The Dawn would fill the void left behind by the Juan de la Cruz Band when their music slowly faded in the 1980's.
At the height of their popularity in 1988, and just weeks after the release of their sophomore album I Stand With You, Teddy Diaz was stabbed to death in front of his girlfriend's house on August 21, 1988 by two bystanders allegedly under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Despite the demise of Diaz, his influence is still felt among many guitarists today and he has become a legend among many Filipino musicians. The Dawn, together with the Filipino music industry also considers Teddy to be the band's driving force till this day. The band bravely soldiered on; at one time employing the services of a masked guitarist (nick-named Zorro by some fans) in the absence of a permanent axeman. Atsushi Matsuura, a Japanese guitarist who had earlier released a solo album in the Philippines under Ivory Records, was inducted to perform lead guitar duties in January of 1989. He was later replaced by Francis Reyes, ex-Afterimage guitarist, who was also a DJ at NU-107, a local alternative rock radio station. Francis also happened to be close friend of Teddy's. Classically trained session keyboardist Millette Saldajeno joined the band in late 1990; she was replaced by Isidore Fernandez in 1992.
[edit] Breakup and Reunion
In 1995, the band went their separate ways due to Pangan's desire to move on with another career. Pangan eventually formed the Jett Pangan Group. The 1997 reunion at the ULTRA brought everyone including Matsuura back on stage, and for the first time, the band jammed with two guitarists; Reyes being on board as well. They did another reunion show at the now defunct ABG's along Pasong Tamo, while they were discussing a comeback release through Sony Music Philippines. They reunited with both Francis Reyes and Atsushi Matsuura on guitars and performed on GMA Networks' 2000 today Global Millennium Day Broadcast in Ayala Avenue in Makati City. In that year, they also recorded Prodigal Sun, an album that, much like the parable of the Prodigal Son, symbolized their return to the music scene.
2001 saw the band actively engaged in the live circuit; they embarked on an 8-city US tour and were in New York City when 9/11 turned the World Trade Center into ground zero. In 2004, Caloy Balcells left the band in order to perform his duties as city councilor in his native Talisay City; he was replaced by former Wolfgang bassist Mon Legaspi and a few months later the band once again parted with Matsuura and returned to being a quartet.
[edit] Present Status
In 2005, a new album, Harapin (To Face), was released, featuring singles such as Tulad ng Dati (Just Like Before, or As It Was) and Laging Narito (Always Here).
In late 2005, bassist Mon Legaspi amicably left the band to pursue other projects and was replaced by Buddy Zabala, formerly of the Eraserheads. The revamped quartet has been writing new material which will be included in a twentieth anniversary package. They will also be featured in a Cinemalaya sponsored movie slated for release July or August(?). Most recently, The Dawn contributed to the Apo Hiking Society tribute album kami nAPO muna with a cover of Bawat Bata (Every Child).
The band's immortal hits include: Enveloped Ideas, Salamat (Thank You), Iisang Bangka (One Boat) and Tulad ng Dati (Just Like Before). These songs still continue to be played by many radio stations in the Philippines.
2006 has seen the following highlights: the band's indie movie, Tulad Ng Dati[2] (Just Like Before, as it's titled in the Pusan International Film Festival) won Best Editing, Best Sound, and Best Picture in the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival. Their 20th anniversary album of the same title was released mid-October and is a 2-disc set: disc 1 contains re-recordings of their hits through the years and the carrier single "Ang Iyong Paalam" (Your Farewell) while disc 2 contains videos including a rare footage of Teddy Diaz doing a guitar solo[3]. It is also the country's entry to the Hawaii International Film Festival.
On October 2006, "Enveloped Ideas" was voted as the greatest New Wave song of all time by the listeners of DWXB-FM, which was revived on the Internet with its original DJs broadcasting from Manila.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
| Cover | Year | Title | Label |
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1987 | The Dawn | OctoArts International, Inc. |
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1988 | I Stand With You | |
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1989 | Beyond The Bend | OctoArts International, Inc. |
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1989 | The Dawn - Live | OctoArts International, Inc. |
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1990 | Heart's Thunder | |
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The Dawn (compilation) | ||
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Iisang Bangka Greatest Hits | ||
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1992 | Abot Kamay | |
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1994 | Puno't Dulo | |
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1997 | The Dawn: OPM Timeless Collection (Gold Series compilation) | OctoArts International, Inc./EMI |
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2000 | Prodigal Sun | Sony Music Entertainment (Phils.) |
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2004 | Harapin | Warner Music Philippines |
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2006 | Tulad Ng Dati | Warner Music Philippines |
[edit] Chronology of Band Member Line-up
[edit] Original Line-up
- Jett Pangan - vocals, guitar
- JB Leonor - drums
- Clay Luna - bass guitar
- Teddy Diaz † - guitar, back-up vocals and keyboards
[edit] Second Line-up
- Jett Pangan - lead vocals
- JB Leonor - drums
- Carlos Balcells - bass guitar
- Teddy Diaz - guitars, back-up vocals and keyboards
[edit] Third Line-up(January 1989 - November 1989)
- Jett Pangan - lead vocals
- JB Leonor - drums
- Carlos Balcells - bass guitar
- Atsushi Matsuura - guitars, back-up vocals and keyboards
[edit] Fourth Line-up (December 1989- January 1995)
- Jett Pangan - lead vocals
- JB Leonor - drums
- Carlos Balcells - bass guitar
- Francis Reyes - guitars, back-up vocals and keyboards
[edit] Fifth Line-up (2000)
- Jett Pangan - lead vocals
- JB Leonor - drums
- Carlos Balcells - bass guitar
- Francis Reyes - guitars, back-up vocals and keyboards
- Atsushi Matsuura - guitars and back-up vocals
[edit] Sixth Line-up (2002)
- Jett Pangan - lead vocals
- JB Leonor - drums
- Mon Legaspi - bass
- Francis Reyes - guitars, back-up vocals and keyboards
- Atsushi Matsuura - guitars and back-up vocals
[edit] Seventh Line-up (2004)
- Jett Pangan - lead vocals, rhythm guitar
- Mon Legaspi - bass guitar
- Francis Reyes - guitar, back-up vocals and keyboards
- JB Leonor - drums
[edit] Current Line-up (2005)
- Jett Pangan - lead vocals and rhythm guitar
- JB Leonor - drums
- Buddy Zabala - bass guitar, back-up vocals
- Francis Reyes - guitar, back-up vocals
[edit] Contact
- Bookings - Alvin Rodriguez (0918-8134984)
[edit] Trivia
- The eponymous debut album cover shows the late Teddy Diaz made up like a Kabuki actor.
- The business-minded Carlos Balcells reportedly showed up for an audition for the band's bass player slot dressed in a business suit.
- The album Prodigal Sun contains a track of a snoring Atsushi Matsuura. This album is also dedicated to the memory of Teddy Diaz.[4]
- The Dawn supports Greenpeace.[5]
- Among the many rock bands in the Philippines, only four have been named the greatest: Juan De la Cruz Band (The Godfathers of Pinoy Rock), The Dawn, Eraserheads and Wolfgang.[citation needed] All these groups have since disbanded, but The Dawn has reunited since their breakup in 1995.
- Founding member Teddy Diaz's father was legendary actor Vic Diaz of Sampaguita Pictures.
- Two of the band's bass players came in from other legendary Pinoy rock bands; Mon Legaspi from Wolfgang and Buddy Zabala from the Eraserheads.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ Sheryl Garcia. "The Dawn remembers founding member in bio-pic", www.filipinoexpress.com, June 18, 2006. Retrieved on 2006-11-13.
- ^ Gibbs Cadiz. "Right on the money", Philippine Daily Inquirer, August 6, 2006. Retrieved on 2006-11-18.
- ^ Resty Odon. "Titik Pilipino Album Review", www.titikpilipino.com. Retrieved on 2006-11-18.
- ^ The Dawn: Prodigal Sun, Liner notes, 2000
- ^ www.greenpeace.org. "Star Power: The Dawn", Greenpeace, March 17, 2003. Retrieved on 2006-11-18.
