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EVERYTIME there’s a Red Horse Beer, we are reminded of
the great Ruel Vernal, the underrated character actor
more known for his villainous roles back in the early
1980s. As the gruesome Dado in the Lino Brocka classic
Insiang, his devilish gaze sticks to the memory
like some physically and psychologically traumatic
circumcision experience. Then again, his ticket to fame
was a stint as the commercial model for Red Horse Beer
sometime in the late 1980s through early ’90s. In the TV
ad, this giant of a cinematic bad guy is merely helping
some loser-looking guys push their vehicle stuck in the
mud. Then they drink Red Horse.
Nothing
philosophical there but if back then you were among
those who just graduated from sarsaparilla, Ruel Vernal
endorsing extra-strong beer was like rock and roll.
Code red with Marc Abaya of
Kjwan
Eventually, Red Horse embraced rock and roll—or, to be
specific, Pinoy rock.
In 1998,
Red Horse started the Muziklaban, a nationwide battle of
the bands.
Unlike
other rock-band contests, this one offers a P1 million
cash prize and a recording contract from a major label.
As an added kick, decades after Ruel Vernal made
drinking extra-strong beer the coolest of the cool, Red
Horse erased it by featuring living Pinoy rock icons.
The
ongoing TV campaign, launched late last year, has the
founder of Pinoy rock, Joey “Pepe” Smith. With him are
his ‘sons’ who carry on even though along the way, it
would have cost them their lives—at least to some of
them—like Ely Buendia of Pupil, Basti Artadi of
Wolfgang, Karl Roy of Kapatid, and Marc Abaya of Kjwan.
We all
know how Buendia, at 36, survived heart attack in
January 2007. Roy has been undergoing therapy after a
mild stroke late last year.
Artadi
has been based in the
US
and occasionally drops by for a round of unannounced
gigs. Abaya has been the most visible, from his regular
VJ chores to weekly gigs with Kjwan.
Except
for Roy, whose recovery to regain his voice may take
awhile, all of these local Pinoy rock icons will appear
one way or another in the search that will have its
kick-off gigs from June 14 to 21 in six areas covering
the Greater Manila Area (north and south), Central North
Luzon, Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
Nationwide, there will be auditions to be held in 99
bars, 35 recording studios, 10 barangays and five malls.
Late June until August, among the hundreds of thousands
wannabes, about 4,000 bands will be screened.
In
September, the top 10 bands per area, or a total of 330
bands, will have to qualify for the elimination phase.
In November, the top two bands per area, or about 10
groups, will be selected for the finals, which will take
place on November 29 in a-still-to-be-announced venue.
During
the press launch held Tuesday night last week at the
Elbow Room in Metrowalk, Red Horse Beer brand manager
Ray Encomienda described the search as “a connection of
freedom and emotion.” He invited every Filipino to open
their souls and appreciate “freedom, originality and the
finest artistry through rock and roll.”
Former
grand champion winners like Gayuma (2007) and Mayonnaise
(2005) performed about three songs each. Though playing
originals, Gayuma sounded like Rage Against the Machine
but the vocalist sang like a younger, healthier version
of Karl Roy.
Besides
two originals, Mayonnaise did an upbeat version of The
Cure’s “Love Song.” Veterans like Greyhoundz and Kjwan
each performed three high decibel-packed songs, cleaning
our ear canals at the jam-packed press launch.
All
along, we were wondering why another rock icon, Raymund
Marasigan and his band, Sandwich, weren’t invited. After
all, he is considered the Paul MaCartney of the defunct
Eheads. Perhaps one major reason is that he is still not
in good terms with his former equally famous band mate,
the John Lennon of original Pinoy rock music.
Then
again, the 2006 winner is called Harboiled Eggz. Just
imagine them mixing with Mayonnaise and you get a hearty
serving of Sandwich.
Obviously, this may not sound right with Red Horse.
As
Vernal emerges in our memory while Muziklaban celebrates
its 10th year, there were recurring images attesting to
the positive energy brought in by that number.
Sports
icon Nadia Comaneci was the first gymnast to have scored
the perfect score of 10, way back in 1976. About 15
years later, pioneering grunge rock act Pearl Jam
released its debut album, titled Ten, which spawned
the-now classic rock hits “Alive,” “Evenflow,” “Jeremy”
and the heart-wrenching “Black.” Ten also paved the way
for other Seattle-based no-frills rock bands and their
distinct sound to go mainstream, though that may not
sound right to purists.
And more
good vibes come with the number as Encomienda said, “Sa
10th year ng Muziklaban, kahit sino pwedeng
makirak-rakan [anyone can join to rock]!”
As a
reminder and appetizer for things to come, Smith graced
the event with his usual comic spiels, saying: “I advise
you kids never to take drugs. Just give them all to
me...but seriously, don’t take drugs. Just drink Red
Horse.”
From
Ruel Vernal to Pepe Smith, Red Horse scores a perfect
10. |
