By Erika Tapalla
INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — The Eraserheads Reunion Concert was cut short Saturday night when lead singer Ely Buendia was rushed to the Makati Medical Center after collapsing backstage during a 20-minute intermission of the planned 30-song concert.
The concert’s sudden end was announced by Buendia’s sister Lally who went onstage with Ely’s band mates Raimund Marasigan, Buddy Zabala, Marcus Adoro and concert organizers stating that the band’s lead vocalist and songwriter was in poor health. The band members apologized to the audience for cutting short their performance.
MTV Philippines President Francis Lumen asked the crowd for a minute of silence to pray for Buendia’s health.
“He had a slight attack because of stress due to the recent passing of his mother (Lisette Buendia), and their sound check which lasted till 3 a.m. today (Saturday),” said MTV Philippines and Radiohead director for marketing Ronald Esguerra in an interview with INQUIRER.net. “But we have received word that Ely is now in stable condition.”
Organizers also belied erroneous reports that Buendia is undergoing triple bypass surgery, adding that the Eraserheads frontman actually wants to check out of the Makati Medical Center and go instead to his personal doctor.
Esguerra confirmed reports that Buendia was transferred to the Philippine Heart Center last night after he requested to see his doctor. “But he is okay and in stable condition,” Esguerra told INQUIRER.net in a telephone interview.
According to Jing Garcia, former music journalist and currently technology editor at Manila Times and a friend of the Eraserheads members, Buendia collapsed backstage after the last song before the intermission, which was “Lightyears.” The band had already played 15 songs by then.
Buendia suffered a heart attack on January 7, 2007 and had already undergone surgery.
The concert, which was staged at the Fort Bonifacio Global City open field in Taguig, started at around 8:15 p.m. and paused for a break at around 9:30 p.m.
The Eraserheads opened their much-awaited reunion concert with “Alapaap” and “Ligaya,” complete with fireworks display.
After waiting at the open field for an hour since the intermission hoping for further developments, loyal fans of the band calmly left the concert area after being treated to a thrilling first set.
MTV Philippines’ Esguerra said that while he is hoping for a second Eraserheads reunion concert, there is still no word on whether another one would be staged.
“We have received no word of a Part Two but we also hope there will be one,” he said.
With a report from Pocholo Concepcion, Philippine Daily Inquirer
August 31st, 2008 at 9:29 pm
I’m an Eheads fan in denial.
And I thought I’ve succeeded.
In trying to outgrow them.
Denied that they even existed
In my somewhat blurry past.
But when I heard ‘Shake ‘Yer Head’
In the concert that never was
Everything rushed back.
It was still crystal clear
I still love them.
My fascination with the band remained.
It never left.
When they announced that Ely wasn’t alright.
I feared for Ely.
We all know he wasn’t in the best condition.
But we kept pushing him to come back.
To sing the old songs once again.
Songs that feel good, but hurt good at the same time.
Like all memories we hold on to.
He made this ultimate sacrifice.
To sing. To be branded a sellout. To open up old wounds
That only he knew if it did heal or not
Even if he also knew it might hurt. Deep.
Do the fans really care?
Do the fans really feel
What he feels right now?
Sadness for happiness.
Sacrifice for music.
Play your songs
Till you bleed.
For the fans.
For the past.
For things that we miss.
And things that will never come back.
No matter what.
Ely, be well. (aLjI)
August 31st, 2008 at 9:00 pm
Hey guys!
Some pictures of the event can be seen here:
http://www.tabblo.com/studio/stories/shared/27556/3hc1rsq86z5yepm
And a video of the intro here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPx1p952kKo
August 31st, 2008 at 4:29 pm
[...] http://blogs.inquirer.net/soundtrip/2008/08/30/eraserheads-reunion-cut-short-buendia-rushed-to-hospi... [...]
August 31st, 2008 at 3:55 pm
since we’re all sharing, here is my account with video =)
http://abuggedlife.com/2008/08/30/eraserheads-reunion-opens-with-alapaap/
thanks! hope ely recovers quickly!
August 31st, 2008 at 3:19 pm
[...] this is the latest about Ely’s condition. they also had this. [...]