Bamboo was a Filipino alternative rock band formed in 2003 by Nathan Azarcon and Bamboo Mañalac. The band was composed of lead vocalist Mañalac, bassist Azarcon, lead and rhythm guitarist Ira Cruz, and drummer Vic Mercado.
History Band formation Francisco "Bamboo" Mañalac serves as the band's frontman. Ira Cruz, the band's guitarist claimed that the name of the band was not just derived from their vocalist's name but also from the word bamboo, the characteristics of which are associated with strength and durability with an island feel to it. Also, it's very Filipino and Asian at the same time, and coincidentally happens to be Mañalac's nickname.
Two of its members, Bamboo Mañalac and Nathan Azarcon, were formerly part of Rivermaya. The other two members, Ira Cruz and Vic Mercado, were former instrumentalists of another band, Passage. Cruz and Azarcon were also former members of the band Kapatid during that time.
Four years after their departure from Rivermaya, Mañalac and Azarcon caught up again with each other, during which Azarcon introduced him to Cruz and Mercado.
2004–2006
Bamboo's debut album, As The Music Plays, was released in February 2004, where it received positive response from fans and critics alike. The album also won numerous awards at the AWIT Awards, NU 107 Rock Awards, and MTV Pilipinas 2004. and a repackaged version release on October 25, 2004.
Their second album, Light Peace Love, which was released on June 4, 2005, consists of ten songs with differing moods and subjects, and took only 3 months to record. This album has a softer sound with both its lyrics and delivery. For this album, the band added a variety of more instruments, including strings and trumpets. The band admitted that this album had a personal feel to it. They experimented with several new styles that may please new listeners, at the risk of disappointing fans of the more conventional rock of their first album.
On 2005, the band represented the Philippines at the EMI Music Southeast Asia three-day annual regional conference in Singapore
2007–2008 Their third album, We Stand Alone Together, was released on February 16, 2007. It contains covers of local songs such as Buklod's "Tatsulok" and international songs such as Paul Simon's 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover, from different generations. It also includes bonus tracks like unplugged versions of their hit songs from previous albums such as "Mr. Clay", "These Days", and "Hallelujah". Once again, opting to do away with the conventional rock image that was attached to them, they produced sounds which were more jazzy than expected.
Star Music—backed up by ABS-CBN and MYX—produced and created the official soundtrack for the tele-epiko "Rounin", wherein the title track "Argos" was performed by Bamboo. A new avenue was opened to the band, as "Argos" is said to be the band's first venture to record a song for a primetime television show. It is also the first time for the multi-awarded band and Star Music to work together. The band was also part of the "Days of Peace" Campaign by UNICEF with Gary Valenciano.
The band's fourth album, Tomorrow Becomes Yesterday achieved platinum status on September 28, 2008 - just two days after its release. In 2010, they released the repackaged version of the album, containing a DVD of the music videos for its singles.
Break-up and aftermath Disbandment News circulated on January 9, 2011, that Bamboo had "allegedly disbanded". DJ KC Montero of Wave 89.1 confirmed the breakup on Wave's The KC Show and via Twitter. Montero clarified that all the members of the band "have decided to move on," and that he does not know why they called it quits. The group has not released an official statement on the issue, according to ABS-CBNNews.com. On January 11, 2011, Bamboo's lead vocalist Francisco "Bamboo" Mañalac finally confirmed the breakup of his band in an official statement posted on the group's website. Bamboo's breakup confirmed by an official statement
Reformation as Hijo without Bamboo A few months after the band disbanded, the group reformed without the vocalist (Bamboo Mañalac) and formed the band Hijo composed of Nathan Azarcon (vocals & bass), Ira Cruz (guitar), Vic Mercado (drums), Junji Lerma of Wahijuara (guitar) and Jay-O Orduña of Cauio (keyboards and backing vocals).
The band's frontman Bamboo Mañalac pursued a solo career and released his first album as a solo artist in November 2011.
Band members Bamboo Mañalac – vocals Nathan Azarcon – bass guitar, backing vocals, chief songwriter Ira Cruz – lead guitar, backing vocals Vic Mercado – drums, percussion
Discography Albums As The Music Plays (2004) - Double Platinum (A 2-disc Repackaged Version was released in 2004) Light Peace Love (2005) - Platinum We Stand Alone Together (2007) - Gold Tomorrow Becomes Yesterday (2008) - Platinum (A 2-disc Repackaged Version was released in late 2010)
Compilations Full Volume:The Best Of Pinoy Alternative (2005 Polyeast Records) includes As The Music Plays (Jam Version) Rounin OST (2007 Star Music) :includes Argos Astig...The Biggest OPM Hits (2008 Universal Records) Platinum Hits Collection (2011 Polyeast Records)
Singles YearSingleAlbum2004NoypiAs the Music PlaysMr. ClayMasaya2005HallelujahLight Peace LoveF.U.Much Has Been SaidTruthPeace Man 2006ArgosRounin OST2007TatsulokWe Stand Alone TogetherProbinsyanaSo Far Away2008KailanTomorrow Becomes Yesterday2009Last Days on a Cruise ShipMuli2010KalayaanBagong Sigaw
Awards and nominations Year Award giving body Category Nominated work Results2004 89.9 TM Year End AwardsSong of the Year"Masaya"New Local Artist 93.1 RX Year End AwardsSong of the Year"Noypi"New Local Artist of the YearGroup of the YearMTV Pilipinas Music AwardsFavorite New Artist in a Video"Noypi"Favorite Song"Noypi"Favorite Group Video"Noypi"Guitarist of the Year(for Ira Cruz)NU Rock AwardsArtist of the YearSong of the Year"Noypi"Vocalist of the Year(for Bamboo Mañalac)Drummer of the Year(for Vic Mercado)Listener's Choice2005 89.9 TM Year End AwardsSong of the Year"Noypi"Awit AwardsBest Performance by a New Group Recording Artist"Noypi"Best Rock Recording"Noypi"People's Choice Favorite Song"Noypi"MTV Pilipinas Music AwardsMTV Ayos! Best Commercial Video"Fiestamazing"Favorite Group Video"Masaya"NU Rock AwardsAlbum of the Year"Light Peace Love"Vocalist of the Year(for Bamboo Mañalac)Listener's ChoiceGuitarist of the Year(for Ira Cruz)Bassist of the Year(for Nathan Azarcon)Drummer of the Year(for Vic Mercado)Best Live ActSong of the Year"Hallelujah"Best Male Award(for Bamboo Mañalac)Artist of the YearMusic Video of the Year"Hallelujah"SOP Music AwardsStrictly Alternative"Hallelujah"2006Aliw AwardsMost Promising EntertainerBest Major Concert(Group)Awit AwardsBest Performance by a New Group Recording Artist"Hallelujah"Album of the Year"Light Peace Love"Song of the Year"Hallelujah"Best Ballad Recording"Much Has Been Said"Best Rock Recording"Hallelujah"People's Choice Favorite Song"Hallelujah"MTV Pilipinas Music AwardsBest Cinematography in a Video"Much Has Been Said", "TitikPilipino.com", Retrieved January 29, 2008Favorite Group Video"Much Has Been Said"Favorite Pop Video"Much Has Been Said"Best Production in a Video"Much Has Been Said"MYX Music AwardsFavorite ArtistFavorite Song"Hallelujah"Favorite GroupFavorite Rock Video"Hallelujah"Favorite MYX Live PerformanceNU Rock AwardsBest Male Award(for Bamboo Mañalac)SOP PasiklabandBest Rock BandVocalist of the Year(for Bamboo Mañalac)The 2bU! Click Awards Most Clickable Band2007GMMSF Box-Office Entertainment AwardsMost Popular Recording GroupNU Rock AwardsArtist of the YearGuitarist of the Year(for Ira Cruz)Bassist of the Year(for Nathan Azarcon)Drummer of the Year(for Vic Mercado)Listener's ChoiceBest Live ActVocalist of the Year(for Bamboo Mañalac)Song of the Year"Tatsulok"Album of the Year"We Stand Alone Together"Producer of the Yearwith Angee Rozul for "We Stand Alone Together"Best Music Video"Probinsyana"2008Awit AwardsBest Rock Recording"Tatsulok"Best Performance by a Group Recording Artist "Tatsulok"Best Musical Arrangement"Probinsyana"Best Engineered Recording"Probinsyana"Music Video of the Year"Probinsyana"Best Performance by a Group Recording Artist "Argos"Best Performance by a Group Recording Artist "Argos""Tatsulok"Best Rock Recording"Argos"Best Rock Recording"Probinsyana"Best Song Written for Movie/TV/Stage Play"Argos" (from Rounin)Music Video of the Year"So Far Away"Music Video of the Year "Probinsyana"Music Video of the Year "So Far Away"GMMSF Box-Office Entertainment AwardsMost Popular Recording GroupMYX Music AwardsFavorite Music Video"Probinsyana"Favorite GroupFavorite Remake"Tatsulok"Favorite Rock Video"Tatsulok"2009NU Rock AwardsMusic Video of the Year"Last Days on a Cruise Ship"Philippine Radio Music AwardsInternational Artist2010GMMSF Box-Office Entertainment AwardsGroup Recording Artist/Performer of the Year
Other media Commercial endorsements Smart Nescafé Colt 45 Pepsi Yamaha Motors Tanduay Rhum T5 (with 6cyclemind, Chicosci, Kamikazee, and Sandwich)
Footnotes
References Bamboo Official Site Bamboo Onlypinoy.com Profile Vic Mercado - Zildjian Vic Mercado - Gretsch https://web.archive.org/web/20060325045329/http://www.philmusic.com/blog/index.php?p=114
External links Bamboo profile at Onlypinoy.com Rock Music Updates Bamboo on Rockstar Bembang! Bamboo PinoyBanda Profile Bamboo Yahoo! Music Page Bamboo profile at EMI Philippines