The band that refuses to say die

Like the mythical phoenix rising from its ashes, the Rage Band is making a comeback after a long hiatus from the local concert scene.

Best remembered for its ear-shattering, gut-wrenching rock histrionics during the early ’80s, the Rage Band carved its niche as one of the major proponents of glam rock, churning out impeccable cover versions of radio-friendly pop-rock hits.

Their original compositions, the independently-produced Whiplash, Believe in Me, and Shy Eyes, garnered extensive radio airplay and showcased their songwriting potential.

A far cry from the free-wheeling, devil-may-care attitude espoused by Manila’s mainstream rockers during the time, the Rage Band relied more on a ‘rocket science’ approach to performance. Every single detail – from the length of their locks to the lead guitar’s string gauge – wasn’t left to chance.

Of course, having a reputable manager cum guru was always a big help. The brainchild of band manager Atek Jacinto of Circus Band fame, the Rage Band was initially conceptualized as a superband that would garner plaudits in international shores.

True enough, the band did just that – only to be stopped short of its tracks during the late ’80s. A few months after their Hollywood or Bust concert, Rage vocalists Marissa Buñag and Juan Miguel Salvador hied off to the States and established contact with music industry insiders, including top honcho Duncan Paine, promoter of the then-upcoming Paula Abdul and other formidable rock groups.

Had it not been for the sudden upsurge of rap music, the Rage would have been given their shot at stardom. Impressed by the band’s musical savvy, Paine already drew up plans for a major concert blitz, only to renege on his promise to give way to the new dance-oriented music trend.

Disappointed by the turn of events, Juan Miguel went back home around 1990 and reconsidered plans for a solo career. Meanwhile, the unrelenting Marissa stayed on and kept on pitching their songs, refusing to be swayed by the minor setbacks.

Meanwhile, the other band members back home were getting restless. While they didn’t exactly call it quits, the band members went on "hibernation" – some snagging other gigs while the others got tamed into domesticity.

Erstwhile musical director and vocalist Juan Miguel Salvador soon found himself dipping his feet in the jinglemaking waters, while "screaming banshee" Marissa Buñag eventually got drawn into the internet industry.

Despite their eventual successes, the two were still haunted by their rock and roll dreams.

And so, after being hounded by legions of loyal fans who kept ribbing them about plans for a comeback, Juan Miguel and Marissa deemed it proper to "resurrect" the group.

"After all, the ’80s are back. It’s in the music, the fashion and the overall flamboyance of today’s youth," asserts Juan Miguel. "I feel that we have something to contribute to the local scene, and this is like our call to our fans from way back. Let’s have an outlet where we can all just relax and have fun."

Of the Rage’s original members, only Juan Miguel and Marissa will be joining the new group, which now boasts of an equally impressive line-up, including Wowie Posadas on keyboards, Qnie Alcantara on drums, Jojo Yu on guitar and Derick Ileto on bass.

Is the new Rage Band still preaching the gospel of rock and roll? "We’re not preaching anything," Marissa clarifies. "The rock image was really about attitude. It’s about the killer instinct in the performing sense. If the foreigners can do it, so can we! We proved it in Singapore when we had to compete with international bands."

With a new band lineup, the Rage Band will still be doing their well-loved originals and a catalog of favorite ’80s rock hits from such groups as Starship, Journey, Heart, Prince and Van Halen. "Rock and roll is really in the heart," states Marissa. "Even if you’re a businessman or doctor, if that’s where your heart is, you’re really a rock and roller. And you don’t even have to have long hair to do that."

So, how do you kick a rock and roll habit?

"You don’t," exclaims Marissa. "You live it, no matter what the cost. After all, for the Rage Band, rock and roll will really never die."

(The Rage Band will perform at Kampo on May 11 and at the Chatterbox Galleria on May 12).