History teaches us that not every musical group can stand the test of time. This could be due to various reasons, from financial issues, personal conflicts, management disputes, and creative differences. But one local band has not only withstood the vicissitudes of time but has also managed to stay authentic. They are Datu’s Tribe.
Where It All Started
Formed in 1989 in the aftermath of the “Battle of the Bands” at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), the band’s original members were vocalist Eric “Cabring” Cabrera, guitarists Del Visperas and Ceferino “Dos” Pacio, bassist Mel Visperas, and drummer Gerald “Dax” Dacayan. Their very first performance took place on Valentine’s Day 1990 at UPLB, headlining a free concert titled, “Unang Sigaw ng Unang Sigwa.”
Defining the Band’s Identity
During its early years, the band would cover songs from acts like Guns N’ Roses, Metallica, The Cult, and Juan de la Cruz. But it didn’t take long before Datu’s Tribe found its own identity when Cabring and the gang started writing original materials that would set them apart from their contemporaries. Fusing influences from pop music to thrash metal, Datu’s Tribe unveiled its in-your-face, unmistakable music style with its politically charged and acid-witted songs.
The Turning Point
In 1993, the band would get a chance to record demos at Audio Captain Studios. The song “Praning” made the cut and was submitted to the rock radio station LA 105.9, where it received enough airplay to top the station’s countdown for 6 weeks in a row, creating a buzz in the local music scene. Soon enough, the band passed the auditions at Club Dredd, the mecca for Pinoy rock bands in the 1990s. This would prove to be the turning point for the group’s career, as the club’s owner, Patrick Reidenbach, would eventually manage Datu’s Tribe.
A Force to Reckon With
With the release of its debut album, “Galit Kami sa Baboy,” under Universal Records in 1995, Datu’s Tribe’s to commercial success became inevitable, selling more than 20,000 copies in just few months and eventually reaching Gold Record status. The Philippine Daily Inquirer’s Eric Caruncho called the album, which includes the hit songs “Praning,” “Nakakalitong Mga Tao,” and the band’s signature tune “Sarsa Platoon,” the wittiest debut of 1995 in his year-ender article, in which he named Datu’s Tribe as the Best New Group. Moreover, the band received nomination as Best Rock Group in the Awit Awards and many other accolades. It was a very good year for Pinoy rock as other mainstream acts like Wolfgang, Razorback, and Teeth also released albums in the same year.
Between 1995 and 1997, Datu’s Tribe would embark on major tours across the country, captivating audiences with its electrifying performances. By this time, the band had earned a reputation for its signature aggressive sound and militant stance through songs like “Sarsa Platoon” and “Utang na Naman.”
Listen to “Praning” on Spotify
The Day the Music Died
When Club Dredd closed its doors on Independence Day in 1998, Datu’s Tribe’s prospects were becoming bleak with the decline of the local alternative scene, and the majority of the band was still based in Los Baños, Laguna. Doing gigs in Metro Manila became increasingly unsustainable. Faced with uncertainty and financial constraints, the band went on hiatus in July 1998.
Cabring returned to teaching full-time at the University of the Philippines, Del went to part-time teaching, Mel pursued full-time employment at the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and John performed in a blues band for some time before leaving for the United States
Rising From the Ashes
Haunted by the band’s short-lived success, Cabring and Del decided to bring the band back out of retirement after a seven-year break and began looking for new members to pick up the baton.
With the addition of drummer Dax Padi zee ernos and guitarist Mark Noval, the group began performing at Purple Haze Resto & Bar. Before long, the band finally hit the stride, performing at different venues and making radio guestings NU 107’s Gweilo’s Hour. With that, Datu’s Tribe was resurrected.
In April 2005, Datu’s Tribe released the home studio-recorded EP “Fat Burner,” introducing new compositions that would appear in its sophomore full-length album “Whoa! Pilipinas!” two years later. Interestingly, the independently produced album was released in 2007, exactly 12 years since the release of the band’s debut album in yet another Year of the Pig!
The album contains ten solid tracks, including the crowd favorite “Lakambini Bottom,” “Para Que Elsa,” which ridicules the hypocrisy of Christian faith, “Karne,” which tackles the plight of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and was featured in the indie film “Magtanggol” by the late Sigfreid Barros-Sanchez, the anti-romantic song “Feelings,” which concluded the Valentine’s Day special of the now-defunct Underground Radio 105.9 in 2008, and the gut-wrenching title track, which encapsulates the band’s sarcastic humor. Later, years later, I would spot the album’s final track, “Death Metal,” in an old karaoke songbook and sing it from the top of my lungs.
Listen to “Lakambini Bottom” on Spotify
Not Just For Art’s Sake
In a music industry where conformity can be the norm and popularity is often equated to success, Datu’s Tribe has refused to sell out. The band would continue to perform at cause-oriented events and mass demonstrations, staying true to its cause and maintaining solidarity with the marginalized.
Datu’s Tribe also contributed to a couple of compilation albums: “Rapu-Rapu at iba pa: Taghoy ng Kalikasan” (2008) with the song, “Para Saan, Para Kanino?’ (composed by Ces Quimpo and Rom Dongeto), which exposes the harrowing effects of imperialist plunder in the country,and “Unang Sigwa: Mga Piling Kantamula sa Dekada Sitenta” (2019) with an explosive version of “Pagbabalikwas.”
Listen to “Para Saan, Para Kanino?” on YouTube
Datu’s Tribe Lives
To those wondering if Datu’s Tribe still exists, the answer is a resounding YES—and it still is one of the best live acts around. But most importantly, galit pa run sila Sa baboy!
Watch Cabring, Doc Moel, Bopip, and Paolo Manuel set the stage on fire as they celebrate Datu’s Tribe’s 3030th anniversary at The 70’s Bistro on December 21, 2024. Special guests and friends, including Philippine Violators, Urban Bandits, Green Department, FIONA, Plagpul, Giniling Festival, Color It Red, and The Jerks, will join them. The show will be hosted by Jun “Bayaw” Sabayton. For more details, visit Datu’s Tribe’s Facebook Page.
Daniel is an avid lover of music and films. While most people his age would spend their leisure time playing online games, he enjoys creating playlists and movie lists. Daniel has also written opinion pieces for various publications. He studied Political Science at Adamson University and is currently an associate at the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation. He would never say no to a cold beer!