As a true OPM fan, you've certainly wondered what happened to three-fourths of the legendary Eraserheads after Ely Buendia left, or if you're just discovering the incredible world of Pinoy rock, you've come to the right place. Today, we're diving deep into the story of Cambio – a band that might not have household-name status, but absolutely deserves your attention.
Trust us, by the time you're done reading this, you'll understand why Cambio is one of the most fascinating chapters in Philippine rock history. So grab your headphones, settle in, and let's explore everything you need to know about this remarkable supergroup.
How Cambio Rose from Eraserheads' Ashes
Picture this: It's 2002, and the biggest band in Philippine music history just lost their frontman. When Ely Buendia left the Eraserheads, remaining members Buddy Zabala, Marcus Adoro and Raimund Marasigan found themselves at a crossroads. What do you do when your legendary band suddenly loses its voice?
Well, if you're Raimund, Buddy, and Marcus, you don't just fade away – you evolve. But here's the thing that makes their story that started in 2003 so compelling: initially, Raimund and the remaining three Eheads wanted Cambio to be "The Eraserheads without Ely."
Think about that for a moment. They weren't trying to create something entirely new – they were trying to preserve the magic that made the Eraserheads legendary, just with a different voice at the front. And you know what? While they might have "failed" at recreating the Eraserheads phenomenon, Cambio achieved something absolutely monumental in its own right – they proved that great music transcends any single member, and that evolution can be just as powerful as preservation.
The Lineup: A Dream Team of Philippine Rock Royalty
When we tell you Cambio was a supergroup, we mean it in every sense of the word. Please note that the inclusion of Ebe and Diego only happened after Raimund and the gang learned a crucial lesson, which we will discuss later.
Let’s get acquainted with the powerhouse lineup that made this band so special:
Raimund Marasigan – The rhythmic mastermind behind some of the most iconic drum beats in OPM history. If you've ever tapped your foot to an Eraserheads song, you were following Raimund's lead.
Buddy Zabala – The bassist whose grooves anchored the Eraserheads' sound for over a decade. This man has the kind of musical foundation that other musicians solidify their careers on, like Moonstar88 to boot.
Kris Gorra-Dancel – Don't let the fact that she was the only female member fool you. Kris brought a fresh vocal dynamic and guitar work that was essential to Cambio's unique sound. But her journey to Cambio is a story worth telling in detail.
Ebe Dancel – Yes, that Ebe Dancel from Sugarfree! The man who gave us "Makita Kang Muli" and countless other OPM classics. His addition to Cambio was like adding rocket fuel to an already powerful engine.
Diego Mapa – A multi-talented musician from Sandwhich and Pedicab who brought additional layers of creativity and versatility to the group.
Can you imagine the creative energy in the room when these five got together? It's like assembling the Philippine music equivalent of the Avengers.
The Call That Changed Everything: Kris Gorra's Journey from Fatal Posporos to Eraserheads
Before we dive into Cambio's albums, let us tell you one of the most fascinating stories in OPM history – the story of how Kris Gorra went from fronting a 3-piece all-girl punk band to being asked to replace one of the most iconic voices in Philippine music.
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| Fatal Posporos in a scene from their "Sili Song" music video. |
Picture this: Kris Gorra was making waves in the indie scene with Fatal Posporos, a fierce all-female trio composed of Kris on lead guitar and vocals, Donna Macalino on bass and vocals, and Annette Ortiz on drums and vocals. This three-woman band had spent four years building a body of work that captured all of young life's definitive moments – those of innocence and rude awakening. They weren't just another girl band; they were a legitimate force in the alternative rock scene.
Then the phone rang. It was Raimund Marasigan.
Can you imagine that conversation? Here's Raimund, one of the most respected musicians in the country, calling up this young woman from an indie punk band and essentially asking: "Hey, would you like to try being the new voice of the Eraserheads?"
The audacity of it was both thrilling and terrifying. But Kris said yes.
The Night Everything Changed: "We Are the Eraserheads"
Now here's where the story gets really interesting, and honestly, kind of heartbreaking. Picture their first bar gig with Kris as the new frontwoman. The venue is packed with Eraserheads fans who have been waiting to see what the legendary band would sound like with their new singer. The anticipation is thick in the air – you could probably cut it with a guitar pick.
Kris steps up to the microphone. The crowd falls silent. And then she says those four words that would haunt the band's early days: "We are the Eraserheads."
The reaction was immediate and brutal. You could see it happen across the room – frowns spreading like a wave, eyebrows shooting up in disbelief, whispers starting in the back rows and rippling forward. Some people literally raised their eyebrows and frowned, as if to say, "Really? You're going to try to pull that off?"
It wasn't that Kris wasn't talented – anyone who had heard Fatal Posporos knew she could sing and play. It wasn't even that the music was bad. It was that declaring "We are the Eraserheads" felt like claiming an identity that belonged to someone else, somewhere else, somewhen else.
That moment taught them everything they needed to know about what they were up against.
The Evolution: Learning to Listen
But here's what I love about this story – instead of giving up or stubbornly pushing forward, they listened. They really, truly listened to what the Eheads' core fans were telling them.
The fans weren't saying "You're terrible musicians" or "We don't want new music." What they were saying was "Don't try to be something you're not. Don't try to replace what we lost. Be something new."
So that's exactly what they did. They stopped trying to be "The Eraserheads without Ely" and started figuring out who they were as their own entity. They evolved from trying to fill an impossible void to creating their own space in the music landscape.
The adjustments weren't just musical – they were philosophical. Instead of positioning themselves as the continuation of something, they positioned themselves as the beginning of something new. That shift in perspective changed everything about how they approached their music, their performances, and their identity as a band.
This evolution is why when Marcus Adoro eventually left the group as well to pursue his passion for surfing and his own musical project, Markus Highway, the remaining members didn't panic. They had already learned the most important lesson: authenticity trumps nostalgia every time.
And that's when Cambio was truly born – not as a replacement for what was lost, but as something entirely new and valuable in its own right.
The Albums That Defined a Generation (Even If You Didn't Know It)
Together, they released one EP and two albums, Derby Light(2004) and Matic(2007). Now, if we're being honest with you – these albums didn't achieve the commercial success of the Eraserheads' catalog, but that doesn't mean they weren't incredible pieces of art.
Excerpt EP (2003)
Before they found their full album stride, Cambio tested the waters with this EP that served as their introduction to the world. Think of it as their "hello, we exist" moment – a collection of songs that showed they were serious about creating music together, but still figuring out exactly what that music would sound like. It was their first attempt at answering the question: "What comes after the Eraserheads?"
Derby Light (2004)
Their debut album was like watching a group of master craftsmen trying out new tools. You could hear echoes of the Eraserheads' DNA, but there was also something fresh and experimental happening. The album showed that these musicians weren't content to just recreate past glories – they were pushing boundaries and exploring new territories.
CambioMatic (2007)
By their second album (also called just "Matic"), the band had found their groove. This wasn't "Eraserheads-lite" anymore – this was Cambio, fully realized and confident in their own skin. The album showcased a maturity and musical sophistication that proved these weren't just former Eheads members coasting on past success.
Why Cambio Matters More Than You Think
Here's something that might surprise you: Cambio's "failure" to recreate Eraserheads magic was actually their greatest success. Let us explain why.
When the Eraserheads broke up, there was this massive void in the Philippine music scene. Fans were heartbroken, and there was enormous pressure on the remaining members to somehow fill that gap. The easy path would have been to find an Ely sound-alike and try to recapture lightning in a bottle.
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| Source: Bandwagon.Asia |
- Great musicians can reinvent themselves without losing their essence
- Collaboration between established artists can create something greater than the sum of its parts
- It's possible to respect your past while boldly stepping into the future
- Musical evolution is not just possible, it's necessary for artistic growth
The Legacy Question: What Cambio Means for Philippine Music
You might be wondering: if Cambio was so great, why aren't they talked about more? It's a fair question, and the answer says a lot about how we perceive success in music.
Cambio operated in the shadow of one of the most legendary bands in Philippine music history. That's both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, they had instant credibility and attention. On the other hand, every song they released was inevitably compared to "Ang Huling El Bimbo" or "With a Smile."
But here's the thing about legacy – sometimes it takes time for people to appreciate what something truly was. Cambio wasn't trying to be the next Eraserheads. They were trying to be the first Cambio. And in that mission, they absolutely succeeded.
Where Are They Now? The Continuing Story
Music careers don't always follow neat, linear paths, and Cambio's story is proof of that. Ebe Dancel has referred to them as "bandmates for life," which tells you something about the bonds formed during their time together.
While Cambio may not be actively touring or recording, the impact of their collaboration continues to influence Philippine music. Each member has continued their musical journey in different ways, but the creative relationships forged during the Cambio years remain strong.
Why You Should Care About Cambio Today
If you're a fan of Philippine music, Cambio represents something crucial: the idea that musical evolution is not just possible, but necessary. They showed that established artists don't have to be trapped by their past successes – they can grow, experiment, and create something entirely new while still honoring where they came from.
Their story is also a masterclass in collaboration. When five incredibly talented musicians come together with mutual respect and a shared vision, magic can happen. It might not be the same magic as before, but it's magic nonetheless.
Final Thoughts: The Cambio You Need to Know
So here's what I want you to remember about Cambio: They were never meant to be Eraserheads 2.0, and thank goodness for that. Instead, they were exactly what Philippine music needed at exactly the right time – a bridge between the legendary past and an uncertain but exciting future.
They proved that great musicians don't just create great music once and then fade away. They continue to grow, continue to experiment, and continue to surprise us. Cambio may have been a relatively short chapter in these musicians' careers, but it was a chapter filled with creativity, risk-taking, and genuine musical innovation.
The next time someone asks you about the hidden gems of OPM, or what happened to the Eraserheads after Ely left, you'll know exactly what to tell them. You'll tell them about Cambio – the supergroup that dared to be different, succeeded on their own terms, and proved that sometimes the most interesting stories are the ones that don't have fairy tale endings.
Now go listen to "Derby Light" and "CambioMatic." Trust us, your ears will thank you.
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