Rivermaya

Rivermaya is a Filipino rock band. Formed in 1994, it is one of several bands who spearheaded the 1990s Philippine alternative rock explosion. Rivermaya is currently composed of Mark Escueta, Mike Elgar, Ryan Peralta and Norby David. Former members included Rico Blanco, who had been the original songwriter of the band, and vocalist Bamboo Mañalac, who later formed the band Bamboo. Rivermaya is the fourteenth biggest-selling artists/act in the Philippines.

The first line-up consisted of Jesse Gonzales on vocals, Kenneth Ilagan on guitars, Nathan Azarcon on bass guitar, Rome Velayo on drums, and Rico Blanco on keyboards and backing vocals. They were managed by Lizza Nakpil and director Chito Roño. The band was then called Xaga.

Ilagan was replaced with Perfecto "Perf" de Castro; Azarcon's childhood friend, Mark Escueta, replaced Velayo, and Francisco "Bamboo" Mañalac replaced Gonzales. With Bamboo as frontman, the band members disbanded Xaga and formed the band Rivermaya. They started putting together original songs like "Ulan" [Rain], "214", and "Awit ng Kabataan" [Song of the Youth] (mostly composed by Rico Blanco) in demo form for prospective recording companies.

Citing artistic differences, Perf de Castro left group and returned to his project band "The Blues Trio", a band later renamed "Axis" until its final inception as "Triaxis." Rico Blanco became the full-time guitarist while Nathan Azarcon's friend J John Valencia filled in as session secondary guitar player on live shows.

The band then embarked on a US and Canada tour in 1998 with session musician Jyel Tagbo (from the rapcore group G-Spot and a Slapshock sessionist). It was also at this time that Bamboo Mañalac decided to stay in the U.S. (he eventually went on to form his own band, Bamboo in 2003).

Rivermaya decided to forge on, with Rico Blanco taking on lead vocals and released their fourth album, It's Not Easy Being Green containing the singles "Nerbyoso" [Nervous], "Shattered Like", and "Rodeo".

In 2001, Nathan Azarcon departed from the group. This signaled a new line up change.

Rico Blanco and Mark Escueta remained as members. They recruited three different musicians to fill in the space left by the former members. Completing the lineup were familiar local guitar heroes, Victor "Kakoy" Legaspi (from blues band Mr. Crayon) and Mike Elgar (from 7 Foot Junior) as well as Japs Sergio (from Daydream Cycle) on bass guitar. This new line-up allowed Rico Blanco to handle vocal duties full-time during live shows.

Legaspi resigned in 2004 but continues to work as session player with other musicians such as Julianne Tarroja, and Peryodiko, among others.

"You'll Be Safe Here", originally created as the theme for the ABS-CBN TV series Spirits was released as an EP by Warner Music Philippines and became the song that MTV Asia selected for performance at the 2006 Asia Awards. Kelly Rowland of Destiny's Child introduced the group, and they were backed up by Thailand’s Royal Symphony Orchestra during live performance. It was the first time that a Filipino band was invited to perform in the event.

An album of compiled works, titled "You'll Be Safe Here", was distributed in Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia.[citation needed]
Rivermaya embarked on a series of Asian tours, including at Thailand's Pattaya Music Fest (2008, 2009) as well as Singapore's Mosaic Festival (run by The Esplanade); and Bangkok's Fat Fest as well as in Indonesia's MTV Staying Alive show.

In 2008–2009 Rivermaya performed at the Marina Bay New Years' Countdown in Singapore and became the first Filipino band invited to perform at the 2009 Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix. Also during that time, Rivermaya has been often referred to as "Banda ng Bayan" [The Band of the Nation], a nickname they share with Parokya ni Edgar.

In 2007 Rico Blanco officially announced his departure from the group. Both Rivermaya and its management denied rumors that the band would disband as a result.

After Rico Blanco left, Rivermaya released a new single, "Sayang" [Such a Waste], penned by Japs Sergio and described by the band as "an open letter to the fans."

Rivermaya held auditions for a new vocalist. The auditions was televised on Studio 23, which was titled Bagong Liwanag. Aside from the band members, main judges are Rivermaya manager Lizza Nakpil, The Dawn guitarist Francis Reyes, and Razorback bassist Louie Talan. On October 24, 2007, then-18-year-old Jayson Fernandez (usually spelled as "Jason") was announced as the winner and new member of Rivermaya.

In October 2008, after allegedly discovering several acts of misappropriation of funds involving the bands' royalties and talent fees, the current Rivermaya band members announced that the band had parted ways with their longtime manager Lizza Nakpil. She was charged with the crime of estafa, sued for damages, and the court issued a Writ of Preliminary Injunction forbidding further contact with Rivermaya.

On August 28, 2011, Jayson Fernandez left Rivermaya after 4 years with the group citing musical differences as the primary reason.

Paolo Valenciano (son of Gary Valenciano) and Vinci Montaner of Parokya ni Edgar simultaneously filled in as temporary lead vocalists for some occasional gigs weeks after Fernandez's departure. Mark Escueta, Mike Elgar and Norby David now simultaneously switch over the lead vocal duties.
After taking a brief hiatus, on November 2012, Japs Sergio posted on his official Facebook page that he left Rivermaya, in order to pursue his new band, Peso Movement.


Band members
Current members
Mark Escueta – lead vocals, guitars, occasional percussion (2011–present); drums & percussion, backing vocals, trumpet, occasional guitars and lead vocals (1994–2011)
Mike Elgar – lead vocals (2011–present); guitars (2001–present); keyboards (2007–2011)
Norby David – lead vocals, bass guitar, occasional acoustic guitars (2011–present)
Ryan Peralta – drums & percussion, keyboards (2011–present)



Former members
Rico Blanco – lead vocals (1998–2007); co-lead and backing vocals (1994–1998); guitars (1994–2007); keyboards (1994–2007)
Francisco "Bamboo" Mañalac – lead vocals (1994–1998)
Nathan Azarcon – bass guitar, backing vocals (1994–2001)
Perfecto "Perf" de Castro – guitars, backing vocals (1994–1995)
Victor "Kakoy" Legaspi – guitars (2001–2004)
Jayson Fernandez – lead vocals, guitars (2007–2011)
John Paul "Japs" Sergio – bass guitar, occasional lead vocals, occasional guitars (2001–2012)


Discography


For a full, detailed list, see: Rivermaya discography
Rivermaya (1994)
Trip (1996)
Atomic Bomb (1997)
It's Not Easy Being Green (1999)
Free (2000)
Tuloy ang Ligaya (2001)
Between the Stars and Waves (2003)
Isang Ugat, Isang Dugo (2006)
Buhay (2008)
Closest Thing to Heaven (2009)
Panatang Makabanda (2013)
Sa Kabila ng Lahat (2017)