History

The Filipino Grunge

Grunge

Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...

 band Teeth was born during the alternative rock boom of the 1990s and exploded onto the airwaves with laklak, a tale of youthful excess that became an anthem for drinking. The track topped the charts of the Philippines' adventurous alternative rock station LA-105 for 12 weeks. Teeth was formed in September 1993 by Glenn Jacinto (vocals), Jerome Velasco (guitars), Peding Narvaja (bass), and Mike Dizon (drums). Narvaja, Velasco, and Dizon were originally in a group called Riftshifta, while Jacinto was in Loudhouse. Signed to Warner Music Philippines, Teeth released their self-titled debut album in 1995; the LP went double-platinum. Laklak was re-recorded and crossed over into the mainstream, stirring controversy with its alcohol-fueled lyrics; it was voted Song of the Year at the 1995 NU 107 Rock Awards. The cheaply made video for Teeth's second single Prinsesa directed by Odin Fernandez was even played on MTV Asia. However, in 1996 Jacinto was hospitalized for a lung ailment; his illness left him unable to promote the album or fulfill concert dates for a year. The band attempted using other singers to temporarily replace Jacinto, but the group's chemistry was lost. In 1997, Jacinto recovered and Teeth recorded Time Machine. Although the alternative rock scene in Manila had begun to wane. When Narvaja left Teeth to move to the U.S., he was replaced by Andrew Sergio. In 1999, the band released I Was a Teenage Tree.The album contained the single Shooting Star, which was awarded Song of the Year at the NU 107 Rock Awards in 2000. In 2003, Dogs Can Fly (Teeth's Finest) was released.

Present

In 1998, Teeth’s drummer, Mike Dizon co-founded Sandwich

Sandwich (band)

Sandwich is a Filipino rock band that was formed in 1995 by Raimund Marasigan and Diego Castillo for the purpose of fulfilling their mutual desire to work together. Castillo recruited former band mates from The Aga Muhlach Experience Mike Dizon to play drums and Myrene Academia to handle bass...

 with Eraserheads’ drummer, Raimund Marasigan

Raimund Marasigan

Raimund Emmanuel Parcon Marasigan, or simply known as Raimund Marasigan, is a ballad musician and record producer in the Philippines. Oftentimes, his first name is misspelled as Raymond, Raymund, Raimond and other variants. The breadth of his projects has made him one of the most well-respected...

; and later in 2005, Pedicab.

After Teeth’s Greatest Hits

Greatest hits

A greatest hits album is a music compilation album of successful, previously released songs by a particular artist or band...

, Dogs Can Fly (Teeth's Finest), was released, frontman Glenn Jacinto moved to California

California

California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...

 and he still performs regularly there.

Also during 2003, former-Eraserheads frontman Ely Buendia

Ely Buendía

Eleandre Basiño Buendia, popularly known as Ely Buendia, and also once adopting the stage name, Jesus "Dizzy" Ventura, is a Filipino writer and musician who gained fame as guitarist, songwriter, and lead vocalist in the popular Pinoy rock band The Eraserheads...

 formed The Mongols with Teeth’s Guitarist Jerome Velasco which was later joined by Teeth’s bassist Dok Sergio

Pupil (band)

Pupil is a Filipino rock band composed of Ely Buendia on frontman duties and guitars, Yan Yuzon on lead guitar, Dok Sergio on bass and Wendell Garcia on drums.-Formation:...

. As Jerome Velasco left The Mongols in 2005 to pursue a career in audio engineering and recording, it was later renamed into Pupil

Pupil (band)

Pupil is a Filipino rock band composed of Ely Buendia on frontman duties and guitars, Yan Yuzon on lead guitar, Dok Sergio on bass and Wendell Garcia on drums.-Formation:...

. Meanwhile, Jerome Velasco remained as a co-writer and producer for Pupil’s Beautiful Machines song from the album of the same name. As of 2007, Jerome Velasco is the chief musical producer for Pupil’s second album.

Jerome and Dok are both members of the dreampop / electronica band, “Daydream Cycle” with The Mongols’/Pupil’s Bogs Jugo and Rivermaya

Rivermaya

Rivermaya is one of the most influential, critically acclaimed and significant Filipino rock band formed in 1993. They are one of the several bands who spearheads the 90s Philippine alternative rock explosion...

’s Japs Sergio.

After the short hiatus, Teeth still performs live without Jacinto and usually Dok Sergio takes the singing duties and sometimes other artists also take sessions as main vocals such as Ebe Dancel of Sugarfree

Sugarfree (band)

Sugarfree was a band composed of Ebe Dancel , Jal Taguibao and Kaka Quisimbing who replaced Mitch Singson in 2006...

. Sergio also sings Teeth songs with his current band, Pupil

Pupil (band)

Pupil is a Filipino rock band composed of Ely Buendia on frontman duties and guitars, Yan Yuzon on lead guitar, Dok Sergio on bass and Wendell Garcia on drums.-Formation:...

.