Kamikazee to go on indefinite hiatus
Kamikazee, one of the hardest-working rock bands in Filipino music today, posted a video message on its Facebook page:
Video used with permission
It was frontman Jay Contreras who broke the news. “Nagdesisyon po kaming lima na ngayong 2015, ito na muna po ang huling taon na magkakasama tayo...dahil gusto naming subukan yung buhay-buhay sa labas ng banda. Yung mga trip na puwede pa naming gawing iba (All five of us have decided that this 2015 will be the last year that all of us will be together, for now; we want to see what life has in store for us outside the band, different stuff that we can do.).”
No bad blood
Drummer Allan Burdeos was quick to quell any speculations.
“Huwag po kayong mag-alala. Wala pong naging away sa loob ng banda. Masaya kami sa desisyong ginawa namin (Don't worry. There is no bad blood, internally. We're happy with our decision.).”
According to an insider, the band will continue to gig, honor commitments and work on their projects until the end of this year.
The early years
The band started as happy-go-lucky punk band from the UP College of Fine Arts.
Initially known as Kamikazee Cornflakes where they had two singers, they were notorious for their wild campus performances and punked-up versions of Britney Spears and Ariel Rivera songs.
They eventually changed their name to the shorter “Kamikazee” and eventually got signed to Warner Music Philippines, releasing their self-titled debut in 2002.
Raw energy and being busted
They have since released three more albums: “Maharot”(2006),“Long Time Noisy” (2009) and “Romantico” (2012).
The raw energy they were known for as college kids was amplified, with the band becoming famous for Jay's riotously irreverent onstage persona. (Off-stage he is pretty much the same).
The band made the headlines in 2008 when—in typical rock n' roll fashion—guitarist Led Zeppelin (that's his real name) Tuyay was charged in Dubai for alleged drug possession. Tuyay was able to return the country a few months later, and Kamikazee was able to return to Dubai a year after the incident.
Reactions
The band's going their separate ways at the end of the year comes at a time when rumors of record companies stopping CD sales and record stores closing abound. (Curiously, however, Warner Music, which dissolved its local music arm around a year-and-a-half ago, is back representing OPM with the imminent release of Hale’s comeback single "See You.")
People from the music scene have reacted to this development.
“Had fun working with them on their first two albums. Absolutely productive to our long time of recording especially those times that were on analog. Kamikazee was fun to watch and fun to be with. [However] it's normal for a popular band to have a break. Playing in a band for 14 years is not a joke... So whatever happens Kamikazee will be missed. Nothing compares to their act.—Angee Rozul, recording engineer (formerly of Tracks Studios)
“HUWAT?!?” *throws tea cup to the floor*—Zach Lucero, Imago / Humanfolk
