By WAKU SAUNAR
No. it’s not what you think.
This is not about the Decepticon that transforms from plane to robot and back.
There’s another Starscream in town and they rock hard.
“The group was formed in 2002. I settled for the name Starscream not because of a cartoon character from my youth but mainly because it seemed appropriate to our screeching and high pitched rock sound, which I think is similar to our idols such as AC/DC, Guns N’ Roses, Cinderella, Slaughter and Led Zeppelin,” says Starscream bandleader/guitarist and frontman Edzel Rebamontan.
The band’s baptism of fire was at the 2004 Kaguluhan Music Festival in Cavite. The band then featured Rebamontan, Charles Daza on guitar, Mark Mapalad on bass, and Macoy Manuel on drums.
Starscream made further inroads with their independently-released ‘Philippine Steel’ album featuring the songs “Heart of Stone,” “All Bout the Money” and the well-known “Pulang Panty.”
Following a hiatus in 2010, the band returned with Jeff Bernales on bass and Larry Gabbert on drums, releasing the tracks “Tunay na Lakas” and ” Ladies and the Bitches” both of which enjoyed heavy airplay at a local rock station.
The group also performed at the online music video show called “Earbender Live.”
Rebamontan, an event organizer, helped establish Kaguluhan in Cavite.
He is also into filmmaking. “I’ve made a short film called ‘Taya’ that was screened at the Gawad CCP Alternative Film Fest 2 years ago,” he shares.
His advice to upcoming musicians?
“Finish your studies, don’t quit your day job, save money (for studio time), practice your musical instruments, meet other musicians with the same passion and drive, manage your time for recording new songs, and get quality gigs from competent event production outfits. Of course don’t do drugs,” Rebamontan says.
Catch Starscream at the upcoming Kaguluhan Music Festival at the Cavite School of St. Mark on Nov 10.
