The Funkeestas Biography
- The Roots -
Very few Funk bands emerge in Angeles city, Philippines. In fact, very few funk bands emerge and become successful in the world. In my recollection, theres only one successful funk act for every generation or every decade since the genre has been born. And every funk act of every generation always offers a new twist to the music. Funkeestas is one of the very few funk acts that hailed in this small city, maybe not the first and the most famous, but very respected for having this Just wanna play! Play our own songs! Play funky! Dont care! kind of attitude; a funk band with a visionary image.The roots of the band lay in the friendship of the four mediums of the fourth dimension. Circa 1998, the year of the tiger, Sleepyhead and Marcus were classmates in college at Angeles University Foundation. Its not the first time they met for in a certain twist of fate, the two already shared seats for a day in school when they were both 7 years old. 10 years later they met again and were now classmates, friends and musical soul mates. They shared visions and compositions, played each others songs and eventually decided to form a band. Marcus played guitar and vocals and Sleepyhead could either play the bass or the drums so the two were looking for a lead guitarist or a bassist or a drummer. Its been a hell of a struggle as the two had a real hard time searching for the missing links for Marcus cant find a Guitar player he likes and that drummers and bass players seems to be very few in the campus.
- Follow the Light -
The search went on for years, until some time in the year 2001 (year of the Snake), a little light had blazed when sleepyhead acquired Dirtwurx on Drums and Fuse on Bass who were both members of the Rondalla Group in the campus. Hence, the lineup was finalized and a family was founded: Sleepyhead on Vocals, Marcus on Guitars, Fuse on Bass and Dirtwurx on Drums. October of the year 2001 is the agreed date of birth of the band later named as Funkeestas.The chemistry seems automatic as the four musicians jived to fill the grooves naturally as they write their own songs. A later addition was made to the lineup that same year, Dagz was recruited to play rhythm guitar so as to fill the thin parts of the adlibs. The bands music was mainly Funk fused with everything. They would fuse funk with rock, rap, jazz, reggae, blues, alternative, swing, techno, and many more. The term Funk Fusions may be used to describe or label their genre but they fuse funk with everything so as not to be labeled with anything.Circa January 2002, the band started playing for a couple of battle of the bands in the city and nearby towns. Again, struggle is a simple word to identify their chase for musical appreciation. As their music seems strange to the public and were only appreciated by a few musicians the band plays with.
- The First Collapse -
With all the disappointments that went on and on, March of that year, Dagz quits the Band to find a job for he graduated with his Bachelors degree at the time. Marcus quits because the voices in his head are telling him that hes the reason why the band is not getting any success. The band members did not see each other for almost the whole summer.
- The First Revival -
One shiny April Sunday, the band gathered, Marcus rejoins and the band recuperated with new and stronger songs, and a little covers to fill their gigs downsides. It is the first time the band did covers but agreed not to copy them as they are so as to prove their musical prowess. The four remaining members went on to continue their musical journey. Despite disappointments; still, the band wants to create a world of their own and strongly believes that the power of their music would soon attract listeners and viewers. Strong enough that with the bands strong impact on their stage performances and with Marcus stage showmanship and Dirtwurx unorthodox drum kit setup, the band was noticed. For on September of that same year, they made the finals of the most prestigious battle of the bands in the region, The SMB Battle of the Bands. They didnt win though but making the finals means that you are one of the top 10 bands in the land. Little did they know that they would have a streak of finals appearance in this show in the coming years that followed. The wind blew harder as theyve been invited to more gigs like street parties, poolside shows, Halloween parties and Christmas parties later that same year. In between those days Grim (fuses brother) was added to the lineup to fill the position that Dagz left. It appears that Funkeestas is making a great debut, a promising act hoping to blossom.
- The Storm -
After the great long streak of gigs, it looks like the band is on its peak. Theyve grown and improved musically, their playing improved greatly and the band is creating a wave of followers. But a storm was coming; Sleepyhead woke up one day feeling far out, stayed in his shell and hibernated. While Sleepyhead was M.I.A. and so was the band. Grim quits the band due to artistic differences. Months passed, the wave was gone and the storm went on.When at last Sleepyhead was back, and the band was jamming again; another storm was about to strike for not long after sleepyhead was back, Marcus quits again. Marcus had a spiritual penance to perform and he felt that the band is not giving their support so decided to quit again.Like most storms and typhoons, after a great deal of destruction, the sun always shines. A text message from Marcus was sent to Sleep, Fuse and Dirt saying Marcus wants to play! mended all the resentments and paved way to the comeback of the great funk act in the city. Truly, the magic is within the four original members. Rust was never a factor for the band for they made a monstrous comeback at the Oktoberfest of 2003 backed up by their newly founded comrades, the band named Luciferase.
- Nightmare -
As the band prepares for their second appearance at the annual SMB Battle, their supporters starts to grow as if the band never left the scene ever. While supporters grow in numbers, rivals began to develop too. The band came out real strong during the elimination rounds of the SMB battle but is doomed by technical problems on stage during the finals. Nevertheless, the band still made it to the traditional TTKD event (the worlds longest street party running the distance of about half a kilometer) and other gigs for the Oktoberfest to score a great comeback and respect renewed.The Oktoberfest passed quickly and the band struggled to find gigs to keep their spirits alive. Only a number of projects came since then. Just a couple of College Acquaintance parties and some graduation parties booked the calendar for them and the band was once again frustrated with how the music industry became so biased with pop music at the time. Despite frustrations, Funkeestas remained a family.
- The Jobs -
Sleepyhead and Marcus graduated college while Fuse and Dirtwurx remained college students. While the other half was busy working, the other half was busy studying; for this, the problem of time creeps in for the first time since the band was formed. Their schedules contradict, as they were ranked #5 in the whole country to compete in the Red Horse Muziklaban only to fail to show up on the regionals. Worse, they never got a gig for months as the band had a hard time getting together or even seeing each other. Dirtwurx was losing hope and was thinking of side projects with Marcus, Sleepyhead is on graveyard shifts, and Fuse well hes just right there.
- Sabotage! -
Eventually, the band survived yet another fight against disbandment and returned on stage in time for the Oktoberfest of 2004. The bands popularity was doubled and more supporters from everywhere followed Funkeestas on every stage they played for. Fuse quits the band for unknown reason minutes before the SMB Battle but still played, But Lightning strikes twice as they were sabotaged again in the finals of the SMB battle for the second year in a row. The band was in rage and is furious as it has never been; Sleepyhead simply uttered Sabotage! right after the last note of the last song; Marcus twice screamed at the top of his lungs in anger; Dirtwurx interrogated people and investigated and Fuse rejoins the band minutes after the sabotage; the band bursts in fume instead of being humiliated. This attitude brought a great esteem for the band, to peers and to everyone; nevertheless, the sabotage was not enough to bring the prophets of the fourth dimension down. Supporters still respected and loved them and the TTKD performances are successful. They even rubbed elbows with the band Kapatid among others.
- Kolen & Co. -
Coined by Dirtwurx, Kolen & co. was a song that was envisioned by Dirtwurx one shinny evening, he quickly recorded the track and went to Marcus house to work on the song and sent the lyrics to sleepyhead for a melody. A portion of the song became a regular intro among Funkeestas shows and later the title became a name for the growing Funkeestas Family. Members of the family were the bands Luciferase, girly band Cosmic, the trash metal band Repplica along with many other supporters.
- The Reign -
Circa 2005, a newly married Sleepyhead, a very determined Dirtwurx and a research driven Fuse and Marcus paved way for a reinvented Funkeestas. Sleeps house has been a home for the Funkeestas Family or Kolen & Co. as some people say. They stayed there for most of the weeks days, Dirtwurx practically lived there, they jammed and wrote music when they get up in the morning, cooked meals together, drink on some nights, Smoke all the time, make fun of each other, played cards and gambled, watched TV, ordered pizzas, waited for Sleepyhead to get home from work everyday, they never slept and if they ever do, theyd all sleep in one bed for the house only had one. All they cared about was to have fun and share their lives together. These elements of music and love just renewed and reinvented the band and the family. Their songs were better than ever, their improvisations and fill-ins and instrumentals were ass kicking, the blending and chemistry were perfect and the stage performances were really moving. The elements that comprises the most essential source of power in the universe were possessed by the band; hence, the most successful year for Funkeestas. Winning the SMB Battle, awarded best drummer, being recognized by people on the streets (or public places like hospitals, parks, coffee shops, convenience strores, gasoline stations, etc.), rocking crowds of hundreds, pictures taken from strangers and fans running and rushing to see their shows were just a few of the experience they had to prove the power of the elements they seize.
- A fall thru ground -
Year 2006, Great expectations, over projection, lack of follow-ups, reoccurring problems and idleness were a few of what the band met at the beginning of the year. The individual members took time to face their own personal agendas. Sleepyhead had a child; Dirtwurx worked things up with the love of his life, fuse had a relationship problem and Marcus was suffering from loneliness and more delusions. These and a missed gig at Essel Park made the band idle for almost half the year.Dirtwurx quits the band on the 9th of July and this became a wound that never would seem to heal. Dirtwurx just wants to play, Fuse was messed up and paranoid, sleepyhead was busy. Everyone has a dilemma of their own and the familys foundations were challenged. Resentments were prolonged and grew deeper and for the first time, the problem was from within. Theyve successfully overcame those who are trying to destroy them, but now it seems they cant recover from the destruction that is coming from inside the family they supposed and the same family they now opposed. For the first time in years, Funkeestas was absent in the annual Oktoberfest. The breakup seems to affect many, Luciferase was absent as well, Dirtwurx played drums for Cosmic whos also in a verge of a breakup.
- Project name: BIG -
Marcus was still jobless and Fuse Resigned from his job as well, and the two took time to heal, Sleepyhead took the wheel and drove the band to the emergency room and sacrificed more time to revive the band.Marcus and Fuse wanted to take the time they had to document the bands existence and record their songs. They addressed the concept to Sleepyhead and they planned on how to execute it. The more they get deeper, the more the plan become similar to the previous recording plan that Dirtwurx and Marcus were discussing and have been planning for a long time. And so, Marcus petition to involve Dirtwurx on the project was approved by the rest. And so, Dirtwurx did what he does best: plan and talk to some sources to help and execute the plan.Hence, Caution Recording Studio was born and the independently produced self-titled album was made for posterity, for a greater chance of exposure, for the ones who loved them, for the fulfillment of their dreams and vision and for the love they had for their music. But yet, old resentments are still unsettled and new ones had been bred. Dirtwurx played for some other bands and shifted to bass while Marcus isolated himself from the spitefulness he cant bare and went to a foreign country to run away from it.This album was later remastered, repackaged and renamed as "demosilicoelectricstereomagic" after the band went under a new management.
- Operation: Revival -
Since the bands establishment, it took many blows and beatings. But it always refuses to die. And it remains to be true as I speak. Sleepyhead is sending copies of the demo album to recording companies for a recording deal, at the same time rebuilding what had fallen down on the ground. Marcus promised to be back in the country as soon as he can to play music with Funkeestas again. Fuse is still available and time will tell if Funkeestas will ever be Sleephead, Marcus, Fuse and Dirtwurx again. No one can disclose what would happen next, but one thing is for sure, "the pursuit for musical greatness is still on."
- The Roots -
Very few Funk bands emerge in Angeles city, Philippines. In fact, very few funk bands emerge and become successful in the world. In my recollection, theres only one successful funk act for every generation or every decade since the genre has been born. And every funk act of every generation always offers a new twist to the music. Funkeestas is one of the very few funk acts that hailed in this small city, maybe not the first and the most famous, but very respected for having this Just wanna play! Play our own songs! Play funky! Dont care! kind of attitude; a funk band with a visionary image.The roots of the band lay in the friendship of the four mediums of the fourth dimension. Circa 1998, the year of the tiger, Sleepyhead and Marcus were classmates in college at Angeles University Foundation. Its not the first time they met for in a certain twist of fate, the two already shared seats for a day in school when they were both 7 years old. 10 years later they met again and were now classmates, friends and musical soul mates. They shared visions and compositions, played each others songs and eventually decided to form a band. Marcus played guitar and vocals and Sleepyhead could either play the bass or the drums so the two were looking for a lead guitarist or a bassist or a drummer. Its been a hell of a struggle as the two had a real hard time searching for the missing links for Marcus cant find a Guitar player he likes and that drummers and bass players seems to be very few in the campus.
- Follow the Light -
The search went on for years, until some time in the year 2001 (year of the Snake), a little light had blazed when sleepyhead acquired Dirtwurx on Drums and Fuse on Bass who were both members of the Rondalla Group in the campus. Hence, the lineup was finalized and a family was founded: Sleepyhead on Vocals, Marcus on Guitars, Fuse on Bass and Dirtwurx on Drums. October of the year 2001 is the agreed date of birth of the band later named as Funkeestas.The chemistry seems automatic as the four musicians jived to fill the grooves naturally as they write their own songs. A later addition was made to the lineup that same year, Dagz was recruited to play rhythm guitar so as to fill the thin parts of the adlibs. The bands music was mainly Funk fused with everything. They would fuse funk with rock, rap, jazz, reggae, blues, alternative, swing, techno, and many more. The term Funk Fusions may be used to describe or label their genre but they fuse funk with everything so as not to be labeled with anything.Circa January 2002, the band started playing for a couple of battle of the bands in the city and nearby towns. Again, struggle is a simple word to identify their chase for musical appreciation. As their music seems strange to the public and were only appreciated by a few musicians the band plays with.
- The First Collapse -
With all the disappointments that went on and on, March of that year, Dagz quits the Band to find a job for he graduated with his Bachelors degree at the time. Marcus quits because the voices in his head are telling him that hes the reason why the band is not getting any success. The band members did not see each other for almost the whole summer.
- The First Revival -
One shiny April Sunday, the band gathered, Marcus rejoins and the band recuperated with new and stronger songs, and a little covers to fill their gigs downsides. It is the first time the band did covers but agreed not to copy them as they are so as to prove their musical prowess. The four remaining members went on to continue their musical journey. Despite disappointments; still, the band wants to create a world of their own and strongly believes that the power of their music would soon attract listeners and viewers. Strong enough that with the bands strong impact on their stage performances and with Marcus stage showmanship and Dirtwurx unorthodox drum kit setup, the band was noticed. For on September of that same year, they made the finals of the most prestigious battle of the bands in the region, The SMB Battle of the Bands. They didnt win though but making the finals means that you are one of the top 10 bands in the land. Little did they know that they would have a streak of finals appearance in this show in the coming years that followed. The wind blew harder as theyve been invited to more gigs like street parties, poolside shows, Halloween parties and Christmas parties later that same year. In between those days Grim (fuses brother) was added to the lineup to fill the position that Dagz left. It appears that Funkeestas is making a great debut, a promising act hoping to blossom.
- The Storm -
After the great long streak of gigs, it looks like the band is on its peak. Theyve grown and improved musically, their playing improved greatly and the band is creating a wave of followers. But a storm was coming; Sleepyhead woke up one day feeling far out, stayed in his shell and hibernated. While Sleepyhead was M.I.A. and so was the band. Grim quits the band due to artistic differences. Months passed, the wave was gone and the storm went on.When at last Sleepyhead was back, and the band was jamming again; another storm was about to strike for not long after sleepyhead was back, Marcus quits again. Marcus had a spiritual penance to perform and he felt that the band is not giving their support so decided to quit again.Like most storms and typhoons, after a great deal of destruction, the sun always shines. A text message from Marcus was sent to Sleep, Fuse and Dirt saying Marcus wants to play! mended all the resentments and paved way to the comeback of the great funk act in the city. Truly, the magic is within the four original members. Rust was never a factor for the band for they made a monstrous comeback at the Oktoberfest of 2003 backed up by their newly founded comrades, the band named Luciferase.
- Nightmare -
As the band prepares for their second appearance at the annual SMB Battle, their supporters starts to grow as if the band never left the scene ever. While supporters grow in numbers, rivals began to develop too. The band came out real strong during the elimination rounds of the SMB battle but is doomed by technical problems on stage during the finals. Nevertheless, the band still made it to the traditional TTKD event (the worlds longest street party running the distance of about half a kilometer) and other gigs for the Oktoberfest to score a great comeback and respect renewed.The Oktoberfest passed quickly and the band struggled to find gigs to keep their spirits alive. Only a number of projects came since then. Just a couple of College Acquaintance parties and some graduation parties booked the calendar for them and the band was once again frustrated with how the music industry became so biased with pop music at the time. Despite frustrations, Funkeestas remained a family.
- The Jobs -
Sleepyhead and Marcus graduated college while Fuse and Dirtwurx remained college students. While the other half was busy working, the other half was busy studying; for this, the problem of time creeps in for the first time since the band was formed. Their schedules contradict, as they were ranked #5 in the whole country to compete in the Red Horse Muziklaban only to fail to show up on the regionals. Worse, they never got a gig for months as the band had a hard time getting together or even seeing each other. Dirtwurx was losing hope and was thinking of side projects with Marcus, Sleepyhead is on graveyard shifts, and Fuse well hes just right there.
- Sabotage! -
Eventually, the band survived yet another fight against disbandment and returned on stage in time for the Oktoberfest of 2004. The bands popularity was doubled and more supporters from everywhere followed Funkeestas on every stage they played for. Fuse quits the band for unknown reason minutes before the SMB Battle but still played, But Lightning strikes twice as they were sabotaged again in the finals of the SMB battle for the second year in a row. The band was in rage and is furious as it has never been; Sleepyhead simply uttered Sabotage! right after the last note of the last song; Marcus twice screamed at the top of his lungs in anger; Dirtwurx interrogated people and investigated and Fuse rejoins the band minutes after the sabotage; the band bursts in fume instead of being humiliated. This attitude brought a great esteem for the band, to peers and to everyone; nevertheless, the sabotage was not enough to bring the prophets of the fourth dimension down. Supporters still respected and loved them and the TTKD performances are successful. They even rubbed elbows with the band Kapatid among others.
- Kolen & Co. -
Coined by Dirtwurx, Kolen & co. was a song that was envisioned by Dirtwurx one shinny evening, he quickly recorded the track and went to Marcus house to work on the song and sent the lyrics to sleepyhead for a melody. A portion of the song became a regular intro among Funkeestas shows and later the title became a name for the growing Funkeestas Family. Members of the family were the bands Luciferase, girly band Cosmic, the trash metal band Repplica along with many other supporters.
- The Reign -
Circa 2005, a newly married Sleepyhead, a very determined Dirtwurx and a research driven Fuse and Marcus paved way for a reinvented Funkeestas. Sleeps house has been a home for the Funkeestas Family or Kolen & Co. as some people say. They stayed there for most of the weeks days, Dirtwurx practically lived there, they jammed and wrote music when they get up in the morning, cooked meals together, drink on some nights, Smoke all the time, make fun of each other, played cards and gambled, watched TV, ordered pizzas, waited for Sleepyhead to get home from work everyday, they never slept and if they ever do, theyd all sleep in one bed for the house only had one. All they cared about was to have fun and share their lives together. These elements of music and love just renewed and reinvented the band and the family. Their songs were better than ever, their improvisations and fill-ins and instrumentals were ass kicking, the blending and chemistry were perfect and the stage performances were really moving. The elements that comprises the most essential source of power in the universe were possessed by the band; hence, the most successful year for Funkeestas. Winning the SMB Battle, awarded best drummer, being recognized by people on the streets (or public places like hospitals, parks, coffee shops, convenience strores, gasoline stations, etc.), rocking crowds of hundreds, pictures taken from strangers and fans running and rushing to see their shows were just a few of the experience they had to prove the power of the elements they seize.
- A fall thru ground -
Year 2006, Great expectations, over projection, lack of follow-ups, reoccurring problems and idleness were a few of what the band met at the beginning of the year. The individual members took time to face their own personal agendas. Sleepyhead had a child; Dirtwurx worked things up with the love of his life, fuse had a relationship problem and Marcus was suffering from loneliness and more delusions. These and a missed gig at Essel Park made the band idle for almost half the year.Dirtwurx quits the band on the 9th of July and this became a wound that never would seem to heal. Dirtwurx just wants to play, Fuse was messed up and paranoid, sleepyhead was busy. Everyone has a dilemma of their own and the familys foundations were challenged. Resentments were prolonged and grew deeper and for the first time, the problem was from within. Theyve successfully overcame those who are trying to destroy them, but now it seems they cant recover from the destruction that is coming from inside the family they supposed and the same family they now opposed. For the first time in years, Funkeestas was absent in the annual Oktoberfest. The breakup seems to affect many, Luciferase was absent as well, Dirtwurx played drums for Cosmic whos also in a verge of a breakup.
- Project name: BIG -
Marcus was still jobless and Fuse Resigned from his job as well, and the two took time to heal, Sleepyhead took the wheel and drove the band to the emergency room and sacrificed more time to revive the band.Marcus and Fuse wanted to take the time they had to document the bands existence and record their songs. They addressed the concept to Sleepyhead and they planned on how to execute it. The more they get deeper, the more the plan become similar to the previous recording plan that Dirtwurx and Marcus were discussing and have been planning for a long time. And so, Marcus petition to involve Dirtwurx on the project was approved by the rest. And so, Dirtwurx did what he does best: plan and talk to some sources to help and execute the plan.Hence, Caution Recording Studio was born and the independently produced self-titled album was made for posterity, for a greater chance of exposure, for the ones who loved them, for the fulfillment of their dreams and vision and for the love they had for their music. But yet, old resentments are still unsettled and new ones had been bred. Dirtwurx played for some other bands and shifted to bass while Marcus isolated himself from the spitefulness he cant bare and went to a foreign country to run away from it.This album was later remastered, repackaged and renamed as "demosilicoelectricstereomagic" after the band went under a new management.
- Operation: Revival -
Since the bands establishment, it took many blows and beatings. But it always refuses to die. And it remains to be true as I speak. Sleepyhead is sending copies of the demo album to recording companies for a recording deal, at the same time rebuilding what had fallen down on the ground. Marcus promised to be back in the country as soon as he can to play music with Funkeestas again. Fuse is still available and time will tell if Funkeestas will ever be Sleephead, Marcus, Fuse and Dirtwurx again. No one can disclose what would happen next, but one thing is for sure, "the pursuit for musical greatness is still on."
