The Wuds were among the first — and most influential — punk rock bands in the Philippines. In the early ’80s, punk bands began to form in the Philippines as economic woes and political unrest started to fuel a burgeoning underground scene. The Wuds, along with Third World Chaos, the Philippine Violators, the Betrayed, and the Dead Ends, roared their amps in a country once dominated by easy listening artists. Not surprisingly, there was little mainstream acceptance. Radio airplay was limited to Howlin’ Dave’s punk rock show on Manila radio station DZRJ. However, the Wuds and their peers found loyal support from the small independent label Twisted Red Cross and exposure through the Brave New World concerts.
Given that rock audiences in the Philippines were divided between hippies and punks, violence was not uncommon; nevertheless, the Wuds were actually devout Krishna’s, quite different from the public stereotyping of punk rockers as immoral troublemakers. Throughout the ’80s, the Wuds remained outside of mass acceptance. In the early ’90s, though, Manila underwent an alternative rock revolution and the Wuds were lauded as pioneers, especially by the popular punk group the Youth. The Wuds — featuring Bobby Balingit (vocals, lead guitar), Alfred Guevara (vocals, rhythm guitar), and Allen Calixto (drums) — released a long-waited debut album, At Nakalimutan Ang Diyos (And God Was Forgotten), in 1994. Raw and uncompromising, At Nakalimutan Ang Diyos solidified the Wuds’ status as one of the Philippines’ true punk rock bands.
Two years later, the group recorded Gera (War), an intense record with powerful social and political commentary à la the Clash. The anti-war track “Ang Umibig Sa ‘Yo” (“One Who Loved You”) became a hit on Philippine alternative radio stations. In 1997, the Wuds released Nakaupo Sa Puso (Sitting on the Heart). By refusing to soften or polish their sound to appeal to a larger market, the Wuds continued their reign as the Philippines’ most respected veteran rock outfit.
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