The highly anticipated Eraserheads reunion concert was cut short in the middle after lead vocalist Ely Buendia collapsed backstage during a 15 minute intermission break. Apparently the stress was too much for Ely after he lost his mother recently and his rehearsal for the concert which last up to 3AM. I’m sure all the fans who came were a bit disappointed at what happened but I know that they’re all with me in wishing and praying for Ely’s speedy recovery. Hopefully we will still see another reunion concert for the Eraserheads in this lifetime.
Quotes from Inquirer after the jump.
MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE
The Eraserheads Reunion Concert was cut short Saturday night when lead singer Ely Buendia was rushed to the Makati Medical Center after collapsing backstage during a 20-minute intermission of the planned 30-song concert.
The concert’s sudden end was announced by Buendia’s sister Lally who went onstage with Ely’s band mates Raimund Marasigan, Buddy Zabala, Marcus Adoro and concert organizers stating that the band’s lead vocalist and songwriter was in poor health. The band members apologized to the audience for cutting short their performance.
MTV Philippines President Francis Lumen asked the crowd for a minute of silence to pray for Buendia’s health.
“He had a slight attack because of stress due to the recent passing of his mother (Lisette Buendia), and their sound check which lasted till 3 a.m. today (Saturday),” said MTV Philippines and Radiohead director for marketing Ronald Esguerra in an interview with INQUIRER.net. “But we have received word that Ely is now in stable condition.”
Organizers also belied erroneous reports that Buendia is undergoing triple bypass surgery, adding that the Eraserheads frontman actually wants to check out of the Makati Medical Center and go instead to his personal doctor.
According to Jing Garcia, former music journalist and currently technology editor at Manila Times and a friend of the Eraserheads members, Buendia collapsed backstage after the last song before the intermission, which was “Lightyears.” The band had already played 15 songs by then.
Buendia suffered a heart attack on January 7, 2007 and had already undergone surgery.
The concert, which was staged at the Fort Bonifacio Global City open field in Taguig, started at around 8:15 p.m. and paused for a break at around 9:30 p.m.
The Eraserheads opened their much-awaited reunion concert with “Alapaap” and “Ligaya,” complete with fireworks display.
After waiting at the open field for an hour since the intermission hoping for further developments, loyal fans of the band calmly left the concert area after being treated to a thrilling first set.
MTV Philippines’ Esguerra said that while he is hoping for a second Eraserheads reunion concert, there is still no word on whether another one would be staged.
“We have received no word of a Part Two but we also hope there will be one,” he said. With a report from Pocholo Concepcion, Philippine Daily Inquirer
[...] recently posted in my personal blog about how the Eraserheads Reunion Concert was cut short because Ely Buendia was rushed to the hospital during the …. This was really sad to hear but what’s very nice is how the people reacted. Instead of [...]
I hope Elly’s fine now. Sayang. Would have wanted to go. Eraserheads are the Beatles of the Philippines.
This guy is way too stressed out, for a person of his age. Although I’m an avid fan of his work, I think he really should cut back on the whole lifestyle, seeing as it’s literally snuffing the life outta him.
Hi Ely talaga idol kita! nun paman talagang idol kita laht ng album ng eraserheads ay meron ako!…………….>../
bakit nagkaganun noh??? pero alam mo, idol kita…