Franco (band)
Encyclopedia
Franco is a Filipino
rock supergroup
with members from different Filipino bands. The lineup consists of Franco Reyes (of InYo) on vocals, Gabby Alipe (of Urbandub
) on guitar
, Paolo "8" Toleran (of Queso) on guitar, Buwi Meneses
(of Parokya ni Edgar
) on bass guitar
, and JanJan Mendoza (of Urbandub
) on drum
s.
Frank was one of the bands that boosted the Cebu rock scene, In late 2008, Gabby Alipe, Mendoza, Toleran and Meneses collaborated with Reyes, who returned to the Philippines, to form Franco.
Franco also dominated the 2010 NU Rock Awards by winning four awards—Artist of the Year, Song of the Year for “This Gathering”, Album of the Year for their self-titled album, and the Listeners' Choice Award.
Interestingly, two songs—“Touch the Sky” and “Song for the Suspect”—have Rastafarian messages such as the spiritual use of marijuana and the belief in Jah, the almighty god of the Rastafarian faith.
Awit Awards
MYX Music Awards
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
rock supergroup
Supergroup (music)
In the late 1960s, the term supergroup was coined to describe "a rock music group whose performers are already famous from having performed individually or in other groups"....
with members from different Filipino bands. The lineup consists of Franco Reyes (of InYo) on vocals, Gabby Alipe (of Urbandub
Urbandub
Urbandub is a Filipino rock band from Cebu City, Philippines. Since its inception in 2000, the band's line-up has consisted of Gabby Alipe , John Dinopol , and Lalay Lim . The band's current drummer is Janjan Mendoza, who has been with the band since 2003.Urbandub is the first indie band who has...
) on guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, Paolo "8" Toleran (of Queso) on guitar, Buwi Meneses
Buwi Meneses
Buhawi "Buwi" Meneses is a Filipino bassist for bands Parokya ni Edgar, and Franco.-Biography:Buhawi Francia Meneses , is the second of four children and only son of breast cancer activists Danny Meneses and the late Rosa Meneses....
(of Parokya ni Edgar
Parokya ni Edgar
Parokya ni Edgar is a Filipino band that was formed in 1993 by a group of college students. The band is famous and most lauded for its original rock novelty songs and often satirical covers of popular songs...
) on bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, and JanJan Mendoza (of Urbandub
Urbandub
Urbandub is a Filipino rock band from Cebu City, Philippines. Since its inception in 2000, the band's line-up has consisted of Gabby Alipe , John Dinopol , and Lalay Lim . The band's current drummer is Janjan Mendoza, who has been with the band since 2003.Urbandub is the first indie band who has...
) on drum
Drum
The drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a...
s.
History
Franco started as a collaboration project between its members, who are veterans of the Pinoy rock scene. However, Franco's roots are traced from the Cebu-based band Frank, which Reyes formed in 1996.Frank was one of the bands that boosted the Cebu rock scene, In late 2008, Gabby Alipe, Mendoza, Toleran and Meneses collaborated with Reyes, who returned to the Philippines, to form Franco.
Mainstream Success
Franco started by playing songs from Frank and Inyo. In 2009, they released their self-titled full-length album under MCA Music. Music videos for “Cast Away” and their latest single “This Gathering” were aired on Filipino music channel MYX.Franco also dominated the 2010 NU Rock Awards by winning four awards—Artist of the Year, Song of the Year for “This Gathering”, Album of the Year for their self-titled album, and the Listeners' Choice Award.
Music
Though most of its songs were originally written by Reyes with Frank and Inyo, Franco's music is stengah to the ears and considerably heavier than the reggae-leaning sound of Frank and the alternative rock sound of Inyo.Interestingly, two songs—“Touch the Sky” and “Song for the Suspect”—have Rastafarian messages such as the spiritual use of marijuana and the belief in Jah, the almighty god of the Rastafarian faith.
Band members
- Franco Reyes – Vocals/Guitars (2009–present)
- Gabby Alipe – Guitars, Backing vocals (2009–present)
- Paolo Toleran – Guitars (2009–present)
- Buwi Meneses – Bass GuitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(2009–present) - JanJan Mendoza – Drums (2009–present)
- Cris Vicuña of Bored of Trustees - Session Bass Guitar
Studio Album
| Artist | Album | Tracks | Year | Records |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franco | Franco | Seasons Touch The Sky Castaway Memory Kill A Mass for the End of Time Last Waltz Next Train Out Song for the Suspect Tetrahydrochloridedub This Gathering For My Dearly Departed |
2010 | MCA Music, Inc. |
Singles
- "Castaway"
- "This Gathering"
- "Song For The Suspect"
- "Spin and Fall"
- "I want you"
- "Manipulator"
- "Stupid Me"
Awards and nominations
NU Rock AwardsNU Rock Awards
The NU Rock Awards was an annual recognition program sponsored from 1994 to 2010 by the defunct Metro Manila based radio station NU 107.1. 1994 saw the birth of what is to become the biggest annual gathering of the finest rock musicians in the country—the NU 107 Rock Awards! The very first NU 107...
- Won: Artist of the Year (2010)
- Won: Album of the Year - "Franco" (2010)
- Won: Song of the Year - "This Gathering" (2010)
- Won: Listeners' Choice Award (2010)
- Nominated: Vocalist of the Year - Franco Reyes (2010)
- Nominated: Guitarist of the Year - Gabby Alipe, Paolo Toleran, Franco Reyes (2010)
- Nominated: Bassist of the Year - Buhawi Meneses (2010)
- Nominated: Drummer of the Year - JanJan Mendoza (2010)
- Nominated: Best New Artist (2010)
Awit Awards
Awit Awards
The Awit Awards is the longest-running award-giving body of the Philippines that gives recognition to Filipino musical talents, performing artists and producers it was Philippines equivalent to Grammy Awards, organized by the Philippine Association Of The Record Industry .-Objectives and Winner...
- Won: Best Performance By A Group Of Recording Artists - "Castaway" (2010)
- Nominated: Best Performance By A New Group Of Recording Artists - "Castaway" (2010)
- Nominated: Best Rock/Alternative - "Castaway" (2010)
MYX Music Awards
Myx Music Awards
The MYX Music Awards honor the biggest hitmakers in the Philippines. They debuted on MYX at Onstage Greenbelt on June 6, 2006.MYX viewers from all over the Philippines decide the winners in 17 major categories via sms text messaging....
- Nominated: Favorite New Artist - Franco (2011)