Razorback is a Filipino hard rock band formed in 1990. Originally known for being regulars at the now-defunct Kalye, a club in Makati, the band has performed at full-scale concerts and opened for Silverchair, Rage Against the Machine and Metallica.
History
Razorback first began performing covers of bands such as Led Zeppelin, Juan de la Cruz Band, Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden. The group was put together by drummer Miguel Ortigas and guitarists Tirso Ripoll and David Aguirre.
In 1982, Miguel Ortigas met Tirso Ripoll through Ripoll's cousin in La Salle Green Hills. Ortigas first handled guitars then later moved on to drums. Ortigas also studied in Yamaha School of Music, under Benjie Zialcita, who also taught Tirso Ripoll, Louie Talan and David Aguirre. It was in 1988, when they would usually watch their idols Pepe Smith, Sampaguita, Edmund Fortuno, and many others, in Electra Bar, Makati, where they decided to create something better.
One of their first songs was "Highway to Hell" by AC/DC, and with only Tirso, Miguel and David in the line-up, they first recruited Tirso's brother, Junus as bassist and Isabel Lozano as vocalist. During their formative years, the band was known as 'Outrider', with their first gig at Big Bang, Alabang. The group later joined Upsilon Sigma Phi-NU107's Battle of the Bands and won. From here on out, the band as 'Razorback' was officially formed and played regularly in local bars such as Kalye, Club Dredd and Peligro.
Members of Razorback and Wolfgang used to jam onstage billed as the 'Flaming Hemorrhoids'. Five years later, the band, original vocalist Jose Mari Cuervo was replaced by Kevin Roy on vocals, alongside Ripoll and Aguirre on guitars, Ortigas on drums and Louie Talan on bass, released their debut album entitled Hebigat Sounds Volume One. ('Hebigat' is a portmanteau, created by fusing the words 'Hebi', a play on the English word 'heavy', and the Filipino word 'bigat', literally, 'heavy'.) The album contained such tracks as "Giyang", "Tabi ng Bulkan" ("Beside the Volcano") and "Pepe D' Hepe".
On November 4, 1994 the band along with Alamid opened for the American Rock Band supergroup Mr. Big at their concert at the Folk Arts Theater.
David Aguirre is now the lead guitarist for the Southern California-based band 3 Headed Dog. Manuel Legarda, also of Wolfgang, has taken over his guitar duties for Razorback. Brian Velasco, who was a drum instructor at RJ Guitar Center, later joined and replaced Miguel Ortigas on drums.
Beggar's Moon
Founding member Miguel Ortigas soon decided to leave the band in March 1996, prompting the band to take on Brian Velasco. In 1997, the band released their second album entitled Beggar's Moon under Epic Records. It produced hits such as "Payaso" ("Clown") and "Ikot Ng Mundo" ("Turning of the World"), the latter garnering an NU 107 Rock Awards 'Song of The Year' nomination that year. Aguirre won 'Best Guitarist of the Year'; Talan won the 'Best Bassist' the following year. Beggar's Moon eventually went platinum.
One track off the Beggar's Moon album is entitled "Of Hobbits and Pipeweed"; perhaps a homage to J. R. R. Tolkien and his books The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. The track "Lunatic" featured the Filipino violinist John Lesaca and percussionist Denise Celdran
Basti Artadi of Wolfgang shares credit for work done on the Beggar's Moon album art. According to Tirso Ripoll in his podcast with Basti Artadi, Tropical Banter, Beggar's Moon can be played over Blade Runner in synchronicity, similar to Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon played over The Wizard of Oz.
On July 19, 1997, the band along with Wolfgang opened for the American rock band Rage Against the Machine in their concert at the Cuneta Astrodome, Manila.
Star
The third Razorback album, Star, was released in 1998. The album produced the award winning video hit "Voodoo, Who Do?", plus other favorites such as "Tikman ang Ulan" ("Taste the Rain"), "Pag-hihintay" ("The Waiting"), and "Sa Gitna Ng Lahat" ("In the Midst of it All"). "Voodoo, Who Do?" would later on become part of the soundtrack of Stone, a comic book by Filipino artist Whilce Portacio - along with tracks by such artists as Korn, Our Lady Peace, Incubus, as well as Filipino artists Chill and Wolfgang.
Some time after Star was released (whose carrier single had Basti Artadi voicing the intro), David Aguirre went on hiatus, prompting some speculation that he was quitting the band for good. He returned in late 2000.