It?s final.

Last Friday?s NU107 Rock Awards held at the NBC Tent in Taguig was its swan song, thus ending 17 years of giving recognition to the country?s most talented rock musicians.

In effect, it also confirmed loose talk that NU?s modern rock format will be dumped very soon.

At the close of the four-hour show, NU DJs from various phases of the station?s distinguished 23-year history gathered onstage to toast a boisterous crowd of 3,000 fans and guests.

An impromptu eulogy delivered by DJ Francis Brew (a.k.a. The Dawn?s former guitarist Francis Reyes) was peppered by exhortations to the young generation of musicians to keep on making music, ending on a hopeful note that Pinoy rock will live on forever.
It was a fitting goodbye to the 17th Rock Awards which saw two upstart bands garnering major citations for their debuts the past year. Four-man group Franco won the Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, and Song of the Year honors plus NU Listener?s Choice award.

Eight-piece pop-rockers Tanya Markova took home the Best New Artist, Best Live Act and Best Video plaques.

Studio engineer and record producer Angee Rozul was elevated to the Hall of Fame.

Like past editions, this year?s Rock Awards had playful surprises. Controversial media personality Hayden Kho was co-presenter of the Best Video award. As he wilted onstage amid catcalls from the audience, his girlfriend (and NU owner Atom Henares? ex-wife) Dr. Vicki Belo walked in.

Main emcee Iza Calzado shared memories of her girl-rocker past with co-hosts Tado and Erning.

As expected, guest bands delivered loud performances. New school metal screamers Kamikazee and Wilabaliw spewed unrelenting blasts of punk rock-laced heaviness.

On the other hand, the electric energy of old school bangers Greyhoundz, Slapshock and The Youth constantly turned sections of the venue into churning moshpits.

The end of the Rock Awards on its 17th season was hinted at throughout the show, only to be confirmed for real when NU jocks made their final bow at the close of the show.

The Inquirer tried to get more details on the station?s fate. Mike Pedero, NU music programming director, flatly replied, ?No more.? A formal statement will reportedly be made before the year ends.

Meantime, don?t be surprised by the subtle intrusion of pop songs on NU starting this month. Sources say the former head of Energy FM (?Pangga! 91.5 ha??) is moving in to stop the station from totally going off the air.

Winners? circle

Artist of the Year: Franco; Album: ?Franco? (Franco); Song: ?This Gathering? (Franco); Vocalist: Gabby Alipe of Urbandub; Guitarist: Peavy ?Sideshow? Nicolas and Fran Lorenzo of Sleepwalk Circus; Bassist: Lalay Lim of Urbandub; Drummer: Otep Concepcion of Ozawa, In Love and War; New Artist: Tanya Markova; Music Video: ?Disney? (Tanya Markova); Album Packaging: ?Great Secret Show? (Sleepwalk Circus); Producer: Ely Buendia and FrancisM
Listeners? Choice: Franco; Hall of Fame: Angelo Rozul; Live Act: Tanya Markova; In The Raw: The Flying Ipis