MANILA, Philippines—When the Eraserheads finally appeared at the concert that fateful Saturday night, a lot of people were surprised to see one extra head onstage.
It was Jazz Nicolas, Itchyworms drummer and Eraserheads sessionist for the night. Jazz played a lot of instruments during that first set—keyboards, tambourine, guitar—and he provided sound effects and backup vocals as well.
In this interview with Super, he talks about his days as an E-heads fan and what it was like to find himself in the spotlight, in front of thousands of other E-heads fans.
Were you an Eraserheads fan?
Oo naman, sobra. Oo from the start, from “Ultraelectro.”
How old were you when they became popular?
Naalala ko parang second year high school, mga 13 ako nun.
Were you already with Itchyworms when you met the Eraserheads?
Oo, noong na-meet ko sila, Itchyworms na ako. Siguro ’yung album nila noon “Fruitcake.” Si Jugs (Jugueta, Itchyworms vocalist) ‘yung kilala sila talaga— through Jugs nakilala ko sila. Sobrang solid fan din iyon.
How did you first hear about the concert?
May chismis na magre-reunion sila. Andun kami sa Liquid Post noong narinig namin ’yun. Iniisip namin, hindi totoo ’yan. At the back of my mind, iniisip ko, “S***, paano kaya makakuha ng tickets diyan?” Then two days later ...
They asked you to play with them?
Tinawagan lang ako ni Buddy. Kailangan daw nila ng keyboardist. Oo ako agad.
You didn’t think twice?
‘Di na! Yes agad!
How did you prepare for the concert?
They gave me a list of 30 songs. Konting preparation na lang eh, kasi kabisado ko na ’yung songs nila teenager pa ako. Dati sinasabayan ko ng gitara ‘yung casette tapes nila.
Did you get nervous?
Oo, kinabahan ako. Iniisip ko, ‘pag nakita ako ng mga tao baka batuhin ako, baka sabihin, “Sino ba ‘yan?”
How did your friends react when they heard you were going to play with the Eraserheads?
Sobra silang, “Ul*l! Seryoso?”
What about the other members of Itchyworms?
Ganun din. Niloloko nila ako, “Naku, babatuhin ka niyan!”
Gang Badoy interviewed the members of Eraserheads. Raymund told her that they were all asked separately to choose who they wanted to play with and they all said they wanted you.
Whoa!!! ‘Di nga? Talaga? Wow!
Oo, separately ha.
Seryoso? Sobrang nakakikilig naman ‘yun. Siyempre mga heroes ko sila eh. Wow, talaga!
How many times did you practice with them before the concert?
Three times. Sa practice, sobrang nakakatakot na nakakatuwa, haharap sila sa akin, “O ano pa’ng gusto mo?” Ako bahala kung ano’ng next song. Parang wow, ano ‘to, private concert?
How did you feel at the concert?
Sobrang dream come true. Iyong unang plan, dapat nasa gilid lang ako ng stage, hindi ako kita. Ako ‘yung dagdag na sound eh, ‘yung mga sounds na nasa album. Masaya na ako dun, sa gilid. Pero biglang sabi ni Ely, hindi, you’re part of the band, dapat nasa stage ka. Puro friends ‘yung nasa harap ng stage. The whole time nagbabuzz lang ‘yung utak ko.
Is there any moment you won’t forget?
‘Yung pagtingin ko kay Raymund, ‘yung nakawig na siya. ’Di namin alam ‘yun, biglang “Nyaak! Naka-wig at shades siya!” ‘Yun ‘yung old Raymund eh.
Where were you when Ely was rushed to the hospital?
Actually hindi ko alam na may nangyari pala kay Ely. Nung intermission, pumunta akong backstage, kumuha akong drink, nag-PSP pa ako. Si Myrene (Academia) ang nagsabi, “Si Ely ni-rush sa hospital, nagkaroon daw ng chest pains.” Speechless ako. Shocking sobra.
Have you visited him?
Napuntahan na namin. May practice kasi Itchyworms with Markus Highway, tapos niyaya kami ni Marcus na dumalaw kay Ely.
How is he?
He’s doing well.
If there’s another concert, will you play with them again?
Sana. Sabi ni Ely, tutuloy natin ‘to.
Is there anything else you want to tell Eraserheads fans?
Sobrang happy lang ako to help out with the ‘Heads, to give them the sound na kailangan pa. Ako ‘yung pinakasuwerteng tao sa buong mundo— kasi napanood ko ‘yung buong set.
![Zoom Image](javascript:popwin("http://images.inquirer.net/media/showbizandstyle/you/super/images/pic-09070420210985.jpg", 640, 480))
Zoom
