Franco (band)

Franco is a rock band from the Philippines formed in 2008. The band had its beginnings as a supergroup with members from iconic Filipino bands, consisting of Franco Reyes (InYo) on vocals, Gabby Alipe (Urbandub) on guitar, 8 Toleran (Queso) on guitar, Buwi Meneses (Parokya ni Edgar) on bass guitar, and JanJan Mendoza (Urbandub) on drums.[2] This original lineup disbanded in mid-2012, and regrouped with frontman Franco Reyes backed by Paul Cañada on guitar, Dave Delfin on bass and Victor Guison on drums.

Franco
Also known asFranco Suspitsados [1]
OriginCebu, Philippines
Genres
Years active2008–present
LabelsMCA Music (2009–present)
Associated acts
MembersFranco Reyes
Paul Cañada
Dave Delfin
Victor Guison
Past membersGabby Alipe
Ocho Toleran
Buwi Meneses
JanJan Mendoza

History

Franco started as a collaboration project between Alipe, Toleran, Meneses and Mendoza, who are prominent musicians in the Pinoy rock scene. In late 2008, deciding to have a front man for their project band, Alipe, Mendoza, Toleran and Meneses collaborated with Reyes, who had returned to the Philippines from a stay in the U.S., thus completing the band, Franco.[3] In 2009, they recorded songs that comprised Franco's first album. Upon the release of the first album in 2010, their songs quickly became hits and topped the charts. The band dominated the 2010 NU Rock Awards with 4 awards and 9 nominations. They were also nominated and won an award in the 2010 Awit Awards. However, in 2012, Alipe, Meneses, Toleran and Mendoza left the group,[4] with Franco Reyes persisting to continue. Recruiting former bandmates from Cebu, Franco, now a principal act, released his sophomore studio album in 2013, entitled Soul Adventurer. Franco now tours with new members, namely Paul Cañada, Dave Delfin and Victor Guison.

Music

Franco's musical roots are traced to a Cebu-based band named Frank!, formed by Reyes in 1996, which is credited for having boosted the Cebu rock scene.[3] However, despite reggae-leaning songs originally composed by Reyes for Frank!, the latter music of Franco became considerably heavier. Two Franco songs — “Touch the Sky” and “Song for the Suspect — have Rastafarian messages.

Mainstream success

In 2010, they released their self-titled full-length album under MCA Music. Music videos for “Cast Away” and “This Gathering” were aired on the 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. The supergroup also won an award during the 2010 Awit Awards as the Best Performance By A Group Of Recording Artists - "Castaway", and was also nominated for the Best Performance By A New Group Of Recording Artists - "Castaway" and Best Rock/Alternative - "Castaway". [5] The band was nominated numerous times for the MYX Music Awards.

In mid-2012, four of the members (Alipe, Toleran, Meneses and Mendoza) announced a parting of ways to focus on their own respective bands. Franco Reyes decided to retain the entity by collaborating with former colleagues from Cebu, thereby recording the second Franco album.

In 2013, Soul Adventurer was released as the band's second album. With the new lineup on board, the group won Best Alternative Recording (Awit Awards) for the song Better Days. [6]

On November 9, 2014, Franco launched an EP, titled Frank!, at the St. James Power Station in Sentosa, Singapore.

Band members

Current members[3]

  • Franco Reyes – lead vocals, guitar (2008–present)
  • Paul "Poldo" Cañada – guitar (2012–present)
  • Dave Delfin – bass (2012–present)
  • Victor Guison – drums (2012–present)

Former members [7]

  • Gabby Alipe – guitar (2008–2012)
  • Paolo "8"/"Ocho" Toleran – guitar (2008–2012)
  • JanJan Mendoza – drums (2008–2012)
  • Buwi Meneses – bass (2008–2012)

Discography

Studio Album
  • Franco (2010)
  • Soul Adventurer (2013)
  • Flight (2018)

EP
  • Frank! (2014)

Track listing

Franco (2010)

No.TitleLength
1."Seasons"3:56
2."Touch The Sky"3:43
3."Castaway"4:30
4."Memorykill"4:44
5."A Mass For The End of Time"4:20
6."Last Waltz"5:49
7."Next Train Out"3:01
8."Song For The Suspect"5:06
9."Tetrahydrochloridedub"2:15
10."This Gathering"4:21
11."For My Dearly Departed"5:22
Total length:48:12

Soul Adventurer (2013)

No.TitleLength
1."032"0:32
2."To Survive"4:38
3."Moonset"5:03
4."Better Days"5:01
5."What Is To Be Must Be"0:21
6."Renewal"5:34
7."Drifter"1:19
8."A Beautiful Diversion"3:57
9."Across The Milkyway"5:15
10."Razor"5:41
11."Blame"5:24
12."Follow That Light"1:18
13."Uprising"5:39
14."Babylonian Politicians"0:31
15."Muse"5:26
16."Lover's Fire"4:27
17."A Prayer"4:16
Total length:64:36

Flight (2018)

No.TitleLength
1."Afterburn"4:10
2."Last Word"4:58
3."All Nighter"4:51
4."Mondaze"4:43
5."Lost In Your Universe"4:22
6."Best I Ever"5:06
7."Aurora Sunrise"4:52
8."Rebirth"4:20
9."Breaking For The Weekend"4:49
10."Goodbye, Goodnight"5:10
Total length:67:21

Awards and nominations

NU 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.[3]

Year Award Work Results
2010 Artist of the Year Franco Won
Album of the Year Franco Won
Song of the Year "This Gathering" Won
Listeners' Choice Award Franco Won
Vocalist of the Year Franco Reyes Nominated
Guitarist of the Year Gabby Alipe, Paolo Toleran, Franco Reyes Nominated
Bassist of the Year Buhawi Meneses Nominated
Drummer of the Year JanJan Mendoza Nominated
Best New Artist Franco Nominated

Awit Awards

The Awit Awards are the most prestigious music awards in the Philippines given annually by the Philippine Association of the Record Industry (PARI) to recognize the outstanding achievements in the music industry.

Year Award Work Results
2010 Best Performance By A Group Of Recording Artists "Castaway" Won[5]
Best Performance By A New Group Of Recording Artists Nominated[5]
Best Rock/Alternative Nominated[5]
2013 Best Alternative Recording "Better Days" Won[6]

MYX Music Awards

The MYX Music Awards is an accolade presented annually by the cable channel Myx to honor the biggest hitmakers in the Philippines.

Year Award Work Results
2011 Favorite New Artist Franco Nominated
2014 Favorite Rock Video “Better Days” Nominated[8]
gollark: Ooh, "ouroboros of prize arguments", that's a good phrase.
gollark: I'd like them to be something like NDs, where you can make them and there's some randomness but also skill.
gollark: Probably not, but it's a nice idea.
gollark: One nice idea I heard was to allow one choice of prize per trophy.
gollark: I'd prefer to not do that.

References
  1. Tongson, Tomas (2014-11-01). "Myx Features: Artists React To Franco Break Up".
  2. Servando, Kristine (2010-01-04). "Music review: Pinoy rock 'superband' Franco". ABS-CBN News. Archived from the original on 2010-03-10. Retrieved 10 March 2010.
  3. "Franco Suspitsados Official Facebook page".
  4. Tongson, Tomas (2014-11-01). "MYX Features: OPM Rock Superband FRANCO, Disbanded?".
  5. Tongson, Tomas (2014-11-01). "Awit Awards Official List of Winners".
  6. Tongson, Tomas (2014-11-01). "Awit Awards Website".
  7. "Franco Superband Official Facebook page".
  8. Tongson, Tomas (2014-11-01). "Manila Bulletin: MYX noms indicate changing OPM climes".

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