1. Ely Buendia is best known as the lead vocalist and primary songwriter of the alternative rock band Eraserheads, with whom he has released seven albums since their founding in 1989.
42 Facts About Ely Buendia
1. 2.
Ely Buendia left Eraserheads in 2002 and the band broke up soon after.
3.
Ely Buendia released his debut solo studio album, Wanted Bedspacer, in 2000.
4.
Ely Buendia founded the independent record label Offshore Music in 2016, which has represented artists Ena Mori, Pinkmen and Sansette.
5.
Ely Buendia released his second solo album, Method Adaptor, in 2024.
6.
Ely Eleandre Basino Buendia was born in Naga, Camarines Sur on November 2,1970.
7.
Ely Buendia is the second child of Ely Revilla Buendia and Lisetta Ruiz Basino.
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Ely Buendia attended preparatory school in Naga Parochial School and finished his elementary grades at Pasig Catholic College in Pasig City in 1983, and high school at University of Perpetual Help in Rizal.
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Ely Buendia had a complicated relationship with his father, later writing the songs "Poorman's Grave" and "Acid Tongue" about him.
10.
Ely Buendia wrote his first song "The Junction" after hearing Michael Jackson's album Off the Wall on cassette, getting as far as the chorus.
11.
Ely Buendia grew up listening to Rico J Puno, Diomedes Maturan, Elvis, Bob Dylan, and the Beatles.
12.
Ely Buendia played bass for the college band Bluidie Tryste in 1987, which had Raymund dela Pena on vocals.
13.
Ely Buendia invited his fellow freshmen Buddy Zabala and Marcus Adoro for a jam session at Alberto's rehearsal studio in Cubao, but nothing materialized.
14.
Marasigan and Ely Buendia combined Sunday School and Curfew into a new band, which they named Eraserheads after the David Lynch film.
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One song written by Ely Buendia, "Pare Ko", became popular for its explicit lyrics.
16.
Ely Buendia wrote "Combo on the Run" based on their experiences there.
17.
Ely Buendia, who majored in mass communication with a degree in film at UP, sold Bicol express to his dorm mates to earn money, but later dropped out.
18.
Ely Buendia worked at BMG as a copywriter while writing songs with his band members at night.
19.
Ely Buendia continued to write songs for the band, many of which became classic hits.
20.
The band reunited for a concert in August 2008, which was cut short after Ely Buendia experienced chest pains and was rushed to the hospital.
21.
In 2011, Ely Buendia formed the supergroup The Oktaves with The Jerks guitarist Nitoy Adriano and members of Hilera.
22.
In 2000, Ely Buendia released his debut solo album Wanted Bedspacer.
23.
Ely Buendia later pursued a film career after leaving Eraserheads.
24.
Ely Buendia had previously co-directed music videos for Eraserheads songs "With a Smile" and "Maskara" and later directed music videos for Kaya and The Oktaves.
25.
Ely Buendia eventually wrote and directed the short film Waiting Shed, produced by Tikoy Aguiluz for Cinemanila.
26.
In 2013, Ely Buendia co-directed the crime anthology film Bang Bang Alley with King Palisoc and Zig Marasigan.
27.
Ely Buendia wrote and directed the title segment and the final episode "Pusakal".
28.
Ely Buendia wrote and performed the song "Haunted" as its theme song.
29.
In 2017, Ely Buendia released "Gabi Man, May Araw Din", his first solo release in 17 years.
30.
Ely Buendia released the song "Metro" in 2021 as part of We Need a Leader, a voter awareness campaign for the 2022 Philippine presidential election.
31.
Ely Buendia later re-recorded a new version of the song in support of presidential candidate Leni Robredo and her running mate Kiko Pangilinan.
32.
Ely Buendia collaborated with the indie rock band Cheats, having previously produced their self-titled debut album in 2016.
33.
Ely Buendia collaborated with indie rock band Sansette on their song "C U" in 2022.
34.
In 2016, Ely Buendia founded the independent record label Offshore Music.
35.
Ely Buendia has rereleased Eraserheads's first three albums on vinyl through the label.
36.
Ely Buendia was first married to Vicky Cayago, with whom he has a daughter named Una Aurea.
37.
Ely Buendia was later married to Maria Diane Ventura, with whom he shares a son named Eon Drake.
38.
Ely Buendia directed the Eraserheads documentary Combo on the Run, released in 2025.
39.
Ely Buendia endorsed Leni Robredo in the 2022 Philippine presidential elections.
40.
Ely Buendia tweeted in 2021 that he would reunite with Eraserheads if Robredo ran for office, which he later dismissed as a "half serious joke".
41.
Ely Buendia appeared at a campaign rally in Iloilo in February 2022, where he performed Eraserheads songs.
42.
In January 2007, Ely Buendia suffered a heart attack during a live show with Pupil.