Aidon Panlaqui calls himself the Eraserheads’ number one fan. Rightfully so.
On the day the band released the album “Cutterpillow” in 1995, he skipped school and made the long trip from Pampanga to Megamall to get a copy. His college thesis was about the Eraserheads. Jessica Soho featured him and his deep love for the Eraserheads on her show. “Fan Zappa,” his essay about the crazy things he did for the love of their music, won him a Fender guitar and amp. (“I told my story in a ‘Punk Zappa’ way,” he said.)
One of his prized possessions is the shirt worn by Ely Buendia in the “Julie Tearjerky” video. (“It motivates me to lose weight so I can wear it again.”) He didn’t just name his son after Ely’s son (“I tweaked it. Ely’s son is named Eon. Mine’s Aon.”), he asked Marcus Adoro to be his son’s godfather.
In 2008, he gave up a trip to Spain and threatened to resign if his company didn’t give him time off to watch the Eraserheads’ reunion concert. (“I had to camp out early at the venue to have the best view. Good thing I work in an environment where the bosses understand these things—following your passion.”) He is part of Pandiwa, a band made up of members of Circus, the longest-running Eraserheads mailing list. (Thanks to Ely’s and Pupil’s manager Day Cabuhat who heard their originals, they were recently invited to front for Ely’s new band Oktaves at ’70s Bistro.)
High school
Like many other fans, Aidon’s love affair with the Eraserheads began in high school, with the release of the band’s first album, “Ultraelectromagneticpop!” “I saw it in my favorite record bar, which was two jeepney rides away from our house. I was intrigued. I bought the album without knowing what’s inside. When I got home and played the tape, hearing the songs changed the way I listened to music. Even then, I knew it was the kind of music I’d stick to, growing up.”
He fell in love with their songs. “I think they are geniuses in their craft. They keep reinventing, and they always push themselves artistically. They were four ordinary guys who conquered the scene by just relying on sheer talent. They were cool without trying to be cool.”
But it wasn’t just the music— he believes the Eraserheads became the voice of a generation. “They were crucial in shaping who I wanted to become. They proved to the world that you can succeed without compromising your work, without following the norms. The Eraserheads was the voice of every ’90s teen. They symbolized their hunger to be heard. No other band has ever told our life stories the way they did.”
Now an associate creative director at an advertising firm, Aidon’s love for the Eheads has not wavered, not even after the band broke up.
Then came the true test of his fandom—the Eraserheads’ North American Tour. When he first heard about it, he thought about going but quickly dismissed the idea until a good friend asked him, “Why not?”
And Aidon asked himself, “Yeah, why not?”
Roadblocks
But there were roadblocks.
One, he didn’t have a visa. The US Embassy had denied him twice. After the second time, he was so frustrated that he said he’d never apply again.
Two, he needed funds.
Still, he decided to try.
Aidon’s sister said to him, “Si Ely lang pala ang makakapag-convince sa ’yong mag-apply ulit ng visa.” His brother bought him a ticket to the LA show even before he scheduled his visa interview.
At the embassy, the consul asked him why he wanted to go to the United States. “I said I’m watching the Eraserheads, and I’m their number one fan. And then he granted me a visa. I think what made him say yes was my honesty.”
He decided to sell stuff to raise money for the trip—the piano he bought for his 30th birthday, the amp that he won in that essay-writing contest. He almost sold the guitar that came with it but changed his mind. “I backed out because I won it from an Eraserheads contest.” He offered to create artworks for friends instead.
Even now, Aidon says he still doesn’t know how he overcame every obstacle. “I think it’s just really magical. I remember how my boss always told me out of the blue, trust the universe’s magic, and the dots will connect.”
The dots did connect.
Earlier this month, Aidon found himself in the US, ready for his biggest adventure as an Eraserheads fan. “It was like a dream or a scene in a movie. I was there to watch my teenage heroes. No Golden Gate Bridge or Hollywood sign could top the excitement I had for the concert.”
Special access
Aidon was there to watch the LA concert at the Hollywood Palladium, but he received a surprise the day before the show. “LeVan and the gang (who were mentioned in the Eraserheads song “Balikbayan Box”) invited me to take a six-hour road trip from LA to watch the first show in San Francisco.”
He said yes. “They gave me special access. The best part was going to the hotel where the band stayed and watching the sound check. Our only connection was the music of the Heads but we became very good friends during the trip. They treated me well and made sure I was having a good time.”
But it wasn’t all good times. After the San Francisco show, they discovered that someone had broken into the car they were riding and had stolen Aidon’s bag which contained his iPad, iPhone and Lomo Spinner camera. “I was sad because I couldn’t update my blog without my gadgets and the camera had some shots of Ely and his daughter. I was shocked, but I let it be. I chose instead to relive the happier moments I got to share with my new friends and my triumph in being in the US to see the Eraserheads onstage again.”
In LA, he experienced the show like the other fans. “I waited in line, cheered with the crowd and shared the moment with my brother. It was very special because you could feel everyone’s enthusiasm, as Pinoys far away from home dove into nostalgia while the Heads played the soundtrack of everyone’s teenage years. It was great to see people in their mid-30s mosh pit again, forgetting they were in a foreign land, and just celebrating OPM with the greatest Pinoy band ever.”
All four Eraserheads have reacted to Aidon’s US adventure. “I always approach Ely in his gigs here, and the first thing I say is ‘Pa-picture!’ That was the first thing I said to him too in San Francisco, and his reply was, ‘This is surreal.’” Raymund Marasigan was amazed when he found out I flew all the way from the Philippines just to watch the shows. Marcus messaged me on Facebook and said he thought what I did was cool. Earnest, Buddy Zabala’s wife, tweeted me to say that what I did ‘wowed’ him.”
Epic adventure
Aidon spent a total of nine days in the US—he had to return to the Philippines to go back to work. “It was just enough to recover from jetlag, watch two Eraserheads shows and see John Lennon’s star at the Walk of Fame. ”
He also managed to spend time with his brother and his brother’s family. “They were so excited that I finally got to bond with them in an unexpected way. Seeing their day-to-day lives was special to me.”
Aidon may be back in the country but he continues to hold on to his favorite memories from his epic Eraserheads adventure, chronicling them almost poetically in the Tumblr he named after a line in the song “Alapaap.” Enjoying tapsilog at Ling Nam with LeVan and friends at two in the morning. Cheering while Marcus played the song “Wala.” Holding Marcus’ guitar in his arms as they drove from San Francisco to LA at three in the morning. Bonding with his brother over the music of his beloved band. Running into an old college classmate who was lining up for the LA show.
This Eraserheads fan still has a lot of dreams. “Unlike most fans, I don’t want them to reunite for good. I don’t want them to produce a new album or even a song—at least not until they all really wanted to do it. I used to dream of an Eheads outtakes box set to be released, but at this point, maybe just a picture with the four would do. And make them play ‘Alapaap’ live at my funeral.”
Follow Aidon on hanggangsadulongmundo.tumblr.com.