DEAD POP STARS

DEAD POP STARS is a PINOY MORRISSEY/THE SMITHS TRIBUTE BAND that was officially formed back in 1999. I was able to get some INFOS about this great PINOY BAND courtesy of POGZ(DEAD POP STARS lead vocalist) who I personally consider to be the "PINOY MOZ". It was wayback 2004 when I first heard about DEAD POP STARS from my brother who is a Dentist and sometimes a band sessionist when he, together with his friends,were able to watch the band back in 2004 at KLUB102 and their group was approached by POGZ after the gig thanking them for attending the gig. Hmmmp!! Talking about hospitality He He He!! Well, for today's blogpost we will be talking about the story of the DEAD POP STARS. According to RUDOLF "POGZ" PAZ, It was KARLO SANTOS ( guitarist/drummer), who really formed the band back in 1999 after coming from another band named POLYESTER who POGZ personally considered as the FIRST PINOY BRITISH POP INFLUENCED BAND of the 1990s. KARLO asked POGZ to join him in forming a band that would play THE SMITHS music since KARLO's attention as a musician was caught by THE SMITHS' guitar lines and style. At first POGZ never thought that KARLO was really serious in picking him as the vocalist of the band. KARLO wants to venture into a different type of music and this time he wants to play the guitar. Thus, DEAD POP STARS was born!! It was only after few months of practices when the guys really decided to go up and play LIVE on stage. DEAD POP STARS aka. DPS have indeed made a mark on the Pinoy Underground Music Scene. Hmmmp!! DPS also sounds like one of my all-time favorite movies "The Dead Poet Society". Well, definitely nothing to do with the band. He He He!! Actually, I love the song of ALTERED IMAGES entitled DEAD POP STARS which the group got their name.

So Why "Dead Pop Stars"? Well, this is what POGZ have to say about it: "It was a song by the Altered Images. Sounds negative right? Well it wasn't at all. It was a tribute for a band, a scene, a person that's gone. literally and not literally dead".

"At the record company meeting
On their hands - at last ! - a dead star !
But they can never taint you in my eyes

No, they can never touch you now

No, they cannot hurt you, my darling
They cannot touch you now
But me and my 'true love' Will never meet again "

The Smiths - Paint a Vulgar Picture

THE ORIGINAL LINE:

Pogz Paz
Karlo Santos
R2 Pioquinto
Allan Hernandez (Late Isabel)
Miclo Rosario

THE PRESENT LINE UP (2009):
(Photos Courtesy of Sir GEORGE FREDERICK of WXB102)

POGZ PAZ

KARLO SANTOS

R2 PIOQUINTO

RAIN PAGGAO (Half Life Half Death)


Here are the other questions I personally asked POGZ for this DEAD POP STARS blogpost of mine and his replies are indicated:

Why did you choose "The Smiths" and MOZ to cover?
POGZ: As i've said earlier we find it very challenging. from the way they play the instruments to the manner of writing songs. No other reason for us to write songs nor release an album. Just sing the "songs that saved our lives"

What are the musical tastes/influences of the members?

POGZ: Well of course everybody loves new wave & rock & roll. but as we go down the funnel we all got stuck with Morrissey & the Smiths.

What characteristics of MOZ do you admire and what are those that you hate?

POGZ: Very realistic yet very hard to predict.

First ever GIG?
POGZ: The last quarter of 1999 it was the first official gig. We joined Mayric's New Wave Production called Back to the Edge playing some Wild Swans, The Church, The Smiths , Echo & The Bunnymen & Railway Children. Probably for just a few months til we decided to go All MOZ / All Smiths.

Most Memorable Gig?
POGZ: Every gig is quite memorable but Klub Fluid in Ortigas is very very exceptional. it's a production hosted by New Wave 101 egroup called "Dreams Never End". It was a gathering of all tribes, from rockers to punk to goth to music collectors.

Worst GIG?
POGZ: To be honest we havent played a good gig. because we haven't played as a good or well rehearsed band. Unless we do it for a living hehehe.

What was the feeling fronting the GLJ CONCERT?
POGZ: It was really flattering to be picked as an opening act for a foreign band. everything flowed smoothly because we played for the New Wave crowd and we never felt out of place.

Any plans of releasing an album?

POGZ: What for?

Any original compositions to be released?

POGZ: Do we have to?

How do you find the band right now?

POGZ: I am really comfortable with the present line up. no hassles or whatsoever. still, we don't want to perform regularly.

Favorite MORRISSEY song?
POGZ: "I Have Forgiven Jesus".

Favorite THE SMITHS song?
POGZ: "Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want".

The DEAD POP STARS was featured on TRIBUNE MAGAZINE and I've included it also here in my blogpost.
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The Songs That Saved Your Life - part 2

Dead Pop Stars were formed in 1999, in Marikina City, in the Philippines. They are based in Manila. Rudolf 'Pogz' Paz is their 'Morrissey'

Q: Is there something about the Smiths' and Morrissey's music which appeals to young Filipino people in the same way that it appeals to young people in other countries with a Spanish influence?
A: I don't think the Spanish influence has any relevance. The Smiths and Morrissey have always been popular in this country, in the mainstream and in the underground. Maybe yes and maybe no – there is something about the music that speaks to the Filipino people. I guess it depends on the individual, on how he looks on the music. At first you'd think it's all about death, misery and depression. But if you look at it from a different angle, it's not from Morrissey's pen. It's from his eyes. The words he writes are the things he sees in reality.

Q: What do you draw from Morrissey's lyrics?
A: They inspire me to be a stronger individual.

Q: Has Morrissey ever played in the Philippines?
A: In my dreams

Q: Have you ever seen Morrissey live?
A: I wish I could. A glimpse of his shadow would do.

Q: If you ever met Morrissey, what would you say to him?
A: "What took you so long?"

Q: What sort of people come to your gigs?
A: Thirtysomethings. But we've spotted some teens watching us. There's a group called 'The Smiths of Makati' who follow us around.

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The DEAD POP STARS also fronted the GENE LOVES JEZEBEL concert here in MANILA last year NOVEMBER 17, 2008 at the HARD ROCK CAFE which I was able to watch. GREAT CONCERT INDEED!!

DPS on GLJ CONCERT:

POGZ Close Encounter

with MICHAEL ASTON of GENE LOVES JEZEBEL

As far as I can recall The DEAD POP STARS sang a total of 10 songs on that GLJ concert. NICE SET I may say and It was the first time for me to watch them perform LIVE.

DEAD POP STARS celebrates
MOZ 50th B-DAY




Well. according to POGZ it took him more than a week to really recover from the hype of this concert tribute to MOZ for his 50th Birthday. He was personally glad that a lot of people attended the said event and it was very successful. He met also some fans who were really in their kind of music. POGZ told me that someone even flew down from CEBU just to see them perform LIVE that night. Wheeew!! Someone even kissed him at the back. Talking about SUPPORTERS I suppose. I'm just glad that it was indeed very successful since It was the only Philippine Official Celebration for the 5oth Birthday for MORRISSEY.

HERE ARE TWO VIDEOS OF THE SAID CONCERT:
HAIRDRESSER ON FIRE:



THE MORE YOU IGNORE ME, THE CLOSER I GET

(The TWO VIDEOS Courtesy of CEILINGSTARS)

DEAD POP STARS MOZ 50th BDAY SET LIST
(Photo Courtesy of Captainfauxpas)


Btw, talking about MOZ Birthday, I mentioned on my SPECIAL LITEWAVE BLOGPOST before that DEAD POP STARS was one of the band that was invited to play on their LITEWAVE SESSIONS back in 2004. FYI, the band incidentally performed their set on MAY 22, 2004 SATURDAY. YUP!! It was MOZ 45th Birthday. I still remember their set back then. Wheeew!! I have to say that was one GREAT LIVE SET. Unfortunately, the band doesn't have a copy of that session that they can share to us here in my blogpost. My favorite song they played that night would be their version of "SUEDEHEAD". Their version of "HOW SOON IS NOW" rocked the session too and it gave RON SOUTH some goosebumps hearing the INTRO of the song. DId you know that POGZ and the rest of the guys were the first ones to play the song "IRISH BLOOD, ENGLISH HEART" by MORRISSEY on PHILIPPINE RADIO? YUP!! I remember RON SOUTH(LITEWAVE's DJ) introducing the song on radio for the first time and of course the CD was courtesy of POGZ. Few days later, I heard the song being played on NU107, then the other MANILA radio stations followed.

POGZ very own

MORRISSEY/THE SMITHS
COLLECTION

WOW!! THAT"S A GREAT MORRISSEY AND THE SMITHS COLLECTION!! According to POGZ the only missing Vinyl on his collection is the copy of THE SMITHS' "THERE'S A LIGHT THAT NEVER GOES OUT". Personally, I haven't known any PINOY NEW WAVER having an EXTENSIVE MOZ/SMITHS set before until I saw POGZ collection over at his Multiply Site two years ago. Btw, he removed these photos on his site over a year already and good thing I was able to save a copy of it. He He He!! Very timely for my DEAD POP STARS post.

HERE'S A VIDEO OF DEAD POP STARS singing
"WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE" by THE SMITHS.

AND HERE'S MORRISSEY AND THE SMITHS SINGING
"WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE":

So KABAYANS, What difference did you notice? Hmmmp!! So WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE? He He He!! COOL Don't you think?

I uploaded 7 songs from DEAD POP STARS for you guys to DOWNLOAD. So while downloading the music file just listen first to two of their songs namely BACK TO THE OLD HOUSE and HOW SOON IS NOW which I made available here on my little blog. NICE VOCALS by POGZ I may say. YUP!! Sounds like MOZ indeed!! THANKS POGZ for sharing these songs!!

LISTEN HERE:
BACK TO THE OLD HOUSE



LISTEN HERE:
HOW SOON IS NOW?


DEAD POP STARS
TRACKLIST:

1) ASK
2) BACK TO THE OLD HOUSE (RAIN SESSION)
3) HEAVEN KNOWS I'M MISERABLE NOW
4) HOW SOON IS NOW?
5) IRISH BLOOD, ENGLISH HEART
6) SOME GIRLS ARE BIGGER THAN OTHERS(Rehearsal)
7) THIS CHARMING MAN (soundcheck)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD:


PASSWORD: http://docmuzic.blogspot.com/

According to POGZ some songs that I uploaded were from their gig at FREEDOM BAR wayback year 2000. I hope you guys enjoyed this blogpost of mine about DEAD POP STARS. YUP!! It's "The Dr. Stirring Rhod Way" again of giving tribute to another unique PINOY BAND that can be included on the NEW WAVE GENRE. THANKS for dropping by!! I wanna THANK POGZ for trusting my humble blog "The Doctor Is In" to feature his band "DEAD POP STARS".They surely aren't dead!!

They are the DPS!!
The DEAD POP STARS!!
Definitely, Performing Smiths!!

-DR. STIRRING RHOD