3 weeks ago
23
MANILA, Philippines — Eraserheads frontman Ely Buendia has set the record straight about their hit song "Spoliarium," dismissing long-standing speculation that it was about the late actress Pepsi Paloma and television personalities Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon.
During a press conference for the OPM rock band's upcoming documentary "Eraserheads: Combo on the Run," which will be screened in cinemas from March 21 to 23, Buendia on Monday addressed the enduring urban legend surrounding the song.
"I mean, they were my heroes. I wouldn't dream of writing a song to tarnish my heroes, so I think that's most ridiculous. I will maintain until today that it's not about them, it's not about Pepsi," Buendia said.
(From left) Warner Brothers Philippines Head of Distribution Rico Gonzales, documentary filmmaker Diane Ventura, Eraserheads frontman Ely Buendia and producer Francis Lumen on Monday’s press conference for ‘Eraserheads: Combo on the Run.’ TMT PHOTO
The song, which takes its name from the famous Juan Luna painting, has long been linked to the 1982 rape case of the late actress. The lyrics mention the names Enteng and Joey — nicknames commonly associated with Sotto and de Leon — leading to speculation about a deeper meaning.
Buendia first debunked these rumors in a 2021 interview on the podcast "Wake Up With Jim and Saab," explaining that the song was simply about "all about "getting piss-drunk" on Goldschläger, a cinnamon schnapps known for its gold flakes.
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"'Spoliarium' is one of those cases where really the myth has sort of taken over the facts, and I kinda like it. I kinda like the myth because the actual meaning of the song is also, again, just really mundane," he said during the podcast interview.
He also clarified that the names Enteng and Joey in the song actually refer to the band's roadies, Vincent Villasanta and Joey Navera, who designed the artwork for the band's 1995 album "Cutterpillow."
Meanwhile, their documentary "Eraserheads: Combo on the Run" directed by Maria Diane Ventura will delve into the iconic band's legacy, offering fans a behind-the-scenes look at their journey and the truth about their disbandment.
When asked about possibly releasing a song or an album together, Buendia jokingly noted, "We're still very active in terms of making music for our own projects. The analogy here is like when you meet up with your ex, is it a good idea to sleep with them again?"
"There's so much baggage there, it might be enjoyable of course while we're doing it. [But] you also have to think about the consequences. I don't mean to be super serious about it but there are a lot of considerations to be considerate when you're actually making music again," he continued.
"It's okay if we do the old songs for the fans because that's what they're there for anyway but it would nice if the timing is right and we all feel we can still do something that we're all proud of," Buendia ended.
