The mayhem, the moshpits, and the magic of the late ’80s were what produced and embraced legendary OPM rock band The Dawn. After landmark OPM hits “Enveloped Ideas,” “Salamat,” and “Iisang Bangka Tayo,” after accolades, accomplishments, and national and international tours the past four decades, the experiences of their early years are still incomparable.
Founding members Jett Pangan and JB Leonor always cite the Ultra Storm concert of June 1987 as the most unforgettable performance of their entire career. At that time, they were very new and sharing the stage with two other bands. They didn’t know what to expect from the massive crowd that filled up the ULTRA Arena, now known as the PhilSports Arena.
Pangan remembered the nerves. “We weren’t sure anymore if that’s our core audience, if that’s a mixed audience, if it was people walking down the street and decided to watch the show.”
But interrupting their fears and doubts was the intense energy of the crowd.
“There was this buzz coming from the audience, from up in the dugout where I couldn’t see them. So binabato na ba sila (were people throwing things at the band) while they’re setting up, are they being booed? But the moment I stepped up on the ramp, it just exploded. It was overwhelming. The crowd was ours. And that was the time when I said, okay, we’re good for another year.”
