Teeth

During Manila's early-'90s alternative-rock surge, the gritty Filipino outfit Teeth coalesced and burst onto radio with "Laklak," a raw chronicle of youthful excess that quickly became a drinking anthem. The song commanded the top position on the Philippines' forward-thinking alternative station LA-105 for twelve weeks. Teeth officially formed in September 1993, uniting Glenn Jacinto on vocals, Jerome Velasco on guitars, Peding Narvaja on bass, and Mike Dizon on drums; Narvaja, Velasco, and Dizon had previously played together in Riftshifta, while Jacinto came from Loudhouse. Warner Music Philippines issued the band's self-titled debut album in 1995, which earned double-platinum certification. After "Laklak" was re-recorded, the track crossed into mainstream playlists and provoked debate over its alcohol-soaked lyrics, ultimately claiming Song of the Year at the 1995 NU 107 Rock Awards. Even the low-budget clip for the follow-up single "Princesa" received airplay on MTV Asia. In 1996 Jacinto was admitted to the hospital with a lung ailment that sidelined him from promotion and live dates for an entire year; the band tested substitute vocalists during his absence, yet the original chemistry evaporated. Jacinto's recovery in 1997 enabled the group to complete Time Machine, which still reached platinum status despite the fading Manila alternative scene. When Narvaja departed for the United States, Andrew Sergio took his place on bass, and in 1999 Teeth delivered the album I Was a Teenage Tree.