"Sexy" is such loose term--it can apply to a variety of relatively pleasing physical (and non-physical) attributes. What is sexy for one may not be considered sexy by another--it's all about taste, baby! In the annals of rock and roll history, the frontman, as he is aptly named, is more often than not the recipient of the most attention and adulation. Philippine rock is no exception. For the purposes of this list, "sexiness" is based on the following criteria: exceptional physical attributes, raw talent and musical genius, and last but not the least that "X-factor" that is so difficult to pin down with any one definition. Here are 10 of the sexiest Pinoy rock frontmen, in no particular order:
1. ELY BUENDIA (Pupil)
Front act: The frontman of seminal pop rock group The Eraserheads--now defunct with the exception of their unforgettable reunion concert in 2008--now handles vocals and songwriting duties for popular rock act Pupil.
G-Clef: In Buendia's case, simplicity is the mother of genius. His preference for simple chords, simple yet spot-on lyrics (i.e. "Nasaan Ka" from Beautiful Machine and "Disconnection Notice" from Wild Life), not to mention his memorable guitar licks from his Eraserheads days, and an innate brilliance for combining all these into a heady and largely compelling mix, is paramount to his musical aptitude.
G-Spot: Despite suffering recent health scares, Buendia is as sexy as ever. It is difficult to understand how this is even possible, but the man has managed to pull it off, losing none of his brooding Pinoy good looks, that sexy, aloof aura, and the enigmatic personality that anyone--male or female--would give their two front teeth to gain firsthand experience on. In fact, he even looks better than he did in the '90s. A round of applause for aging like fine, fine, fine wine is in order.
2. BASTI ARTADI (Wolfgang)
Front act: In the '90s, Wolfgang was synonymous with the heavier side of rock. Today, the band is still at it despite a slight change in the lineup, with a younger but by no means less talented drummer. Artadi leads the pack, and his voice has held up, ringing loud and true, even for younger generations.
G-Clef: Blessed with an impressive vocal range, Artadi is a virtual powerhouse onstage. His rapport with the audience stems from simple interaction; serious yet playful, he knows when to stop speaking and get on with the show--a technique that a few younger Pinoy rock vocalists could stand to learn. Artadi can rock it live, and with all the over-produced local music circulating, this is fast becoming a rare virtue. He is also quite the songwriter. An example of this performance meets songwriting skill is "Semenelin" from the album of the same name.
G-Spot: When Metallica came to the Philippines in 1993, the first thing I thought was: "My God! They look like Vikings!" This pretty much encapsulates Artadi's appeal. He looks larger than life onstage (and even off). Trading in his long, grunge locks for a more sedate--almost corporate--hairstyle, his simple all black get-up, complete with a black leather wristband is a startling (and pleasing) contrast to his obviously Spanish genes. He's got green (that sometimes look blue) eyes for crying out loud.
