Parokya ni Edgar is a Filipino band that was formed in 1993 by a group of Ateneo de Manila High School students. The band is famous and most lauded for its original rock novelty songs and often satirical covers of famous songs. The band has since transcended musical genres, varying styles from one song to another alternative rock to pop rock, funk to rapcore, and so on - while providing comic relief to their listeners.

Band members:

1. Alfonso "Chito" Miranda, Jr. (lead vocals)
2. Buhawi "Buwi" Meneses (bass)
3. Darius Gerard "Dariuken" Semaña (lead guitars)
4. Gabrielle Ignatius "Gab" Chee-Kee (guitars / vocals)
5. Ferdinand "Din Din" Moreno (drums)
6. Francis Vincent "Vinci" Montaner (backup vocals / dialogue / comical acting / dancing)

History

Before Parokya ni Edgar

Naming themselves Comic Relief, the band originally consisted of three vocalists - Alfonso "Chito" Miranda, Jr. , Gabrielle Ignatius "Gab" Chee-Kee, Francis Vincent "Vinci" Montaner, and two guitarists, Miko and Jerick. The honed their musical skills through after-school jamming, before performing an opening number for an Eraserheads concert. This break prompted the band to add a drummer and a bassist - enter Dindin Moreno and Buhawi Meneses. This same performance also marked the change of the band's name to Parokya ni Edgar. After high school, Miko and Jerick, the two guitarists, left the band to pursue other interests. As a replacement, the remaining band members invited to their fold guitarist Darius Semaña. (lead vocals)

Parokya ni Edgar

The band's name has been said to have been derived from an old classroom joke involving the main character in the Jose Rizal novel Noli Me Tangere, one of their school subjects.

The band soon started playing at the legendary local band hub, Club Dredd. Coming out during the height of the Pinoy rock explosion, with the Filipino rock community giving in to the influence of foreign bands, especially grunge acts such as Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden, Parokya ni Edgar played like no other. Their jokes, silly antics, and outrageous performances paved the way to the popularity that they currently enjoy.

Eventually, the late Bella Dy Tan, managing director of Universal Records signed them up as contract artists after viewing a gig at Club Dredd. Soon their initial recordings such as Buloy, Trip and Lutong Bahay were heard across the nation. Their first album, Khangkhungkherrnitz became a triple platinum hit in the Philippines.

Musical legacy

Since their inception, Parokya ni Edgar's have enjoyed unmatched staying power in the recording scene of the Philippines. Chito Miranda has served as the band's frontman, filtering the band's output to the taste of its audience. Close associates and friends of the band point out that the band's easy-going, self-effacing persona is calculated and, to a certain extent, planned.

Discography

Studio Albums:

• Khangkhungkherrnitz (1996)
• Buruguduystunstugudunstuy (1998)
• Gulong Itlog Gulong (2000)
• Edgar, Edgar, Musikahan (2002)
• Bigotilyo (2003)
• Halina Sa Parokya (2005)
• Solid (2007)
  

Compilation Album:

• Jingle Balls, Silent Night, Holy Cow (1999)
• PG-13: Matira Matibay (Singles 1994-2007) (2007)

Live Albums:

• Inuman Sessions (2004)
  

Collaboration Albums of Parokya Ni Edgar:

• Akustic Natin (Universal Records, 2004)
• Akustic Natin Vol. 2 (Universal Records, 2004)
• The Best Of OPM Acoustic Hits (Universal Records, 2005)
• The Best Of OPM Love Ballads (Universal Records, 2005)
• Pinoy Ako! (Star Records, 2005)
• OPM Superstars Christmas (Universal Records, 2005)
• Superbands (Universal Records, 2005)
• Kami nAPO muna (Universal Records, 2006)
• OPM Gold Christmas Album (Universal Records, 2006)
• The Biggest OPM Hits Of The Year SUPER (Universal Records, 2006)
• Bandang Pinoy, Lasang Hotdog (Sony BMG Music Philippines, 2006)
• Kami nAPO muna ulit (Universal Records, 2007)
• Pinoy Biggie Hits Rewind (Star Records, 2007)
• Level Up: The Album (Star Records, 2007)
• OPM Platinum Christmas (Universal Records, 2007)
• Another Biggest OPM Hits Of The Year SUPER 2 (Universal Records, 2007)
• Pinoy Biggie Hits Vol. 3 (Star Records, 2007)

• Nominated, 1996 AWIT Awards Album of the Year [Khangkhungkernitz]
• Nominated, 1996 AWIT Awards Best New Group
• Nominated, 1996 AWIT Awards Best Rock Performance
• Winner, 1999 MTV South East Asia Viewers' Choice Award
• Winner, 1st MTV Philippine Video Music Awards 2000, "Video Of The Year"
• Winner, 1st MTV Philippine Video Music Awards 2000, "Favorite Group
• Winner, 1996 NU ROCK AWARDS "Best New Artist"
• Winner, 1996 NU ROCK AWARDS "Best Live Act"
• NU 107 Best Drummer
• NU 107 Best Bassist
• NU 107 Best Vocalist
• AWIT Awards Best Novelty Recording for Don't Touch My Birdie
• AWIT Awards Best TV Theme Song [!Okatokat]
• Winner, Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Foundation Best Group
• NU 107 Band of the Year
• NU 107 Bassist of the Year
• Winner, MTV Ayos! Award for Best Dance Sequence Parokya ni Edgar First Day Funk
• Winner, 2004 MTV Asia Awards' Favorite Artist Philippines