Juan de la Cruz Band
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1970 |
| Founder | Mike Hanopol, Wally Gonzalez |
| Headquarters | Philippines |
| Products | Music albums |
The Juan de la Cruz Band emerged as a pioneering Filipino rock group in 1970, instrumental in shaping the Pinoy rock genre.
Established in the early months of 1970, the band’s inception is attributed to founders Mike Hanopol and Wally Gonzalez, who acknowledged drummer Edmond Fortuno ("Bosyo") for coining their name, which translates from Tagalog as “John Doe.” By December of that year, they were the main act at the Philippines’ inaugural open field rock festival. Their initial album, released in 1972 as a five-member ensemble, gained traction following its presentation within a rock opera alongside the Manila Symphony Orchestra—marking the nation’s first such collaboration. Transitioning into a power trio format in 1973, Juan de la Cruz quickly established itself as the leading Filipino rock outfit.
Up in Arms
The band’s original roster in 1970 featured Mike Hanopol handling bass and lead vocals, Edmond Fortuno on drums and backing vocals, Bó Razon as lead guitarist, Bing Labrador playing electric piano and organ, and Alex Cruz on saxophones and flute. In 1971, Wally Gonzalez took over lead guitar duties from Razon. When Hanopol departed to join Joey Pepe Smith’s Japanese band, Speed, Glue & Shinki, Sandy Tagarro stepped in as bassist.
Their December 1970 performance at the Antipolo Rock Festival is often likened to the Philippine equivalent of Woodstock. By September 1971, they performed alongside the Manila Symphony Orchestra during the Philippine staging of Jesus Christ Superstar at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Following this production, Sandy Tagarro left his bass position due to his role as Judas; Clifford Ho succeeded him.
Post-Jesus Christ Superstar, Fortuno, Labrador, and Cruz collaborated with other musicians to form Anak Bayan for another major rock opera endeavor—Tommy—also held at the Cultural Center.
Tagarro returned to the group taking over drums and lead vocals from Fortuno. Clifford Ho continued on bass; Rene Sogueco replaced Labrador on keyboards; Romy Santos, affiliated with the Manila Symphony Orchestra, succeeded Cruz on saxophone and woodwinds.
This restructured lineup produced their debut album Up in Arms, which was issued by Vicor Music Corporation’s Sunshine Records in July 1972. However, Tagarro exited abruptly after recording sessions concluded; Bobot Guerrero was brought in on drums for subsequent promotions and live shows. Tagarro received credit solely as composer for one song ("Lady in White Satin").
Commercially, Up in Arms did not achieve success and has not been reissued by Vicor. Nonetheless, an unauthorized remastered CD featuring additional tracks exists online. The album notably showcases Wally Gonzalez’s innovative guitar techniques. Shortly thereafter, bassist Clifford Ho (temporarily replaced by Tony Rodriguez) and keyboardist Rene Sogueco also left the band (with Larry Martinez briefly filling keyboard duties).
During this period of change, Mike Hanopol and Joey “Pepe” Smith returned from Japan in September 1972. By early 1973, Hanopol rejoined handling bass, piano, and lead vocals while Smith assumed drums, guitar, and lead vocal responsibilities.
Smith also made a guest appearance in an unfinished rock musical adaptation of Love Story at the Cultural Center’s Little Theater, with Juan de la Cruz providing the musical accompaniment.
Around this time frame, members from both Juan de la Cruz Band and Anak Bayan frequently collaborated as a "supergroup" for live performances. Renowned drummer Nides Aranzamendez occasionally joined these sessions and contributed to their iconic live album "Super Session."
Himig Natin
As the identity of Juan de la Cruz evolved, Wally Gonzalez established a fresh trio alongside Joey Smith—who later gained fame as "Pepe Smith"—serving as vocalist, drummer, and songwriter, together with singer-bassist-songwriter Mike Hanopol. Prior to this, Smith and Hanopol had teamed up in Tokyo with Japanese guitarist Shinki Chen within the psychedelic blues group Speed, Glue & Shinki, producing two albums under the Japanese branch of Atlantic Records. According to rock historian Julian Cope in Japrocksampler, Chen brought Smith and Hanopol into his project from the Filipino band Zero History, which also featured Gonzalez. This lineage contributed to the heavy and experimental sound evident in songs such as "Take You Home" and "Blues Train."
Their album, headlined by the track "Himig Natin" (meaning Our Hymn), emerged as a defining anthem for Manila’s post-hippie scene and underground radio circuits, notably on DZRJ-AM's Pinoy Rock 'n' Rhythm program. Widely celebrated as the pioneering Pinoy rock composition, Himig Natin ignited a cultural wave that established the foundation for Original Pilipino Music (OPM) and highlighted the commercial viability of indigenous music genres in the Philippines.
Deaths
Joey "Pepe" Smith, a longtime drummer, guitarist, and vocalist, passed away on January 28, 2019, at 71 years old. Founding lead guitarist Wally Gonzalez died on July 23, 2021, also at age 71.
Former
- Sandy Tagarro
- Edmund Fortuno
- Bing Labrador
- Alex Cruz
- Clifford Ho
- Bobot Guerrero
- Larry Martinez
- Tony Rodriguez
- Pepe Smith (1947–2019)
- Wally Gonzalez (1949–2021)
- Mike Hanopol
Studio albums
- 1972: Up in Arms (Philippines LP - Vicor/Sunshine Records / German CD - Normal Records/Shadoks Music, 2001)
- Note: The band's management has stated that the German CD reissue is unauthorized and contains unverified live bonus tracks potentially sourced from another unauthorized release.
- 1973: Himig Natin (LP, Vicor/Sunshine Records / CD, Vicor/Sunshine, released 2004; officially reissued on LP by Vicor in 2021)
- 1974: Maskara (LP, Vicor/Sunshine Records / CD, Vicor/Sunshine, released 2004)
- 1981: Kahit Anong Mangyari (LP, Blackgold Records)
Live / compilation albums
- 1975: Super Session (LP, Vicor/Sunshine Records)
- 1977: The Super Hits of the Juan Dela Cruz Band / Live and in Concert (LP, Vicor/Sunshine Records)
- Note: This release was declared spurious by management; it consists of studio recordings augmented with audience applause.
Compilations
- 1980: The Best of Juan Dela Cruz Band (LP, Vicor/Sunshine Records)
- 1983: The Best of Pinoy Rock (LP, Blackgold Records)
- 1985: The Best of Pinoy Rock Vol. 1 & 2 (Collectors' Edition LP, Blackgold Records)
- 1994: Himig Natin (Special Collector's Edition) (Vicor Music Corporation / Blackgold Records)
- Note: This compilation features selections drawn from multiple earlier albums.
- Pinoy Rock (circa 2008) (Vicor)
- 2014: Tatak: Greatest Hits (Poly East Records)
Awards
The group was honored with the ASAP Pinoy Band's Special Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017, recognizing their profound influence on Filipino music as a pioneering force in the history of Pinoy rock within OPM.