The most interesting thing about this whole "Eraserheads Reunion" business probably isn't the concert itself - why that would be just too anti-climactic. When all the smoke and dust clears away, I would haved to say that my favorite part would be all the wild rumors surrounding the event. That - and all the fake "clues" dotting the blogosphere.

Let's take a look at some of the zanier conspiracy theories that popped up on the Net the past few weeks.

Let's start with the fake clues. Since many Eraserheads fans are also Beatles fans, then you might know about the "Paul Is Dead" conspiracy from the 60's that supposedly indicated that Paul McCartney was actually dead and that evil forces were behind a devious cover-up. I'm not making this up - there's an entire Wikipedia entry about it.

The "Eraserheads Reunion Conspiracy Theory" (as a blogger named Sha had put it in her own take on the matter) was based on such tell-tale clues. Such as the following:

CLUE or Sign number 3: In the NU 107.5’s daily countdown, all of the songs of wherein the respective bands of Eheads members are included in the countdown.

It might be a coincidence but today, Markus Highway’s “American Gurl” was number 1 while Sandwich’s “Betamax” and Pupil’s “Disconnection Notice” are also part of the top 7. Hmmm.

CLUE or Sign number 4: The University Student Council in UP Diliman wants to have an Eraserheads reunion gig in UP for the centennial.
I was able to speak with the current USC president and was asking me if it would possible for a reunion gig. He would even let the UP President talk to them to make it possible, and she’s also willing to speak with them about it. I doubt it will happen but anyhow, they’ll still give it a shot. Well, they’re from UP after all even though they did not graduate their respective degrees.

I found a more thorough set of "clues" posted in the Zaiblog:

1. Buddy, Marcus, and Raims showed up on Jessica Soho TV program. They reminisced some of their UP days and rode the ikot Jeepney.

2. Ely had a gig in Australia without his current band (Pupil), and as projected, he performed 100% Eraserheads songs. Though before his AU gig, he had a solo performance (backed by Oven Toaster band) at Mag:net and he sang “Poorman’s Grave.”

3. Ely made a new version of “Ang Huling El Bimbo” for the Kumpas CD.

4. The alleged date for the event is: VIIIXXXMMVIII, just a few ticks before the “ber months”

5. Lots of producers and organizations have expressed their interests towards the reunion.

6. Pupil and Rivermaya jammed together and they performed some eheads songs.

7. Eraser X - a one-night performance from Jet Pangan, Buddy, Raims, Jugs, Robin Rivera and Kris.

8. Tikman Ang Langit book launch - Cambio + Markus Highway

And it goes on and on. There are more conspiracy theories here.

The matter of the sponsor of the concert has also been under scrutiny. The blog known as The Age of Brillig has pointed out that having Philip Morris sponsor the concert would technically be illegal under the newly passed R.A. 9211:

It may well be that Philip Morris, which owns the Marlboro brand, is sponsoring the Eraserheads reunion concert. GMA News has alluded to the report that Marlboro will sponsor the event. That poses a problem. Section 26 of the Tobacco Regulation Act (R.A. 9211) says that "beginning 1 July 2008, cigarette and tobacco companies are hereby prohibited from sponsoring any sport, concert, cultural or art event, as well as...artists or performers where such sponsorship shall require or involve the advertisement or promotion of any cigarette or tobacco company" or their logos or trademarks. However, the law also says that "the attribution only to the name of the company in the roster of sponsors shall be allowed." I myself could divine the possible loopholes that would allow Marlboro's participation in the concert. It has also been pointed out that thanks to the secrecy and the scoops, Marlboro has already scored lots of free publicity with this Eraserheads deal.

Nonetheless, the Marlboro Man keeps popping up. This is a quote from an email posted at Circus, the Eraserheads mailing list:

hmm from what i heard eh Marlboro ang magssponsor ng event at online daw ang pagregister nito. I have a batchmate in st scho who is working also in marlboro, i asked her if she knows abt an event on aug 30, she said: i know about the red nation on Aug 30 pero we're not yet allowed to talk. will message you once we can.

Heck, I'd rather have Chippy or Pepsi sponsor this show myself than a bona fide merchant of death, but perhaps beggars can't be choosers.

What did the Heads think of all this? I got a text today at work from a jazz guitarist who hung out with Raimund Marasigan at Shinji Tanaka's Sound Creation Studios. The text read as follows:

"Jim, I was with Raimund yesterday at Shinji's and he was pleasantly amused by the eheads reunion rumors. This will be fun to observe!"

As for whether or not the concert is really happening - I first got wind of it from a former Eraserheads manager who asked if I would be showing up (whose name shall be mercifully kept secret, lest she be accused of breaking confidentiality agreements). At first, I didn't believe it, but she laughed and just confirmed the whole thing, but swore me to secrecy. It's pretty hard for me to keep a secret like that so I was relieved when Ricky Lo decided to spill the beans - and blow the lid off the story.

Am I showing up? Alas, Chette's brother Popoy is getting married on August 30 so I will have to pass this up, if I want to keep my relationship intact.

In the meantime, for a final dose of the truth, here is GMA 7's Saksi report on the whole darn reunion business.