WPG, or Walang Payat Gang, was borne of a common interest in instrumental rock. The band consists of 3 members: Mark Flores on guitar, Marco Cuneta on bass, and Eric Hotchkiss on drums. They were all members of a music-oriented organization in school. No one would have thought that a basic jam session would give birth to a three-piece performing group aimed at introducing a different brand of music to the Filipino audience.
The band started with covers of pieces by guitar favorite Eric Johnson, and progressive legends, Dream Theater. After a few days of being together, they came up with their very first original composition. Discovering an unusual musical bond, they decided to give themselves a chance to develop and grow as a band. Individually their musical influences aren’t that different from each other. Mark grew up listening to songs by Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, Mr. Big, Poison and other guitar oriented bands of the glam rock era. Eric is influenced by Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, Skid Row, Mr. Big and last but not the least, heavy metal greats, Metallica. Marco is influenced by heavy metal icons Metallica and Pantera, instrumentalists Joe Satriani and Steve Vai. Nowadays, they all pretty much listen to the same type of music. Namely pieces by Dream Theater, Vital Tech Tones, Frank Gambale, Liquid Tension Experiment, Dixie Dregs, Pat Metheny and other fusion, rock and jazz artists, which they all try to incorporate into their own music.
WPG tries their best to express musicality beyond the lyrical level. Even if it means having a smaller audience and getting a narrower market, the passion and the love for the music is there. To them, a melodic guitar lick, a groovy bass line or a catchy drum beat is just as good as a string of words in expressing emotions thru music.
Of course! Well not as of the moment.
Eric Johnson, Joe Satriani, Dream Theater, Vital Tech Tones, Frank Gambale, Steve Vai, Liquid Tension Experiment, Dixie Dregs, Pat Metheny, Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, Mr. Big, Extreme, Poison, Metallica, Pantera
