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| basti artadi with dong abay, jett pangan and wency cornejo |
BASTI ARTADI of Wolfgang Band is looking good at the presscon of “90s Frontment Accousticized”. You won’t suspect he underwent a delicate facial operation because of a tumor found in his head.
“I was first diagnosed with the tumor ten years ago, in 2009,” he says. “The tumor is right on the nerves that control the right side of my face, causing paralysis. As a result, I had to learn how to sing with a paralyzed mouth and deal with the fatigue that comes with it.
"I thank God everyday because I’m fortunate that the thing left me with the ability to still sing. What would really suck is if it left me immobilized 100 percent.”
He was operated on but the tumor was never removed as the procedure might just damaged his facial nerves. The doctor just reconstructed the muscles on his face using muscles taken from his thigh. Now, his face is somewhat stitled, “medyo tabingi, but I can live with it”.
He wants reassure everyone that he is okay. “We just move on and I’m really glad I can sing again,” he adds.
Since then, Basti has tried doing theater in 9 Works Theatrical’s adaptation of the rock opera, “American Idiot” and he also tried acting in films like “Breakup Playlist” with Sarah Geronimo in 2015, “Historiographia Errata” for Cinema One in 2017 and “Tres” in 2018.
Now, he’s excited to sing with Jett Pangan, Wency Cornejo and Dong Abay in “90s Frontmen Accousticized” at the Music Museum this Friday, January 31, and Saturday, February 1, 8 PM.
“We’re doing our songs acoustic style so I’m really excited,” he says. “These guys are the best in what they do and it’s an honor to be performing with them on the same stage, specially Dong Abay with whom I’m doing acoustics for the first time.”
How come they didn’t invite a female singer to join them? “Cookie Chua was invited but she’s currently vacationing in Japan,” he says. “Jett and I did a show with her before, also in Music Museum, and I had a duet with Cookie, but I hit a wrong note and you know what she did?
"She hit my head with her microphone. But she’s a big help when you do concerts as she has a wide network. You need something, whether a musical or lighting director, just ask her. She’s all around. It must be all the alcohol in her system. Ha ha ha!”
‘90s Frontmen Acousticized’ is produced by Advantage International Marketing, tickets at P3,500 [orchestra center], P2,000 [orchestra side], and P1,000 [balcony] at Music Museum or Ticketworld at 8891-9999; or A.I.M. office at 726-5466, 873-66740, 0927-2682656 and 0917-7771213.
