MANILA, Philippines — More than three decades after helping define the sound of Filipino alternative rock, TEETH returned to Manila on September 5 for its much-anticipated Year 33: TEETH The Reunion – Legacy Tour, giving longtime fans and a younger generation of listeners a chance to relive the music that shaped an era.
The reunion concert was held at the SM North EDSA Skydome in Quezon City, marking a major homecoming for the pioneering Pinoy rock band whose songs—including “Laklak” and “Prinsesa”—have remained deeply embedded in Filipino music culture.
The Manila show was part of TEETH’s five-city reunion tour, which opened in Singapore on August 30 before continuing with Philippine dates in Manila, Davao, Iloilo, and Cebu.
A reunion decades in the making
Formed in 1993, TEETH emerged during the explosion of the Philippine alternative-rock scene and eventually became one of its most recognizable acts.
The current reunion lineup features original members Glenn Jacinto on vocals, Jerome Velasco and Dok Sergio on guitars, Pedz Narvaja on bass, and Mike Dizon on drums.
For fans who grew up with Pinoy rock in the 1990s, the reunion offered more than another concert. It became a trip back to a period when local alternative music was finding a powerful voice of its own.
The band has previously reunited, including a 2014 show, but the 2026 tour represents one of its biggest reunion projects yet.
Why ‘Laklak’ remains a cultural phenomenon
Among TEETH’s best-known songs, “Laklak” continues to have a life far beyond its original release.
Mike Dizon has described the song as a particularly fortunate turn for the band because it was not originally intended to be their single. Its unexpected rise helped propel TEETH into the mainstream and opened doors for the members professionally.
Decades later, the song continues to be rediscovered by younger listeners, while longtime fans have kept singing along.
Glenn Jacinto has acknowledged how surprising it is that music the members created as teenagers continues to resonate while they are now in their 50s.
That longevity is arguably the strongest evidence of TEETH’s influence: its songs did not simply survive the 1990s—they crossed generations.
From a landmark album to a sold-out vinyl release
The reunion was also accompanied by renewed interest in TEETH’s self-titled debut album.
Originally released in the 1990s, the album eventually achieved Double Platinum certification from the Philippine Association of the Record Industry (PARI) after selling more than 80,000 copies, according to reports.
For the first time, the album was issued on vinyl in a limited run of 500 copies, with the new edition remastered by mastering engineer Shinji Tanaka and featuring newly commissioned artwork by visual artist Nix Puno.
The demand was immediate.
Reports said the initial vinyl pressing sold out within roughly a day, demonstrating that interest in TEETH extends beyond concert nostalgia and into the growing market for physical music collectibles.
The strong response also prompted work toward a possible second pressing, with the band and Backspacer Records coordinating with Warner Music regarding another limited release.
The band chose legacy over chasing trends
TEETH’s reunion is notable partly because the group is not attempting to reinvent itself simply to fit today’s music landscape.
The members have emphasized the importance of preserving the band’s organic identity and celebrating the songs that built their legacy.
That authenticity has long been part of TEETH’s appeal. Their music combined alternative rock and grunge, with later work also reflecting shoegaze influences.
And after more than 30 years, that sound still has an audience.
For the band members, the reunion is ultimately about friendship, music and the opportunity to perform together while they are still able to do so.
More than nostalgia
The significance of TEETH’s return goes beyond a single concert.
The band’s resurgence comes at a time when classic OPM is finding new audiences through streaming platforms, social media, vinyl collecting and reunion shows. Songs that once belonged primarily to one generation are increasingly being discovered by listeners who were not even born when they were first released.
TEETH’s story is a particularly strong example of that phenomenon.
From underground gigs in the 1990s to mainstream success, hiatuses, individual careers and now a major reunion tour, the band has remained connected by the music that brought its members together in the first place.
The Manila concert may have been another chapter in that story—but the reaction to the band’s music suggests that the story is far from over.
Thirty-three years later, TEETH has shown that some Pinoy rock anthems don’t simply belong to the past. They keep finding new voices to sing them.
WWC ONE MEDIA J.M.S
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