The rock culture is not immune to change. Fads come and go. Ditto bands and their gimmicks and antics.

Here's a quick look at the culture prevalent in the band scene.

Two-timers

While it's distasteful to see someone playing for another band other than his own, switching or transferring to another band has become common nowadays. Whether it’s their way to stretch their If you’re having a headache mixing up the members of Sandwich, Pedicab, Imago, and Cambio, that should make you think being a one-band man is the better way to go.

Together Forever

It is now a rarity to see a band whose members have stayed together through the years. "It’s never a rule to stay together but it seems it has become the work formula for us, that is keeping the band tight," says Lee Nadela of Slapshock which has been around for a decade without losing any of its players. As seen through their album covers, Parokya Ni Edgar has stood the test of time; all six from the "Buloy" breakout still on board.

Old vs New

There is a gap among musicians belonging to the old and the new. Insecurityb often affects older artists especially if a new act is recognized. When you see a member of a has-been act attacking the kind of ‘undeserving adulation’ a new group on the block is getting, you know where he is coming from. But there are really those in the ‘new wave’ who think too highly of themselves even if creating good music is not part of their skills.

Fouled-out frontmen

Back in the 80s, you won’t imagine The Dawn doing it without Jett Pangan or Neocolours minus Ito Rapadas. Now it seems that sidemen can outlive frontmen, and in worse case can even make the latter look as if they did nothing to carve the image being banked on by the mainstays. The Eraserheads for some time continued without Ely Buendia, replacing him with a female voice, as fans somewhat did not keep up with the move. Four singers have already graduated off Southborder while Rivermaya still produces new songs and videos with their original frontmen no longer around.

Name game

Drummer Mark Escueta once said, "Rivermaya is about those who stay, not those who leave." Curiously he is the lone member of the line-up that recorded Rivermaya’s self-titled debut album in the 90s. The group continues to exist by the same name, and with the same manager, though some would argue the band has nothing to prove anymore and that it could have been better if they inked the period to its legacy upon the departure of chief-singer songwriter Rico Blanco.

Quite the reverse is applied by Kenyo, a band formed by three ex-Orange and Lemons personnel. Even if it was business-wise practical to retain their already-familiar name, the band decided to formally retire the rising quartet’s career and rebuild a new name.

Odd members

There are bands who have "odd" members who have become famous too simply because they act and look strange. Chito Miranda has a famed back-up singer who plays no instrument all these years, while Pedicab included in its line-up a videographer when they released their first album.

Indie vs Mainstream

A demarcation line is drawn between acts that go indie and those covered by the business decisions of big record labels. Indie acts accusing the mainstream guys of selling out as artists is no ordinary; they seem to have a reason to express their tirade since a number of them have been swimming underground for so long now without getting much recognition while these out-of-nowhere bands become famous courtesy of labels guiding them to instant fame.

Comeback trail

While you think it’s safest for a big band which retired to keep its legacy undisturbed, few of them won’t care to play with destiny for as long as they can cure that itch doing it again. Afterimage just returned with a full-length album, with one of its original members proudly stating, "One of the dinosaurs of Philippine rock is back!"