Pupil lead singer Ely Buendia suffered a heart attack while performing with his group in a concert last Saturday, January 6, in Laguna. This was reported by Pia Guanio in last night's "Chika Minute" segment of GMA-7's primetime newscast, 24 Oras.
According to the report, Ely was in the middle of a song when he felt a sudden pain in his chest and left arm. He was rushed to the Asian Hospital and Medical Center where he is, at press time, still in the intensive care unit.
In a later interview aired over GMA's late-night newscast, Saksi, Ely's wife, Dianne Buendia, said the Pupil vocalist had already complained about finding it a little hard to breathe while they were on the way to the gig. But he dismissed it as mere heartburn.
After a few songs, however, Ely had to stop because of chest pains. His wife said doctors were still trying to find out what could have caused the heart attack as Ely has no vices.
Ely, who turned 36 last November 2, became popular as composer and lead singer of the Eraserheads back in the 1990s.
The other members of the group were Raymund Marasigan on drums, Marcus Adoro on lead guitar, and Buddy Zabala on bass.
The E-heads, as they were also known, had several hits, among them "Pare Ko" and "Ang Huling El Bimbo." Last year, their hit songs were re-recorded by some of today's most popular bands in the tribute album UltraeElectroMagnetic Jam.
Shortly before the Eraserheads disbanded, Ely recorded a solo album, Wanted: Bedspacer, which got lukewarm reception from the public.
Then he formed the short-lived band, The Mongols, before forming Pupil, which broke into the music scene with the hit song "Nasaan Ka?"
With additional report from GMANews.TV