(reprinted from old band website, 2004)
IRVIN “Bad Boy” BABAUTA
Lead Vocalist
Influences: Sublime / 311
Former Bands: Taga and the Haoles, Rednecks (Idaho)
Stage Name: Taga
Taga can best be described as an entertaining front man who combines styles ranging from local, reggae, ska, and rock. Taga knows how to really entertain a crowd and knows what it takes to make them respond. Whether it be Locals, or even foreigners, Taga has been known to captivate the audience and even influence them to do his bidding. He is also responsible for giving Split Attitude a number of tracks of original music on the Island Habitz album. With his idea of original lyrics and composing words, Taga is able to enchant his audience with new, fresh original sounds for the people.
JOHN “Tricky ”TORRES JR.
Lead Guitarist
Influences: Randy Rhoads, Vito Bratta, Akira Takasaki, Vinnie Moore, and Michael Schenker.
Former Bands: Nightwind (Hon., HI), B.U.B. (Hon., HI), Homegrown (Saipan, MP), Lost Tribe (Saipan, MP), Zig Zag (Saipan, MP), Synergy (Salem, Oregon), Rock it Science (Salem, Oregon), The Reefs (Saipan, MP)
Stage name : Zuner
Zuner, the group’s organizer and acting manager has brought some success for Split Attitude. He has managed to get a good number of gigs on Saipan. Through his persistence and demand for cooperation amongst the group, he managed to pull off a double gig at the Hotel Nikko in Saipan and on the same night at the Dynasty in Tinian on a New Year’s Eve without causing any delays or mix-ups. Even with numerous ferry trips between Saipan and Tinian, setting up and breaking down of equipment at the Hotel Nikko in Saipan, and catching a last minute bus to the ferry dock, Zuner and the band’s efforts pulled through successfully. Zuner is also the main backup vocalist for the band and has a knack for creating harmonious lines which compliments Taga’s vocals.
GLENN “ Maniac” SABLAN
Man on Bass
Influences: Metallica, Def Leppard, Skid Row, Poison, G&R, Motley Crue
Former Bands: The George Delos Reyes / Glenn Sablan Project
After years of searching for the right Bassman, Glenn was finally hired to fill the spot. He proved to be talented, dedicated, loyal, and overall had the right attitude which blends perfectly with the Split Attitude team. Surprisingly, when Glenn first joined the band, he broke out with some of his own catchy originals that lives up to the Split Attitude signature sound (4 of which are on the album “Island Habitz). You better watch this guy in the near future, because he definitely has all the right stuff to make Split Attitude put Saipan on the map. Believe it or not, Split Attitude happens to be the first real band he has hooked up with. Definitely the right person for the job. Need we say more?
FELIX “Sas” SASAMOTO
Lead Guitarist
Influences: Yngwie Malmsteen, Paul Gilbert, John Pettruci
Former Bands: Time Signature, Sam Joyner, Fel Sasamoto Project, Lost Tribe, Kevin Duenas, Roman Tudela Jr, GuessWhat (all from Saipan, MP)
A legend in his own right, Mr. Fel Sasamoto is probably Saipan's (if not the CNMI'S) most well known Guitarist. In September of 2002, Fel replaced a former member on the guitar. Known for his technical abilities to play monstrous licks which can be very difficult for other guitar players to compete with, Fel will still remain humble and will instead try and help other guitar players try to accomplish their musical goals. Fel also has a similar taste of music as well as an awesome attitude which blends in smoothly with the Split Attitude style. The other members of Split Attitude find it an honor to be playing with the best of the best.
REX "ANIMAL" BORJA, aka "Rex'N'Efekt"
Drummer
Influences:
Former bands:
Bio:
Drum Tech: Trish the dish
Venues where Split Attitude has performed
• American Red Cross Club 2002
• Arizona Night Club
• Castaways
• Hard Rock Café (Saipan)
• Hotel Nikko Saipan
• Millennium Night Club
• Ping Sports Bar
• RC House of Music Grand Opening
• Remington’s Night Club
• Round II
• Tanapag Fiesta
• The Field
• The Jungle – (Soft opening and Grand Opening)
• Tinian Dynasty(New Years 2002 and Korean Bash)
SONG LIST
REGGAE
• Stir it up (Bob Marley)
• Naughty Girl (Fiji)
• Joker (Steve Miller band)
• Angel (Shaggy)
• Don’t make me cry (UB-40)
• Drop (Eddie Grant)
• Red, Red Wine (UB-40)
• Night Nurse (Gregory Isaac)
• Promise Don’t stay (Split Attitude)
• Wonderful Tonight (Eric Clapton)
• Bring Me A Cup (UB-40)
SKA
• Santeria (Sublime)
• Pawn Shop (Sublime)
• Bad fish (Sublime)
• Don’t push (Sublime)
• All mixed up (311)
• Purpose (311)
• Talk to me (Split Attitude)
• Amber (311)
POP 80s’
• Message in a bottle (Police)
• Mr. Jones (Counting Crows)
• Overkill (Men at Work)
• It’s a mistake (Men at Work)
• Pride (U-2)
• New years Day (U-2)
• Jet Airliner (Steve Miller band)
• Keep on Rockin’ Me (Steve Miller band)
• Give it Away (Red hot chili pepper)
SLOW ROCK
• Light my fire (Split Attitude)
• Last kiss (pearl jam)
• Fire (pointer sister)
• Where are you now (Nazareth)
• Runaway train (Soul Asylum)
• Knocking on heavens door (Guns & Roses)
• Hysteria (Def Leppard)
• Feel like making love (Bad Company)
• Only God knows why (Kid Rock)
• No rain (Blind Mellon)
• With or with out you (U-2)
• Brick on the wall (Pink Floyd)
NEW WAVE
• Just like heaven (Cure)
• In The Middle (Jimmy Eats World)
GRUNGE
• Creep (Radio head)
• My Friends Over You (New Found Glory)
POP 90s’
• 5th Avenue heartache (Wall Flowers)
• One head light (Wall Flowers)
• Some day (Sugar ray)
• All star (Smash mouth)
• Kryptonite (3 doors down)
• Loser (3 door down)
HEAVY/ROCK/RAP
• My way (Limp Bizkit)
• Mission impossible (Limp Bizkit)
• Sweet Child of Mine (GNR)
• Oye como vah (Santana)
In April of 2000, after realizing that his former band was not getting anywhere (all practice but no play), Saipan Guitarist, John Torres (Zuner) placed up want ads for a rock vocalist. Mr. Irvin Babauta (Taga) who was singing by himself at Bud's Bar responded to the ad and in May of 2000, the Split Attitude Band was formed.
This 2 man team started by playing a variety of Classic and Alternative Rock as well as Reggae, Ska, and a few top 40 selections. Their first wave of gigs was at Don's Sports Bar in Garapan providing the patrons with excellent entertainment and song selections. From there, their popularity grew which provided them with invitations to play at Remingtons, Round II, and on special occasions, at former Lens II in Garapan. In April of 2001,(after a year of playing as a two piece), Taga and Zuner decided that it was time to turn off their drum and bass machine (Boss' DR-5) and recruit the best musicians whom they could find on the island to fill this void and to make the music even more live and more exciting. On April 18th, 2001, Taga and Zuner hooked up with Drummer, Mark Nauta (formerly of Oloomway Band), and GIT graduate, Homin Kim. However, they were not able to find the right Bass Player at first, so Zuner and Homin decided that they would alternate guitar and bass playing until the right Bassman was found. This new 4 piece broadened the scope of Split Attitude’s style by adding more selections including more Roots, Rock, and Reggae hits as well as their own originals.
This new version of Split Attitude had their first gig at Tinian's San Jose Fiesta on May 4th, 2001 (after only 2 weeks of hard practice). This 4 piece really got the attention of their first audience. People were asking for the band to play again and they said that they would wait until it was so. The band was literally the talk of the town both in Tinian and in Saipan. When the band returned to Saipan, they were still receiving excellent comments from the audience who saw the show (Saipan residents who went to Tinian). Further gigs included jamming at Round II, Arizona Night Club, Millenium Club, Castaways, Remingtons, Hard Rock Café, The Jungle, and Ping Sports Bar. Since then, two additional members joined theband to complete the ensemble and to make Split Attitude what it is today.
Glenn Sablan was selected amongst others to fill in on Bass and Felix Sasamoto, a guitar legend in his own right, was hired to replace Homin upon his sad departure. Although the boys enjoy entertaining the crowd with their selections of hits, they do not wish to remain a "house bar band." They ultimately hope to gain international recognition with their catchy originals to put Saipan on the music scene map. A wise man once said "If Chuuk and Guam can do it, why can't Saipan?" Split Attitude hopes that their first album, Island Habitz, will not only sell locally, but also internationally and seeks the support of the community to make this a dream come true. If you are interested in giving the boys a hand, please us know. For all of our fans who have supported us in the past and who we know will continue to support us in the present and in the future we thank you sincerely from the bottom of our hearts for believing in us. We hope to make this a dream come true not only for the members of Split Attitude, but also for the people of the Marianas. Adios for now and catch us at any of our upcoming gigs.
These past years have been a tumultuous experience not only for Split Attitude but for many that are close to us; a passing from one condition, form, stage, activity, place, etc. to another. As most of you who know us are aware, we continue to keep a busy schedule in order to provide you with ongoing live performances. During the limited down time between our gigs, we are also accepting students for consultation and instruction. We hope you'll take the time to visit the categories that are available in this site as we are continuously updating them with new material. We hope you will enjoy it as much as we do! To all of our friends and family’s, thank you so much for your continued support. May we find more friends in the future who will also do the same.
Split Attitude’s Ultimate Goal
1. To sell their first album, “Island Habitz,” locally, on the neighboring islands of the CNMI, and on Guam.
2. To sell the “Island Habitz” album elsewhere in the Pacific and in certain regions of Asia where our music is found to be acceptable.
3. To play at concerts and travel in the Asia Pacific region.
4. To be the first CNMI band to put Saipan on the music scene map.
For more info, contact:
John Torres
E-Mail: splitattitude@yahoo.com
