The title of an old comic book "Tales of the Unexpected" best describes the story of the Pin-Up Girls. They were brought together by fate in almost the same strange way they were suddenly elevated from underground all-stars to being the first Philippine-based rock group to be signed by a US label.
The band was formed in 1996 by vocalist Mondo Castro, guitarist Pamela Aquino and bassist Jeng Tan, former members of the all-female punk powerhouse Keltscross. Guitarist Ryan Nachura eventually joined the band but they were without a permanent name until they saw Tan wearing a Bettie Page T-shirt (Page was one of the most famous pin-up girls from the '50s).
Calling themselves the Pin-Up Girls, the young group began covering New Wave tunes in small clubs. Then the band started writing their own songs--poetic, hook-driven tales of domestic violence, unrequited love, romantic devotion, otherworldly adventures--set to three-part male and female vocal harmonies and ringing and shimmering guitars.
After raising money from a garage sale, the Pin-Up Girls recorded and self-released their first album, "Hello Pain," in July 2001. The track "Witching Hour," was No. 1 on NU 107 for seven weeks. Through numerous gigs and continuous airplay for "Witching Hour," "Ride Rocket Wild" and "A Cold and Better Place," the Pin-Up Girls gained a loyal following but got the cold shoulder from local labels.
Their big break came in 2002 after Michael Sutton, a NU 107 fan and lifelong New Wave devotee who was also the A&R representative of Know-It-All Records in Tacoma, Washington, heard their music. Sutton was so mesmerized that he convinced his label to sign them up. In June that year, the Pin-Up Girls became part of Know-It-All Records and entered the rock and roll history books.
The Pin-Up Girls have been played on numerous US radio stations. Pin-up Girlseloi-loi rocked |11:05 PM
