The legendary Juan de la Cruz: (from left) Wally Gonzales, Joey “Pepe”Smith and Mike Hanopol (From the band’s Facebook page)
Pinoy rock’s founding fathers have lately been suffering from various ailments.
Early Monday morning, Sept. 17, Joey “Pepe” Smith underwent surgery of the gallbladder at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) in Manila.
The procedure went fine, Smith’s daughter Queenie announced in a private online chat group.
Meanwhile, Wally Gonzalez, Smith’s former bandmate in the legendary band Juan dela Cruz, is scheduled to have a tumor removed from his colon on Sept. 24.
Smith, 70, has been struggling with other health issues. Several years ago, he suffered a stroke that left him with a speech impediment.
Gonzalez, 69, has been battling diabetes.
“I need prayers, bro,” he told us via Facebook Messenger.
Friends and relatives of Smith and Gonzalez have formed social media chat groups to discuss how to extend financial assistance to two of the country’s most influential and respected musicians.
As members of the Juan dela Cruz, Smith and Gonzalez, along with Mike Hanopol, pioneered a new genre in contemporary Filipino music – writing and recording songs that defined Pinoy rock, including “Mamasyal sa Pilipinas,” “Balong Malalim,” “Kagatan,” “Sarap ng Buhay,” “Rock & Roll sa Ulan,” “Titser’s Enemi,” “Project,” “Divisoria” and their signature track, “Himig Natin.” /atm