Greyhoundz frontman Reg Rubio is, in the most definitive sense, a gentleman in a scene filled with tough guys and rock enthusiasts bound for destruction. His band, alongside Queso and Slapshock, forms part of an unofficial triumvirate that defined the nu-metal scene in the ‘90s — commonly referred to as SlapQuesoHoundz. But since then, Rubio has mellowed down, choosing his battles in the rock scene more carefully to manage his temper. Writing tracks like “Pigface” off 7 Corners of Your Game, “Doble Kara” from Apoy, and “Your Puppet and Clown” from their 2001 self-titled album, Rubio now sets his sights on an upcoming solo album, one he describes as something his parents would appreciate.
“May mga nagsasabi noon na masyado kaming maingay para sa mainstream,” Rubio tells Rolling Stone Philippines. “Pero masyado kaming mainstream para sa underground.”
Over the past 30 years, Greyhoundz has achieved a ton of milestones as the country’s premiere nu-metal unit. They represented the Philippines at the Wacken Metal Battle in Germany in 2024, headlined multiple PULP Summer Slam slots across different years at Amoranto Stadium, and oftentimes mount their own smaller yet insanely chaotic DIY shows under the Barangay Tibay banner in venues like Saguijo. “‘Di ko naman din sinasadya pero every time I write something parang nagiging general siya,” he says of audiences assuming a specific target in his songs. “Kahit personal experiences ko ‘yuing gusto kong mailabas diyan nakaka-relate ‘yung mga tao. So ‘yung ‘Doble Kara,’ hindi naman siya unique na experience, ‘no. Plastikan talaga ‘yun. Tsaka, para sa akin, ilang bagay lang naman ang masarap sulatan. Tapos ‘yung rock, fight music talaga siya e.”
Love It The Hard Way
Citing his more intimate moments with his bandmates and brothers in the scene, Slapshock and Queso, Rubio claims there’s a shared sense of healthy competition that spills outside of the scene, like when playing basketball.
“Kahit sa basketball nagbabantaan kami nang masakit e. Alam mo ‘yun? Ganun kami ka-competitive,” he says. “Magkukwento ako kay Chi [Evora] at saka Jamir [Garcia] na kasama ko si TJ [Brillantes], kasi kami ‘yung mga naglalaro. ‘May kanta kaming bago, isa.’ Tas sabi nila, ‘Tangina patapos na nga ‘yung album namin.’ Bwiset kausap e.”
In more recent years — especially after becoming a father — Rubio has made a conscious effort to calm himself down. Nu-metal is, after all, an angry genre filled with angry lyrics, so stepping back becomes its own kind of attitude.
“When I love, I love hard. But that’s not soft still, right? So, marami pa rin akong kinakagalit. Pero ‘yung choice ko is imbes na pwede kong sabihin ‘Tangina mo ah,’” he says. “Kumbaga, pati ang atmosphere ng banda nagbago naman nung nagkapamilya kami. If you sing about hardships and you’re trying to fight through it, then it’s still fight music, right? Naisip ko, hindi na okay lang. Steady lang. I’m too old for that shit, right? But I still love heavy music. Kumbaga, ano na ‘to? Let’s fuck it up in a good way.”
