IV of Spades

In July 2014, Allan Mitchell Silonga also known as "Daddy A" planned and decided to form a band for his son Blaster, who would become the band's lead guitarist and vocalist. Daddy A handpicked and recruit drummer Badjao de Castro and bassist Zild Benitez, who are the sons of Daddy A's musician friends Franklin Benitez and Chuck de Castro. Unique Salonga, is recruited last by Daddy A through his father Randy Salonga, he used to play guitars for Daddy A's vocal group Daddy's Home. Unique already writing his own music, was later recruited to become the band's lead singer.{{cite news |last1=Gloria |first1=Gaby |title=IV of Spades is ready to boogie |url=https://youngstar.philstar.com/iv-spades-ready-boogie/ |access-date=June 12, 2018 |agency=The Philippine Star |publisher=Youngstar |date=October 21, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180308164808/https://youngstar.philstar.com/iv-spades-ready-boogie/ |archive-date=March 8, 2018}}{{cite news |last1=Fernandez |first1=Denise |title=Here's why IV OF SPADES is about to become your new favorite band |url=http://www.scoutmag.ph/music/iv-of-spades-denise-20171201 |access-date=June 12, 2018 |publisher=Scout Magazine |date=December 1, 2017}}

Most of the band members are sons of musicians. Blaster's father, Allan Silonga aka Daddy A is a member of a famous band in the 90s band Kindred Garden, which evolved after a while as k24/7 as the first R&B and Hip-hop band during that era and the singing group Daddy's Home which finished third in The X Factor Philippines.{{cite news |last1=Bernardino |first1=Stephanie Marie |title=10 minutes with IV of Spades |url=https://entertainment.mb.com.ph/2018/03/22/10-minutes-with-iv-of-spades/ |access-date=June 12, 2018 |newspaper=Manila Bulletin |date=March 23, 2018}}{{cite news |last1=Orosa |first1=Rosalinda |title=For The Love Of Daddy tonight |url=https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2015/02/15/1423796/love-daddy-tonight |access-date=June 12, 2018 |newspaper=The Philippine Star |date=February 15, 2015}} Zild's father, Franklin Benitez, was the drummer of Hungry Young Poets and Barbie's Cradle.{{cite news |last1=Estrella |first1=Fiel |title=How IV of Spades Uses Music and Style to Take Over the OPM Scene |url=https://www.preview.ph/the-magazine/iv-of-spades-feature-a1793-20180329-lfrm |access-date=June 12, 2018 |agency=Summit Media |publisher=Preview |date=March 29, 2018}}

Badjao's father, Chuck de Castro, was a member of Makatha & Posivity Band and was also a session rhythm guitarist of the Rage Band. Blaster and Zild gained popularity when they became contestants for Eat Bulaga!'s hit contest, Music Hero. Zild was the first member of the Music Hero Squad and was the Bass Guitar grand champion; Blaster won the Electric Guitar grand champion and the title of Ultimate Music Hero.

IV of Spades signed to a record label and released their debut single "Ilaw sa Daan" under Warner Music Philippines.{{Cite news|url=http://www.scoutmag.ph/music/iv-of-spades-denise-20171201|title=Here's why IV OF SPADES is about to become your new favorite band - Scout Magazine|date=December 1, 2017|access-date=July 18, 2018|language=en-US}}

The group's second single, “Hey Barbara” was released on July 9, 2017 and followed up by their third single “Where Have You Been My Disco?”, released on December 9, 2017 via YouTube.

In 2018, the band released their fourth single called "Mundo". A video of their live performance on the song, which was uploaded on Metro Manila-based radio station Wish 107.5's YouTube channel, became the group's highest viewed single on YouTube with 176 million views as of September 2024.{{Citation |title=IV of Spades perform "Mundo" LIVE on Wish 107.5 Bus |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKk655CDFn8 |access-date=2023-09-19 |language=en}}

IV of Spades won the New Artist of the Year, MYX Bandarito Performance of the Year, and Nominated as Group the Year at the annual MYX Music Awards.{{cite web|url=https://businessmirror.com.ph/the-boys-of-iv-of-spades-get-into-the-myx/|title=The boys of IV of Spades get into the Myx {{!}} BusinessMirror|website=businessmirror.com.ph|language=en-US|access-date=April 7, 2018}} The band also won the Dreams Come True with Air Asia, the airline's search for the most promising acts in the region. The band performed with David Foster as part of their prize. They also won the Favorite New Group award at the 30th annual Awit Awards.{{cite web|url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/lifestyle/content/652354/iv-of-spades-to-continue-without-vocalist-unique-salonga/story/|title=IV of Spades to continue without vocalist Unique Salonga|website=GMA News Online|language=en-US|access-date=July 18, 2018}}

On May 5, 2018, the band announced on their official social media accounts that lead vocalist Unique Salonga had left in order to pursue personal endeavors.

On July 12, 2018, the song "In My Prison" was released simultaneously on Spotify and YouTube. It is the band's first single after Salonga's departure, with Benitez taking over full-time as lead vocalist.{{cite web |url=https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/news/207228-iv-of-spades-new-video-single-in-my-prison |title=WATCH: IV of Spades releases new song, video 'In My Prison' |date=July 13, 2018 |website=Rappler |access-date=July 14, 2018 }} They released their sixth single, "Bata, Dahan-Dahan!" on September 14, 2018.

After they released their sixth single, they released another single "Sa Kahapon" and this time, with hip-hop artist and rapper Shanti Dope for Coke Studio Homecoming.

In October 2018, IV of Spades was nominated for the Best Southeast Asia Act category in the 2018 MTV Europe Music Awards{{cite web|url=https://entertainment.inquirer.net/297527/iv-spades-nominated-best-southeast-asia-act-mtv-emas|title=IV of Spades nominated for Best Southeast Asia Act at MTV EMAs|last=Aguilar|first=Krissy|website=entertainment.inquirer.net|language=en|access-date=2019-01-22}}{{cite web|url=https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2018/10/09/1858610/iv-spades-gets-mtv-europe-music-awards-nomination|title=IV of Spades gets MTV Europe Music Awards nomination|website=philstar.com|access-date=2019-01-22}}{{cite web|url=https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2018/10/20/1861529/iv-spades-competes-ema-best-southeast-asian-act|title=IV of Spades competes in EMA Best Southeast Asian Act|website=philstar.com|access-date=2019-01-22}} but lost to Joe Flizzow of Malaysian hip-hop group Too Phat. Within the same month, they returned to Wish 107.5 and collaborated with Moira dela Torre with a new song entitled "Huli Na Ba Ang Lahat". The song was first unveiled during a digital concert held on October 8, 2018. The show, staged by Acer Philippines in partnership with Wish 107.5, was part of the annually-held Acer Day celebration.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ns7yWC25jSc |title=#AcerDay Brings an Original Collaboration: Moira and IVOS - "Huli Na Ba Ang Lahat" |publisher=YouTube |date=2018-10-10 |access-date=2020-04-28}}

The band released their only studio album, ClapClapClap!, on January 18, 2019. It consisted of 15 songs, the most popular being Come Inside of My Heart.

The band then released their seventh single entitled "Ang Pinagmulan", on February 16, 2020. After 2 months, they released their final single recorded "Sariling Multo (Sa Panaginip)", on April 17, 2020. On August 21, 2020, the band announced their hiatus.{{cite news |last1=Severo |first1=Jan Milo |title=IV of Spades on indefinite hiatus |url=https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2020/08/22/2037104/iv-spades-indefinite-hiatus |access-date=22 August 2020 |agency=Philstar.com |date=22 August 2020}}

IV of Spades is heavily inspired by 1970s fashion, acts and sounds. Members of the band have cited various musical groups and artists as songwriting influences, including ABBA, Kings of Leon, Tame Impala, My Chemical Romance, Radiohead, and Jet.{{cite web|url=http://www.scoutmag.ph/culture/profile/the-boys-of-iv-of-spades-are-just-like-us-lex-20190202|title=The boys of IV of Spades are just like us|date=2019-02-02|website=Scout Magazine|language=en-US|access-date=2019-02-03}} The band's genre is a mix of 1970s influenced disco, funk, alternative rock and Manila Sound.{{citation needed|date=May 2018}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

Past members

• Zild Benitez – lead vocals, bass guitar (2014–2020); keyboards, synth bass, programming (2018–2020)
• Blaster Silonga – lead guitar, backing vocals (2014–2020); lead vocals (2018–2020)
• Badjao de Castro – drums, percussion (2014–2020); backing vocals (2018–2020)
• Unique Salonga – lead vocals, rhythm guitar (2014–2018)

{{col-end}}

{{Main|IV of Spades discography}}

Studio album

• 2019: ClapClapClap!

Headlining

• The Sweet Shadow Tour (2019)

Supporting

• Panic! At the Disco – Pray for the Wicked Tour (2018) {{cite news |last1=Aguilar |first1=Krissy |title=IV of Spades to open Panic! At the Disco concert |url=https://entertainment.inquirer.net/299258/iv-spades-open-panic-disco-concert |access-date=24 November 2024 |agency=entertainment.inquirer.net |date=17 October 2018}}

{{Reflist}}

{{IV of Spades}}

{{authority control}}

Category:2014 establishments in the Philippines

Category:Filipino pop music groups

Category:Filipino rock music groups

Category:Musical groups established in 2014

Category:Musical groups from Metro Manila

Category:Warner Music Philippines artists

Category:Filipino funk rock musical groups