Chef Wency Cornejo in the new pizzeria at San Pablo City, Laguna. Photo from Wency Cornejo's Facebook page 

Wency Cornejo has been one of the most influential, charismatic and brilliant musicians from the 1990s, or what was touted the second golden age of Pinoy Rock.

As frontman, main composer and leader of AfterImage, he has written hit songs that defined a generation, revived by younger solo singers and bands. Some of them have been used as soundtracks for movies and telenovelas and music critics regard them as among the classics in the history of Original Pilipino Music.

Among their first major hits, “Next In Line” has been the one most identified with Cornejo, which he composed when he was about to graduate from college.

He told in an interview with Leah Salterio for ABS-CBN News that “the inspiration to write that song came from a place of confusion,” and that up to this day, “it’s extremely difficult for a graduating college student to fathom what life would be after leaving school and I was exactly at that point in my life [graduating from college] when I wrote ‘Next In Line.’”

Behind the Music: 'Next in Line' by AfterImage

His later compositions, meanwhile, spoke about positivity and undying affection for a loved one like “Habang May Buhay,” “Mangarap Ka” and “Magpakailanman,” which remain among the most played entries on Spotify, You Tube and reportedly, videoke-fueled gatherings from Aparri to Jolo.

We’ve learned from him in a recent online interview that AfterImage has been on hiatus for more than a decade. He has since concentrated on being a chef and entrepreneur, though occasionally, he performs as a solo act.

At some point, he has also acted in musical theater via Atlantis Theatrical’s “Sideshow” in 2018, directed by the late, great Bobby Garcia.

LOOK: Wency Cornejo to make musical theater debut

He also thought of writing an original Pilipino musical with new songs, though not using the songs from AfterImage. He revealed in an earlier ABS-CBN News interview he doesn’t own the publishing rights of the AfterImage discography. In jest, he said, “Hindi ako kikita masyado dyan.”

READ: Why Wency Cornejo won't do a musical using After Image songs

With Cooky Chua of Color It Red, in recent years he has also formed an ‘80s tribute band “with leanings towards European New Wave Music” called Scarlet Boogie.

As a concert producer, the last time Cornejo we saw him perform with other legendary rock vocalists was in Music Museum in Greenhills, San Juan City, in a show he co-conceptualized titled “90s Frontmen: Acousticized,” held for two nights near the end of January 2020.

It’s a nostalgia-flavored show with other artists from the ‘80s and ‘90s, namely Basti Artadi of heavy metal band Wolfgang, Dong Abay (Yano, Pan, D.A.M.O.) and Jett Pangan (The Dawn).

There was a plan to tour it in the provinces and abroad. But there was the COVID-19 pandemic and the series of lockdowns so everything was put on hold.

Fans would remember that what brought the “museum” down was the surprise encore, when the four rockers sang and danced to their own version of Backstreet Boys’ “I Want It That Way,” several videos of which have been uploaded online by fans.

It was a dopamine-loaded experience for the audience seeing rockers doing a boyband song.

Cornejo and Abay later revealed in their social media accounts that it was the Wolfgang vocalist’s idea to do the Backstreet Boys number.

Had there been no lockdowns and the tours happened, Cornejo would have it his way and as he later told this writer via Facebook messenger back then, they would sing and dance other hits not only from Backstreet Boys but other boy band groups from the ‘90s.

READ: Nationwide tour is next in line for '90s Frontmen'

The good news is that five years later, Cornejo is back again at the Music Museum with a new show he also co-conceptualized titled “Frontmen & Rock Chix,” to be held on January 25.

 Wency Cornejo, Naldy Padilla, Lei Bautista and Cooky Chua. Photo courtesy of Wency Cornejo 

This time, Cornejo is joined in by Naldy Padilla of Orient Pearl, Cooky Chua of Color It Red and Lei Bautista of Prettier Than Pink with Andrew E. as special guest. Tickets via TicketWorld outlets and through premier.ticketworld.com.ph.

He agreed for a quick online interview and here is the excerpt. 

Q: Kindly tell us your views on Cooky Chua as a musician and friend, same with Naldy Padilla and Lei Bautista. 

Cornejo: “Maybe I should answer this generally. All three have been good friends for a long time though Cooky has been part of my life the longest 'coz we’ve known each other since she was a teenager. As musicians, they are all fantastic performers, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. I have only good things to say about all 3 of them.”

Q: Is there a plan to reunite the '90s Frontmen and do the aborted tour here and abroad? 

Cornejo: “That’s the good thing about the title of that show. Ever since it’s conception, I have always maintained that it wasn’t just the original four artists, namely: Jett Pangan, Dong Abay, Basti Artadi and myself, that can comprise the ‘cast’ of the show. Any male singer for a band can fill the role of Frontman regardless of era, popularity and age so I don’t think ‘reunite’ is the right term to use as evidenced by our current show but if you’re referring to the original four, at present, there aren’t any plans.

Q: The last time I saw you was during the fundraising gig for Chickoy Pura’s eye operation in 2023 at My Brothers Moustache? Was that the only time you performed after the pandemic or there have been other solo gigs? 

“There have been lots. Cooky and I even formed an ‘80s tribute band (Scarlet Boogie). Performing is still somewhat my bread and butter though I have become a bit more discerning of what projects to accept.”

Q: You also concentrated on your other career as a chef and entrepreneur? 

“I put up a couple businesses over the years and some were more successful than others. Right now, I’m in the process of putting up a pizzeria but nothing concrete yet.”

Q: And you specialize in pizza and other Italian dishes or also other cuisines? I based my question on Cooky’s post with you in an Italian restaurant. 

“I studied in Italy to become a pizzaiolo (pizza chef) in 2024. It has become a passion and hopefully I can practice what I studied for in the near future.”

Q: Tell us about your new restaurant in San Pablo City, Laguna? Why San Pablo City? Well aside from Metro Manila being notorious for its traffic, overcrowding, higher prices of commodities and all that. You are based there?

“This is a common misconception. The pizzeria in San Pablo isn’t mine. It’s partly owned by my pizzaiolo mentor from Milan, Marvin Aguda, who hails from that city but now owns a pizzeria in Milan, where he resides. As a way of giving back, I helped train the pizzaiolos in San Pablo.”

Q: Do you still maintain La Carmela bakery and pastry shops in Davao City? 

“After I decided to come back to Manila for personal reasons, I shut down operations. It’s still one of my regrets in life 'coz that business was still very much viable and I really did love being based there.”

Q: Are you still composing new stuff for an album or at least, single? 

“Not really. Music has taken a back seat to pizza. Hahaha!”

Q; When was the last time (year) did AfterImage perform together? Do you have plans of doing a reunion show? 

“I think the last time we performed as the original line up was during our drummer’s wedding in the early to mid-2000s. There have been talks of doing a reunion but nothing solid yet.”

Q: Finally, what can your fans, Cooky, Naldy and Lei’s fans expect from the concert this Saturday. 

“Of course, you can expect the usual original songs from us and several covers. Siyempre secret muna if may mga pagkulo.“