By Moneth G. Deposa
Variety News Staff

THE seven-year-old local band Split Attitude will end their performances on Saipan due to the CNMI’s worsening economic condition.
Guitarist John Torres said he is relocating to Guam because local bars and clubs are now mostly “empty.”
He said their group did well in the beginning, playing almost seven nights a week when they first started in 2000.
“The clubs were hardly ever empty, even on weekdays. We managed to pack numerous clubs on island almost throughout our entire band lifespan. Yes, there were times when things were slow, but not as slow as nowadays,” he said.
Because of the bad economy, bars and clubs now prefer two-piece bands.
“Even this drastic measure did not produce favorable results, as the chemistry and sound that Split Attitude established with the other musicians was no longer there,” Torres said.
Split Attitude, he added, is one of Saipan’s longest lasting roots, rock and reggae bands.
They produced an all-original album, “Island Habitz,” which includes the hits “PakPak Paki” and “Mr. Policemon.”
They have videos for three of their songs produced and aired on Marianas Music Videos, and they even appeared on a video with a top Japanese pop group.
Split Attitude also won the top prize for three years in a row at the San Francisco de Borja Battle of the Bands in Rota, and won 2nd and 3rd pirzes in various other band battles on Saipan.
The band started in April 2000 as a two-man team when singer/songwriter Irvin Babauta responded to an ad that guitarist John Torres had posted.
Torres was looking for a lead singer.
Since then, he said, Split Attitude “has had the opportunity and pleasure of jamming with various other musicians, all of whom helped to either define or re-define the Split Attitude sound and chemistry.”
As a tribute to its fans and supporters, the band will stage a “farewell jam bash.”
Torres said they hope to bring back their “sound and chemistry and revive many of the good memories we once shared with the community.”
The show will take place at Shooters on April 12, starting at 7 p.m.
“We hope to see a lot of fans and friends of the band at the bash and we look forward to making this special event a night to remember. This is the only night we can gather all available musician friends of Split Attitude, so we hope to see as many fans and friends as possible,” Torres said. “Hopefully one day, more support will be given to our local bands rather than having bands from foreign countries take over our music scene.”