Joey Generoso Banned from Singing ‘Forevermore’? Side A Members Speak Out
SIDE A – Members of the band addressed the issue surrounding their decision to forbid Joey Generoso from singing their hit song “Forevermore.”
Joey G., who was the lead vocalist of Side A in the ’90s before going solo in 2015, had been closely associated with the band’s signature songs like “Set You Free,” “So Many Questions,” and “Forevermore.” However, a controversy arose when Joey G. refused to perform “Forevermore” during a U.S. concert with Noel Cabangon in October 2024, citing that he was banned from singing the track.
At a recent press conference for their upcoming concert, some members of the band spoke out. Drummer Ernie Severino confirmed that Joey Benin, the band’s former bassist and composer of “Forevermore,” had asked Joey G. to stop performing the song. Ernie explained that after Joey G. left Side A and started his solo career, he continued singing “Forevermore” and other Side A songs, which he felt was unfair since Side A was still active. He mentioned that this confused audiences, with Joey G. performing songs originally popularized by the band.
Guitarist Pido Lalimarno clarified that it wasn’t the band’s collective decision to ban Joey G. from performing “Forevermore.” He stated that only the composer, Joey Benin, had the right to make such a request. Pido also added that Joey G. had left the band on good terms, giving proper notice before his solo career began.
Joey Benin, in a previous official statement, explained that he personally asked Joey G. to stop performing “Forevermore” to avoid confusing the audience about the identity of Side A. He also emphasized that the creation of a song is a collective effort of all band members, not just the lead vocalist. He expressed his hope that Joey G. would establish his own identity through original solo works and that the band would eventually reconcile.
Despite the controversy, Joey Benin clarified that Joey G. could still perform “Forevermore” when joining Side A on stage, as long as they performed together.
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