DEAD ENDS was formed in 1985 by Al and Jay Dimalanta with drummer Rouen Pascual. The punk/hardcore trio recorded their very first independently-released album the same year. Entitled Complaints , the album was the very first underground hardcore album by a solo act in the local music scene. The title track was also included in the Brave New World Live! compilation.
The band's second album, aptly entitled Second Coming, was released in 1986. This was followed by the band's critically-acclaimed third album, Damned Nation, in 1987 (with new drummer Harley Alarcon).
In 1989, Dead Ends took a leave of absence from the scene when the local punk movement started to slow down. Al continued with his work as a high school English and Journalism teacher. Jay continued his studies while doing session work in a number of short-lived bands.
Al and Jay reformed Dead Ends in 1994 with guitarist Lourd de Veyra and drummer Bong Montojo. The band went on to complete their fourth independent release entitled Mamatay sa Ingay (released mid-1995). The newest album contained the cult hit "(Ano ba ang) Kalayaan?," a song that peaked at number 2 in a local alternative radio station's Top 30 countdown.
Another song from the album, "Ingay", also entered the alternative music charts and peaked at number 4. The song was also included in a major compilation album entitled L.A. Rock, the Album.
Jay passed away on November 25, 1996, officially signalling the demise of Dead Ends. "Dead Ends cannot exist without Jay," Al stressed.
Al and Lourd, however, are currently putting together a new band with Lourd's brother, Francis, on bass. According to Al, the new band will still play punk rock but it will be significantly different from Dead Ends' music.