2005–2006: Formation, Beautiful Machines Pupil was formed in 2005 as a spin-off of the Mongols, an underground band featuring
Eraserheads vocalist Buendia,
Teeth guitarist Velasco, Yuzon (bass), and Jugo (drums). When Velasco left the band to study in the United States, the band members recruited Sergio (who also played guitar for Teeth), who swapped duties with Yuzon and played bass. Buendia got the name for Pupil after reading a medical book. Other names that were considered were Narcom, Tyrel Corp, Traitors, and The Gets. The band's manager and Buendia's then-partner Diane Ventura described Pupil's sound as "more pop" while the Mongols were "guitar-driven". The band signed with
Sony BMG on September and released their debut album
Beautiful Machines in November. It featured the lead single “Nasaan Ka?”, which was written by Ventura (who also sings in the title track). The band contributed a song to the animated film
Hoodwinked! called “Blow Your House Down”. The film, which was the first independently produced 3D animated feature to be produced in the Philippines, later premiered in December. In 2006, the band collaborated with
Barbie Almalbis on the Rockoustic Mania promotional campaign for
Juicy Fruit. They released a promotional CD with two songs, “Nakakabaliw” and “Must Have”.
2007–2010: Animax, Wild Life In 2007, the band were commissioned to write a new theme song for
Animax. They recorded two songs, “Matador” and “Set Me Apart”, with the latter being chosen. It was released in May 2007 with an animated music video premiering the following month. The video later won Best Music Video at the
PromaxBDA Awards the following year. "Set Me Apart" also became Jugo’s last song with the band, as he left soon after. "Monobloc", "Teacher's Pet", and "Disconnection Notice". It was later rereleased as a special edition with bonus tracks in 2009. The band opened for
Nine Inch Nails in Manila on their Wave Goodbye tour in August 2009. They also recorded the theme song for the 2009 film
Ang Panday, with a music video directed by Ventura. In May 2010, the band released a book,
Against the Light: A Pupil Tour Diary. They also opened for
Tears for Fears with Buendia’s former bandmate
Raimund Marasigan’s band
Sandwich in the same month. The band contributed to Buendia’s collaborative album with rapper
Francis M.,
In Love and War, released in 2010 after his death.
2011–2013: Limiters of the Infinity Pool The band released their third album
Limiters of the Infinity Pool in January 2011. It features the singles “TNT” and “20/20”, of which a music video was shot on the empty streets of
EDSA during
Holy Week. After
Sony Music Philippines disbanded in 2012, Pupil signed with
MCA Music. The band performed with
General Luna at
Dubai, United Arab Emirates in February 2013. Yuzon left the band soon after.
2014–present: Zilch, hiatus In 2014, Velasco officially joined the band as lead guitarist. He had previously worked with the band on their first two albums. The band released the first single from their upcoming album
Zilch titled “Out of Control” in July. Its music video was directed by Erin Pascual and featured model Ornusa Cadness in a post-apocalyptic
Manila. The band represented the Philippines at the annual Sundown Festival in
Singapore on November.
Zilch was released in March 2015. Its follow-up singles included “Why” and “Cheap Thrill”. The band was slated to perform at
De La Salle University in June 2016, but later backed out after Buendia felt that the organizers "acted in bad faith" by promoting him instead of his band. In March 2019, the band performed with General Luna in
Parañaque. After a five-year hiatus, the band reunited for a live show with Sandwich and
Chicosci in March 2024. ==Members==