Puerto Rican rock music
Rock in Puerto Rico has been a product of direct and indirect influence from both American rock music and Latin rock music, and its fusion with other genres. Throughout history, the genre has suffered ups and downs having a significant peak in the 1990s. Here's a breakdown of how rock evolved in the island through the decades.
1950s and 1960s
The 1950s mark the introduction of the Rock and Roll genre on the island. With the Elvis Presley hype in the United States, some of its influence reached the island of Puerto Rico. While a few young rock groups were in existence, like "The Rockingchairs" and "The Bonets" (original group where José (Cuco) Gonzalez started as Drummer before joining The Sunsets, along with Rafy, Paquito, Cusin and Carlos J[1]), television producer Alfred D. Herger started bringing Rock and Roll acts into the island motivating the local audience to embrace it. This input, and Herger's tutelage, ignited some young artists like Aidita Viles, Chucho Avellanet and others to start a movement that was labeled as "La Nueva Ola" (The New Wave). Herger also led several television night shows where he showcased rock music from the island and the USA.
Late 1960s and 1970s
In the mid to late 1960s, several Puerto Rican bands started surfacing with some mainstream success. Most of these performed in English. Some of these were:
- The Bonets; Carlos J, Cusin, Rafy, Pako and Cuco (Jose Gonzalez, later drummer of The Sunsets)
- The Rockingchairs
- The Teen Sounds
- Back Street Minority, with singer Salvador Bayron
- The Sunsets
- The Starlights
- The Night Walkers
- Abram Shoo
- The Living End
- X-5: reputedly the first Puerto Rican rock group to record a long playing in Spanish. Its members were: Daniel Cabrera (lead guitar), Luis Cabrera (RIP)(lead singer), Jorge Vazquez (second guitar), Jose Ocasio (bass, vocals), Carlos Rivera (RIP) (drums, singer). Jorge Vazquez was replaced by David (second guitar, singer) with whom the record was made.
- The Stokes
- The Challengers
- The Thunders-In YouTube under The Thunders-Did You See Her Eyes (1969–70)
- The Telstars
- The We Know You
- The Cromagnons
- The Jetsons
- The Marvin Scandal
- The Chryslers
- The Sames
- Flower Generation
- Arrasas
- Taíno
- Pelican in Flight
- Stagecoach
- Copenhagen
- Godmother and country
- Wilkins
- West Side Band
- Sidewinder
- Mana Peniel
- Albatross
- Viento Recio
- Holocausto
- Pneuma
- Clamor
- Vida
- Kaleidoscope- Michael J Felicie(guitar), Ralph Yunque(guitar), Louie Kagalis(singer), Juan Correa(drummer), Jorge Prieto(organist). In YouTube under Kaleidoscope-You Are Lost Little Girl. Other related videos in YouTube under Ralph Yunque, Michael J Felicie, Juan Correa- Communication Breakdown and Shades of Time. The source of this information is me Juan Correa, the group's drummer. August 25, 2013.
- Treat- Several videos on YouTube under Michael J Felicie and Treat. Also under Michael J felicie & Treat with Carmen Jean. I produced all videos with sound recordings of the group that I made at their opening night, May 30, 1973, at the Hunca Munca Discothèque of the El San Juan Hotel. I, Juan Correa am the source of this information. August 25, 2013.
- The Wanderers
- The Spiders-In YouTube under The Spiders-Day Tripper (Puerto Rico 1966-1967). Source:Juan Correa
- The Sound Incorporated
- The Strange Brew
- The Wild Byrds - (1965-1967)
While most of the above groups centered their appearances at private activities at the local centers like the STAR and PARADISE bowling centers, few were able to play at public night clubs and bars and TV, with appearances at the Mirta Silva night show and other local TV variety programs (The Bonets, The Sunsets, etc.). Later on, with the management of Alfred D. Herger, locations like The Miramar Center and the TV program, Teen Time, and the performance of groups like The Sunsets and The Challengers, rock era in Puerto Rico moved towards the 1970s. Even a movie appearing The Sunsets, Virgenes de La Nueva Ola, was a classic back then.
In the early 1970s, other bands like Bandolero, and La Banda del K-Rajo had some underground success. Later that decade, a number of bands emerged from San Juan area bars like Shannan's Pub and Donna Faye's. The most popular bands at this time where Taíno, Pelican in Flight, Spoiler, Albatross, East Side Band, and many others.
At the same time, a movement of nova trova musicians was growing in the island led by singers like Roy Brown and Noel Hernández. During this time, the local radio station Alfa Rock starts broadcasting rock music in the island.
The 1980s
With the arrival of stations like MTV, American rock reached the island. However, surging rock en español bands from Mexico, Argentina and Spain are rarely heard of. Most of the local bands still used English as their language. Some of the bands that surfaced through this decade were:
- Apocalips
- Black Widow
- Rebel Rose
- Cardinal Sin
- Sekel
- Red Crusader
- Corrupted Society
- Rybeck
- Whisker Biscuit
- The MD’s
- Island
- TAWA - Francis, Rocco, Ricky and Jerry
- Jerry And The Cadillacs - Evolution from TAWA, Gilbert Alomar replaced Ricky
- Anshar
- Daydream
- Dreamer
- Kyrius first band to play fully rock in Spanish in Puerto Rico
- Elipse founder is Gustavo Santiago "Guitar,vocals, singer songwriter" Raul Enrique Arocho "Raen" (song of the year on MP3.com) Lead vocalist "singer songwriter, acoustic guitar , and cajon player, Gonzalo Valentin Bass Player, Egui Santiago Drums and Evelio Crespo " emi award winner " keyboards
- Sin Excusas
- Laser
- Lord and Master
- Legacy= band members ,Brando Collazo , bass player and lead vocalist , Jose "Chico" Torres on the drums and Candido Olavarria and the lead guitar (Know later as Mindscrape)
- Mattador
- Mermaid
- Miracle-Winners of the Pepsi Star Competition on 1988
- Mystified
- Never On Time
- Nirvana
- Oro
- One on One
- Only The Wise
- Passage (with Roberto Clemente's son)
- Pelican In Flight
- Power Elite
- Power Lord
- Rainfall
- Raphet
- Rock Shott
- Skyriders
- Sleeze (From Guayama: Kike Rhythm Guitar,Melvin Ortiz Lead Guitar,Raul Drummer,Emiliano Morales Vocals,Damian Guerrero Bass Player).
- Still Heaven
- Templo Nuclear
- Top Banana
- Ten to Midnight
- Zyron = band member Elizabeth lead vocal with Nabeel Abdul "Vivanativa" Javier "vivanativa" Clemen bass player "vivanativa" Ritchie drums
- RPM
- Unicorn
- Traffic Jam
- Wild Caps
- Killers
- Stallions (From Carolina. Members were: Julio Andino Ryth Guitar, Jose Luis Morales Lead Guitar, (Now Guitarist of Hypwitch), Jaime Nunez Bass Guitar, Jesus Andino Drums and Hector Girald as a Lead Singer)
- Dukes
- Misty Chrome
- Kid Cantina ( which relocated to Orlando,Fl)
- Bexcited (cover)
- Legend ( From Guayama. Members: Miguel Perez Drums,John Montalvo Lead and rhythm guitar, Wilson Caraballo Lead and rhythm guitar later was replaced by Melvin Ortiz Lead and rhythm guitar, Joel Morales Singer and Richard Bass later was replaced by Jose Chewy Correa.
However, there were still a few bands that preferred to sing in Spanish like: Virus, Kantares and Belaris. Artists of other genres like Menudo, Wilkins and Glenn Monroig started fusing their music (pop/ballads) with rock. This decade also started the ongoing "battle" between "Cocolos" (people that listen to salsa) and "rockeros" (people that listen to Rock music). The introduction of new wave and Europop in the USA started the surging of similar bands like Words Four Two, No You Turn, NeoEngland, and Nirvana (not the Kurt Cobain band). In 1988, a pop-rock band called Top Banana was signed by national label CBS.
The 1990s
During this decade, rock music reached its peak in the island. Rock en Español fully reached the island, and artists like Miguel Mateos, Charly García, Soda Stereo, Hombres G Robi Draco Rosa and others were heard in radio stations. Mattador released the first instance of their album Save Us From Ourselves with guitarist Ramón Ortiz, who would later go on to play with Puya. The band even opened the Iron Maiden concert at the island. On January 4, 1990, John Rodriguez aka. MetalKid, a radio personality launched the first radio program to cater only Puerto Rican artists at La Mega Station 106 FM along with Edgardo "El Bebo" Adames; giving the opportunity to dozens of acts play their music on the radio. Later that year MetalKid created Brutal Noise Music, the first record label to include metal music on their roster. Bands like Crypta, Homicide, Morbid Death, Deathkross and the Christian act Deathless among others were the first metal releases to be available under Brutal Noise. Brutal Noise joined forces with local promoter Albert Morales from ShowNet and produced concerts like Iron Maiden, Pantera, Sepultura, Slayer making the way to promote local acts on their shows. Until today this tradition still alive. In 1994, former Menudo singer Robi Rosa released his first solo album, and Mattador re-released their album, this time with Tito Rodríguez (now with Sol D'Menta) as guitarist. La Secta Allstar is the most commercially successful rock band in Puerto Rico, selling over 250,000 copies from their last album Consejo and reaching platinum. Since their debut in Puerto Rican charts in 1998.
The 90's saw also the first video from a local band in MTV Latino. It was for the song "Terminal" by La Mosca, aka Spanish Fly and Spanish Flies. The band was a power trio composed of Geronimo Mercado, Eduardo Paniagua & Gaby Vidal. Eduardo would later go to Puya & Gaby Vidal to ONGO. Steve Vai used the band as his backing band when he came to Puerto Rico for a guitar clinic at Villa Piano. When Draco came to the island for his three show at The Warehouse, La Mosca was chosen to open them all.
This decade sparked the biggest spurt of local bands. Some of the most popular were:
- Abuso De Poder
- Advertencia (Hardcore)
- Act of Misery
- Alarma (band)
- Algarete
- Andante
- Antarctica
- Arnold Layne
- Autodefensa (Cover band)
- Aylk
- Bajo Presión
- BleAch (Cover band)
- Bartolo and the Nightbreakers
- Burning Face
- Cien del Cielo
- Club Soda (covers)
- Coabey
- Cojoba
- Crypta
- Cuentas Claras (Manolo Mongil)
- Clear Convictions
- D-Cent Jerks
- Deathless
- Descojon Urbano
- El Manjar De Los Dioses
- Elemento
- Elishia
- Excel
- FEEDBACK (covers)
- Fiel a la Vega
- Filacteria
- Feka
- FORGOTTEN
- Flor de Metal
- Fobia Estatal
- Godless
- Golpe d' Stado
- Golpe justo
- Gran Jefe
- Hijos De Cain
- Icaro Azul
- Illusion
- Inner Dream
- K`pá Prieto
- Kopula
- Kabezudos de Villabajo
- Kid Cantina( creada en PR y trasladada a Orlando,Fl)
- Kampo Viejo
- La Experiencia de Toñito Cabanilla$$$
- Las Enaguas De Chavola
- La Mancha del Jardin
- La Mosca/Spanish Fly
- La Secta Allstar
- Lopodrido
- Los Gabetes Sueltos
- Los Guacamayos
- Los Inconformes
- Los Naborias
- Los Saltamontes (Cover and Original Band)
- Magallanes
- Manjar de los Dioses
- Mapuche(Band)
- Masking Tape
- Materia Prima
- Marka Registrada
- Mary Jane
- Marrano (pioneers of the speed/thrash metal genre in Puerto Rico)
- Mentes Contrarias
- Mosebrios
- MOZAIKO
- Mythos (Mythc*s)
- Needfull Things
- Neouphoria
- Nonpoint Factor Know later as Nonpoint
- Organic Infest
- One on One (Oldies & Rock n' Roll band)
- Pacto De Sangre
- Parafanelia(radicada a en Orlando)
- Peor es Nada
- Perpetual
- Perro Enfermo
- Pies Negros
- Porfolio After touring the local club scene, they released their debut album, Hablen Ya, in 1998.
- Presagio / Mad Hatter (CoverBand)
- Proyecto a partir de 1998 Melisa & Madre Tierra
- Profeta Maboya Ponce ska metal punk
- Puppet Breakfast
- Puya
- Puerto Raíces
- Quejidos del Seol
- Radio Pirata
- Rainfall (Cover band)
- Redencion
- Sangresabia
- Sin Remedio
- Skadirt
- Skalamusa
- Skapulario
- Skalón Roto
- Sloppy Joe (Cover band)
- Sol D'Menta
- Still Heaven (Opened the Encuentro Cumbre de Rock en Español Concert in 1990 for Charly García, Hombres G, La Unión, Roupa Nova)
- Tá
- Taba Co.
- Tequila Sobrio
- Terranova
- Tierra De Nadie[1993-2006]
- Tinieblas
- Tio Pepe (Cover band)
- Tren Urbano
- TRIHEXA
- Undamaged
- Un.Real
- VíaCadiz
- Vivanativa
- Warfare
- Wings Of Death
These bands started to enjoy great success presenting to huge crowds at their concerts. Sol D'Menta was even signed to an international label, being the first heavy band to sign with a multinational label (Polygram). Later in 2003, they received an ASCAP award "Best Independent Rock Band". In 1996, Fiel A La Vega released its eponymous debut album reaching gold status becoming a phenomenon in the island due to their acceptance. Their success forced the local media to open more space for the rock scene in the island. The band continued their success with another gold album with their second album, and selling out four shows at the Centro de Bellas Artes, and later selling out the Roberto Clemente Coliseum. Other bands like Puya and La Secta Allstar have reached similar success.
2000s
This decade saw growth on the island in regards to the rock genre as a whole, with new bands and existing bands experimenting with such genres such as rock, heavy metal, punk and soft rock while adding their own distinct Latin flavor to these traditionally North American and European types of music. :
- 9 Vidas
- Abismo Nuclear
- Avant Lust
- A Flying Dodo Society
- AJ Dávila y Terror Amor
- Alas Negras
- A Million Souls
- Almas Band
- Anti-Sociales
- An Astonishing End
- Astronautics
- Athaxia
- Attachment
- Aura Azul
- Back in the Day
- Back Seat Driver
- Backtrip
- Beso de Morocha
- Black Guayaba
- Blacks en Tela
- Bletzung
- Vento Alejandro
- Buscabulla
- Campo-Formio
- Calamity
- Catarot
- Circo
- Cezgo
- Comuna de Santos
- Convalesce
- D-Cent Jerks
- Dada Berlin
- Danovan Swosa
- Dias De Enero
- Dan Siego
- Dantesco
- Dávila 666
- Diente Perro
- Dossis
- Diversión Sonora
- Duel Of Fate
- EBÉ
- ECCO (Monnett)
- El Medio
- Enagena
- El Secreto de Andromeda
- El Trauma
- Epilogio
- Eva Cautiva
- Fall II Rise
- Fantasmes
- Fast Taker
- Filme
- Fofe y los Fetiches'
- Forgotten
- Former Asronauts
- Ghosteater
- Golpe Justo
- Habish
- Homenaje A Una Bella Cancion
- Humano Error
- Huracan Galactico
- Ignorados Comediantes
- Iguana
- Iamtheplague
- Indigo
- International Dub Ambassadors
- Juventud Crasa
- Kampo Viejo
- KDC
- K.C.rio 1985
- Koala en Krayola
- Korrupto
- La Academia
- La Uva
- Late Night Drive
- Labios Celofán
- La Futura Prole
- La Obra De Marte
- Las Cargas
- Leon De Juda
- Letters From An Arsonist
- Los Convertibles
- Los Bronson
- Los Grises
- Los Manglers
- Los Nadie
- Los Nervios
- Los Pepiniyoz
- Los Radionautas
- Los Rufianes
- Los Petardos!
- Los Stations
- Los Wálters
- Los Vigilantes
- Luciérnaga Roja
- Luminara
- Lure The Chaos
- Mabuyan
- Machete
- Malas Mañas
- Mandrágoras
- Matotumba
- Mentes Contrarias
- Mesmer
- Miacala
- Minerva
- Mister Jonson y Las Chicharras
- Monigote
- Moltres
- Napolnariz
- Naranja
- Narval
- Nectar Delirios
- Negros Vivos
- Niño Planeta
- Nocion
- Noeti-k
- No-IQ
- No Muertos
- No Religion
- Nothing Else
- Neuttro
- Nutopia
- Ocho de Bastos
- One Night Away
- Ongo
- Ophelia
- Outbreak Hate
- Out Of Reach
- Park Bench Bums
- Pielago
- Piegrande
- Plaga
- Plaza 5
- Polbo
- Polem
- Porfura
- Primavera Eterna
- Proyecto 55
- Rabia
- Randenn
- Rebeldia
- Recordando En Febrero
- RedNueve
- Red Tiger
- Rituales
- Rome Open City
- Sabarakatiki
- Sacrificio
- Sacrilegio
- Sacred Guardian
- Sacrosent
- Salvation Denied
- Sal pa' Fuera
- Severe Mutilation
- Shatizar
- Shotgun
- Si Señor
- Simples Mortales
- Simply Blue
- Sintonía Retro
- Sin Oficio
- Slimy Nuggetz
- Somvazio
- Sons of None
- Standing By Grace
- Static Line
- Stoned
- Stories Of Them
- Súperaquello
- Sueño De Dahlia
- Surge
- Stereotipo
- Teoría
- Tetris Armada
- Tierra De Nadie
- The Disfunction
- The Lady Caines
- The Gardening Tools
- Topo Negro
- Tortura
- Traga Lúz
- Tribal Scream
- Tropiezo
- Two Face Flower
- Un Final Fatal
- Un Solo Latido
- Unzane
- Vankio
- Vialterna
- Waves of Serenity
- Whynot
- Xkema
- Xpectra
- Victrola Tinnitus
- VíaCadiz[2]
- Vivanativa
- Voracious
- Vuelta al Pasado
- Zafakon