Los Crudos


Los Crudos is an American hardcore punk band from Chicago, Illinois, active from 1991 to 1998 and from 2006 onward. With all [Hispanic and Hispanic and Latino Americans|Latino Americans|Latino] members, the band paved the way for later Spanish-speaking punk bands in the United States and helped to increase the presence of Latinos in the country's predominantly white punk subculture. They have been described as "one of '90s punk's truly great bands" and "one of the greatest hardcore bands...ever." Additionally, Paul Kennedy has described them as "very popular in both the 'crusty' and emo/straight edge scenes in North America."

History

The band formed in the early 1990s by singer Martin Sorrondeguy and guitarist José Casas, both of whom remained the group's consistent members through changing rhythm sections. Their lyrics were almost always sung in Spanish, with the song "We're That Spic Band" being the sole exception. Los Crudos' lyrics were explicitly political, addressing issues such as class, police brutality, homophobia, and California ballot propositions directed against immigrants. At concerts, Sorrondeguy would often speak at length between songs about their meanings, partly as a way of getting around the language barrier, though audiences were not always happy about this. Their music was loud, fast, and energetic with songs built around three chords or fewer. "We're That Spic Band" and "Asesinos" have both been described as their most well-known songs.
The band's first live shows were in Pilsen, the Latino neighborhood in Chicago where the band members lived, as well as where many of their lyrics were first sung. Sorrondeguy has said that, "One of the main reasons for singing in Spanish was to communicate directly with kids in our neighborhood." In Pilsen, the band also worked closely with community agencies such as, an AIDS prevention organization, and Project Hablo, a domestic violence support group.
Los Crudos incorporated DIY ethics into every aspect of the band's existence, including promoting and booking shows, recording music, touring, and silk-screening t-shirts. They toured Mexico, South America, Europe, and Japan, as well as touring the US many times. The band's recordings were released on independent record labels such as Ebullition Records, and Sorrondeguy's label Lengua Armada Discos. The group's final rhythm section included bassist Juan Jimenez and drummer Ebro Virumbrales.
Los Crudos played their last shows in October 1998 in Pilsen, the neighborhood where the band began. After the band's breakup, Sorrondeguy became the vocalist for Limp Wrist, as well as releasing a documentary about Chicano and Latino punk titled Beyond The Screams: A U.S. Latino Hardcore Punk Documentary. He has also been in the bands Harto and Tragatelo. Guitarist José Casas subsequently joined the Chicago punk band I Attack afterwards. Drummer Ebro Virumbrales became the vocalist for Chicago band Punch in the Face.
In June 2006, the band played an unannounced reunion show at Southkore, America's first and largest Latino punk festival, in Chicago's Little Village. The festival, which also featured Tropiezo and La Armada, attracted hundreds of fans. In 2008, they played reunion shows at the Chaos in Tejas festival in Austin, Texas and Los Angeles, California. In 2016, Los Crudos played shows in the Midwest, and readied for a tour of the U.K. and numerous Scandinavian cities.

Members

  • Martin Sorrondeguy – vocals
  • José Casas – guitar
  • Juan Jimenez – bass
  • Ebro Virumbrales – drums
  • Oscar Chávez – bass
  • Lenin – bass
  • Mando – bass
  • Joel Martinez – drums
  • Bryan – drums

Discography

Studio albums

  • Viviendo Asperamente = Roughly Living
  • Canciones Para Liberar Nuestras Fronteras
  • 1991–1995 Los Primeros Gritos
  • ''Los Crudos/Reversal of Man''

EPs and splits

  • La Rabia Nubla Nuestros Ojos…
  • Nunca Nada Cambia... A Menos Que Lo Hagamos Cambiar
  • Las Injusticias Caen Como Pesadillas
  • Western Shoshone Defense Project
  • ''Los Crudos/MK- Ultra''

Compilations

  • In The Spirit Of Total Resistance
  • Chicago Hardcore Compilation
  • Achtung Chicago Zwei!
  • A History Of Compassion and Justice?
  • En Vivo En Pantitlán
  • Stealing the Pocket Compilation
  • CIA Via UFO TO Mercury
  • Books To Prisoners
  • Bllleeeeaaauuurrrrgghhh! - A Music War Libérame
  • Cry Now, Cry Later Volumes 3 & 4
  • Reality Part 3
  • Iron Columns
  • America Is Bella…Para Vivir Resistiendo!!
  • Chicago's On Fire Again
  • ''Doble LP Discografía''