Rock group Caifanes from Mexico are pioneers of the revival of Spanish-language rock (rock en español) in Mexico in the mid to late 1980s. Their musical approach clashed with the then dominating ballads and happy pop tunes that filled the radio and TV programs, in offering dark and moody lyrics.
Line-up
Original band members were Saul Hernández (vocals & guitar), Salvador "Sabo" Romo (bass guitar), Alfonso André (drums) and Diego Herrera (keyboards and saxophone). In the 1990s a new member (who had previously played in a band with Hernández and André), Alejandro Marcovich, (lead guitar) was recruited.
History
Their first album "Matenme Porque Me Muero", better known as "Volumen 1" came out in August 1988; the most important tracks are "Viento", "Matenme porque me muero", "Cuéntame tu vida" and "La Negra Tomasa" which proved to be their crossover hit and gained wider media exposure for the group. All these songs, except for "La Negra Tomasa", also owe a lot to The Cure's music style. "La Negra Tomasa" is more like a cumbia, popular music of the coasts of Mexico and South American countries, (primarily Colombia and Venezuela), and heralded the direction their music would go in the forthcoming albums.
The 1990 release of El diablito consolidated the band's style, blending dark rhythms with vivid Latin music rhythms. One such example is their biggest hit La célula que explota (Exploding cell), which seamlessly blends Mariachi music with Post-punk rock. There was some controversy regarding the name of this album. Most of Caifanes' closest fans still refer to El Diablito as Volumen 2. Because of a technical error during final printing, the faded but still noticeable phrase El diablito (translated "little devil"), could be noticed and was therefore considered as the album title for general release.
Two years later, El silencio, regared as Caifanes' greatest album, was released. With hit singles such as No dejes que... and Nubes, Caifanes covered whatever doubts were left in El diablito. Their fanbase grew larger and on August of 1992 played at a sold-out Hollywood Palladium. By then, the revival of Rock en español was running at full speed. Sabo Romo and Diego Herrera left the band in 1993 but not before playing with the rest of the band one last time at Mexico City's Palacio de los Deportes in front of a sold out crowd.
El nervio del volcán was released in 1994. The songs in this album have a harder edge, without abandoning its identity with hits such as Afuera, Ayer me dijo un ave, and Aquí no es así. Caifanes ceased to be in 1995 due to Saúl Hernández and Alejandro Marcovich's conflicting musical philosophies about path should the band take.
Aftermath and Legacy
Saúl Hernández formed a new band in late 1995, called Jaguares alongside with former Caifanes drummer Alfonso André. Since then, Jaguares has consolidated into one of Spanish Rock's premier bands in both critical and commercial success. Saúl Hernández's future albums clearly show what direction Caifanes would have taken without Alejandro Marcovich. Despite only four albums in eight years, Caifanes will be forever be associated with the revival of Rock en español and its golden era (1988-1997).
Discography
- Caifanes (1988), aka Matenme porque me muero, Volumen 1
- El diablito (1990), aka Volumen 2
- El silencio (1992)
- El nervio del volcán (1994)
- La historia (1997), (greatest hits compilation)