Wed, Mar 9, 2022
In 1971, a group made of sons of Mexican migrant workers was the first act to be described as "punk rock" in a magazine. That's right -- Latin artists have been instrumental in the creation of punk music, even before it was called punk. Question Mark and the Mysterians' guitarist Bobby Balderrama reveals the story of the band of self-described "Mexican kids" from Michigan who performed on American Bandstand and ruled the charts. As we'll see in Punk In Translation, they were hardly the first - or last - Latinos to make a mark on punk.
Wed, Mar 9, 2022
Could a 1960s band from Peru be the original punk rockers? We'll meet Erwin Flores, frontman of Los Saicos, whose visceral rebel yell would later echo throughout punk music. Also - punk's surprising and deep Latin roots go all the way back to the Cuban cha cha chá in a song that would become a punk anthem for generations to come: "Louie, Louie," recorded by Patti Smith and Black Flag, among others.
Wed, Mar 9, 2022
Did you know that the Mexican flag inspired the Ramones logo? Or that punk rockers were singing in Spanish at legendary venue CBBG during those archetypal punk days in 1970s New York City? We tell the story of Arturo Vega, the immigrant artist who designed the now globally ubiquitous Ramones logo. We meet pioneering Puerto Rican punk drummer and vocalist Rosie Rex who was welcomed at CBGB's at the same time as she experienced racism at record companies. Blondie drummer Clem Burke talks about how Latin music permeated New York and influenced bands in that CBGB scene.
Wed, Mar 9, 2022
Chicana punk matriarch Alice Bag's impact can be felt in later feminist acts like Bikini Kill and even viral sensation the Linda Lindas. In this episode, Alice traces her journey from a violent household in East LA to the stage of Hollywood's legendary punk club The Masque, and talks about how growing up speaking Spanish, listening to rancheras and admiring chola girls' style influenced her identity as a Latin punkera.
Wed, Mar 9, 2022
We take you to the revolutionary East L.A. punk scene of the late 70s, led by Chicano punk rockers who embraced their Latin roots, documented barrio life, and rejected stereotypes in their music; even at the expense of fame and fortune. We explore the story of "La Bamba'' from Mexican music cliché to anarchic punk takeover to global hit through Los Lobos's little-known punk past. Willie Herrón of the seminal band Los Illegals tells us why punk is an extension of Chicano pachuco and cholo gang culture, and Teresa Covarrubias of The Brat reveals how the band was met with the worst cliches of systemic racism when it found success and signed with a major label. John Doe of X attests to the influence of Chicano punk rockers beyond the barrio.