Colombian Rock - History

History

The exact moment in which Colombian rock was born is difficult to trace. However, it is clear that at some time in the 1960s a boom in rock music happened in Colombia, as a result of globalization, the influence of the foreign music of that decade, and opposition to the Vietnam war. From that moment in time came the first rock bands in the country. The most famous band in those years where Los Speakers from Bogotá. Their last and most famous album was The Speakers en el maravilloso mundo de Ingeson edited in 1968.

Some bands of the sixties: Los Speakers (1963 - 1968), Los Flippers (1965 - 1973), Los Yetis (1965 - 1969), Los Ampex (1965 - 1967), Los Young Beats (1966), Los Streaks (1967), Time Machine (1967), The Walflower Complextion (founded by Americans 1966 - 1967).

After founding Los Speakers, Humberto Monroy also founded Siglo Cero (1969 - 1970) and the legendary band Géne-sis (1972 - 1992), that produced works through the 70's and 80's.

In the 80s, Kraken became the first known heavy metal band in Colombia, as well as the oldest still active band of the country, becoming the progenitors of many rising bands until today. Those included Ekhymosis, from which Juanes split for a solo career.

Bogotá, Medellín and Cali were the cities where this movement started to grow, and they remain today as the main cradles for new groups and styles. Colombian rock is grouped with all Rock en español, a movement led by Argentinian rock and Mexican rock.