Peruvian Rock - 1990s

1990s

The further growth of the underground scene and the liberalization of Peruvian society and economy allowed different rock musicians to split and create sub-circuits, and rock became very diversified and varied. Some of the best (but not necessarily best known) rock bands from Peru came out during this decade. Leusemia became the leaders of not only the 'underground' faction, but of all Peruvian rock, undergoing a change from very basic rock band to a prolific and influential group that included rock anthems, ballads and symphonic, almost progressive rock. For those who liked the 80s post-punk, Dolores Delirio, Voz Propia and Cardenales were among the best at the 'goth' sound.

Huelga De Hambre was one of Peru's grunge-influenced group. El Aire, G3, Radio Criminal, Los Mojarras, Mar De Copas, La Liga del Sueño and Rafo Raez where very solid bands of diverse genres that soon were followed in the late '90s by other great bands like La Sarita, Ni Voz Ni Voto, Cementerio Club, D'Mente Comun and Líbido that expanded Peru's rock universe.

Due to financial difficulties and lack of support from promoters most bands from different backgrounds had to end up playing the same few venues, which allowed the forming of a solid, knowledgeable and loyal fanbase. Although the concerts were very small at the beginning (50 people, average), as the decade progressed, more young people started to notice these bands and fill bigger venues with 500, 1000, or 2000 people. Towards the end of the decade megaconcerts like "Agustirock", "El Niño Malo", "Antimiseria" and "Inrockuptibles" brought in at least 10,000 fans each.

Peruvian media continued to largely ignore these bands, but started to slowly open up in the late '90s. The few Peruvian acts that got exposure where of a decidedly more upper-class and 'safer' sounding rock. The best bands of "mainstream '90s" rock were Nosequien y Los Nosecuantos, Miki Gonzales and Arena Hash, whose member Pedro Suarez Vertiz became the most commercially successful Peruvian rocker of the decade as he went on a solo career.

The Black/Death Metal scene still remained as an underground act. The old bands, through a lot of effort, released fine self-produced stuff. Many Black Metal and Death Metal bands were formed such as black metallers Illapa, Belzec, Nahual and Death-Thrash Metal acts like Dark Silence, Ensalve and Hadez. Many conflicts between bands (which include thrash talking and rival feelings) and critical political-economics issues were the cause of many disbanded metal groups.

A report on Peruvian rock included in the July 1999 issue of Maximum RocknRoll mentions the following bands: Aeropajitas, Manganzoides, 60s garage punk/garage revival, Asmereir, a blend of punk/ska/reggae/hardcore/thrash, Leusemia, that put out a double CD through Coyote Records and it's titled Moxon, Histeria Kolectiva reminiscing of Leusemia, dios hastío euro-crustcore intense and desperate, Ataque Frontal classic I-spit-on-your-face band, one of the shapers of the scene, Psicosis ska/punk orchestra, 3 Al Hilo, punk rock & roll, Metadona female fronted pop-punk, Magras punk/hardcore and reggae, P. T. K. this means Pateando Tu Kara, anarcho-punk, Los Rezios, Autonomia, Migraña, Irreverentes, Hazloquechuchapunkron, Perú No Existe, Generacion Perdida as well as fanzines: Caleta, Sub, Cuero Negro and Crash Boom Zap.