Short bio
by Leonardo Gutiérrez
Pastilla is a band from Pomona
California, one of the most important bands on the rock en español
scene in LA. It is the result of a disappeared band named “Juana
La Loca” , in wich many of the actual Pastilla’s
members used to play.
For many pastilla sounds like
punk-rock, or melodic punk, characterized by distorted guitars
and melodic vocal arengments. But the style of Pastilla is defined
as Noise-pop, that comes from de indie rock, style that has
been born in U.S in the late 80’s or early 90’s
as an independent underground movement, when the alternative
music turn mainstream with bands like Nirvana.
The band has formed by the brothers
Adrian and Victor “chicles” (buble gums) Monroy
in 1991. The firs lineup of Pastilla was : Victor Monroy on
the guitar an in the voice; Adrián Monroy in the guitar
and voice, Erick Rubalcava on the drums and Heriberto Gonzáles
on the bass guitar.
Heriberto decides to leave the
band due to his professional studies, and Pastilla line up gets
modified. The next line up of Pastilla is: Daniel Román
guitars, Adrián guitars guitarra, Erick; drums y Victor
who gets in charge of the bass guitar and also keyboards and
the voice.
Pastilla performed opening a Concert
of the Mexican rock band La Lupita, in LA. In this concert Pastilla
was heard by people of the Aztlan Records label, and 4 years
later the label signed the band and recorded Pastilla in 1996.
This album was produced by Ernesto Ramirez member of the band
Maria Fatal.
Later Pastilla collaborates whith their label, to appear with
the song “Agua de Jabon” on the compilation called
“Rockaztlan en vivo en LA”. This album was produced
by Eddie Capo and Ernesto Ramirez
In 1997 Pastilla participated
with their them “Por que tiens que poder” in the
album also a compilation called “Despues de hoy”.
This album was realized under de label WEA Latin as an idea
of Enrique García.
In 1998, Pastilla is envolved
in a compilation again with a cover song, this time in Mexico,
on a tribute album to the Mexican singer Jose Jose , known as
“El Principe de la canción” (The Song Prince),
the album is named “Un Tributo”, and they interpret
the song “Lagrimas”
A year later , the second studio
album of Pastilla is released, produced by Diego Herrera , who
played the keyboards on de legenary Mexican rock band Caifanes,
and has de participation of Sabo Romo Caifanes former bass player.
This album was the one that made Pastilla on de sight of more
people, because of the sound they achieved, the lyrics. It has
remarkable things such as a song recorded in two languages Spanish
and English, that could be heared in English or in Spanish,
just by moving the balance of the stereo player. And a bonus
track , a piano version of de song also appearing in this album
called “Aquí Estoy”.
With this album, they toured in
EUA, and the principal venues of Mexico, in Mexico as companions
of the Mexican Band Jumbo, that made them reacheable for more
peoble.
After approximate 3 years of many
factors, like line up broke ups, issues with managers that made
appear Pastilla as a broken band, Pastilla decides to become
an independent band, they release their third studio record
named Hey! distributed by the independent label Escuchalo records
in the US and in Mexico Antidoto records. A memorable moment
of Mexico Radial History occurs with the realease of this album,
by a live broadcast transmission of the cd release party by
Radio and Internet simultaneously on Mexico and the US. The
band line up at this time was Victor and Adrian Monroy at the
guitars and voice. Erick Rubalcava on the drums. And a bass
player for Mexico and a bass player for the US.
They also realeased a DVD. With
a sort of documentary thing on it , it is a Special edition
given on the live performances on de US.
This year their first music video
is realeased for the first single Comezon of the album “Hey!”.
On 2005 after several performances
on de US, and a Tour in Mexico, they record an a live album
on their performances, including 30 tracks recorded on the principal
on venues of Mexico It is realeased by the independent label
called diva records.
Also in this year Erick due to
personal affairs leave the band, as a result a new line up.
The Monroy brothers on guitars and voices and the Bugs, ex-drummer
of the Mexican band Jumbo, and a new bass player called Yayo
from California.
