FOR LOS DUG DUG'S, 1968
(Lalo and I got started on translating an article which appeared in another issue of MEXICO CANTA when I suddenly noticed that it sounded familiar. It turned out to be the same as the last few paragraphs of the band's press kit from their New York days, which Armando gave me copies of when he visited me in 1998. By coincidence, I was going to move that section of the website, originally an extra section of the photo gallery, over to the archives anyway! So here it is again, and I would have to assume that all of it was taken out of various Mexican rock magazine articles on the band between 1966 and 1968.)
Armando Nava and Jorge de la Torre left Durango, towards Tijuana, in search for the triumph as interpreters of modern music. In Tijuana, the riotous and frontier city, the group formed, the result--the domination of Tijuana by The Dug Dugs.
Their style was imposed rapidly, and they were considered the best young musicians of the moment. In Mike's Bar, they initiated their actions, converting themselves in the stellar number of variety. From there they went to California and made several stops in lower California.
In Tijuana, they formed an artistic caravan to present themselves in all the cities of the Pacific Coast to Guadalajara. The caravan was composed of Laura Armendarij, Los Apson Boys, Baby Batiz, The Seven Days, Los Freddy's and other artists.
The program was very ample and of high quality, but the Dug Dug's were the ones who monopolized the ovations and praises, AND THEY CONQUERED.
Now, the Dug Dug's are considered as the best group of the present and the near future. Because their style is not one that passes quickly, they already know how to adapt themselves to their circumstances.
The Dug Dug's competed in the "Rhythm 66" Festival of Modern Music. In the beginning of that festival, the group that shone the most was Los Yaki, but the Dug Dug's could not remain behind for long. The last Sunday of this festival, the Dug Dug's were the most applauded group, which in turn won the festival for them.
Armando Nava Mu�oz plays the organ. He is a native of the city of Durango and is 20 years old. The only "love" that he has is that of music, because, according to what he tells us, he has no time for anything else, and that, undoubtedly favors his career. He defends ardently his long hair, immediately replying to the point: "Everyone has the right to use his hair to its best advantage. Before, it was worn like this--why not now? We are young people who are looking for a different personality for ourselves, and long hair is part of this. Totally, the only thing we want is that the 'public officials' let us use our long hair, being that we intend in no way to impose them on the officials."
"Very good, Beethoven," joked one of the boys. Armando smiled half irritated but without losing completely his courteous manners.
Jorge de Ia Torre is the vocalist of the group, is one year younger than Armando, and, like him, has a great musical vocation. He is also a native of Durango, and his pleasure, independent of music, consists in horsemanship, "Sport of the rich," according to his own words. He also answered with certain indignation when he spoke about the proportions of his mane.
The appearance of the Dug Dug's caused a formidable impact among the public. The young people keep themselves immobile in order to hear the group play. The tribunes around them are filled with boys and girls who listen fascinated by their idols, singing, in spite of the bad distribution of speakers that do not permit them to hear with total clarity. Some of the girls come close to them and appear to admire their tresses. "If they do not like them, we still would not give them up." The attraction of the Dug Dug's is so great that the place is filled, in spite of the fact that they have increased the price and the students are having exams.
The Yaki, The H, and The Dug Dug's are the groups that presently occupy the excellent places among the groups of the republic, now that they all have triumphed. Materially they have destroyed the other groups that they compete against.
For this part, each one of them succeeds day after day, bettering themselves and modernizing themselves in order to demonstrate why they are the groups most discussed and most liked by the public, not only by the youth, but also by the whole "young public," regardless of age.
These three groups are the most valued groups of the present, not only in reference to the cafes, but in all the bars and night spots of the city. This cannot be owed to luck, because they have demonstrated to be the groups that draw the most public at the place where they are performing.
The Dug Dug's, who became known in Tijuana, are originally from Durango. Since they have arrived at this capitol, their interpretive quality has converted them into juvenile idols, and has opened a great number of doors for them. Many places want them to play in their clubs. For those who are recording at the present, it is without a doubt a satisfaction to have them under exclusive contract.
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