Basque Radical Rock

Cicatriz at a concert in the squad house of Hondarribia

Basque Radical Rock, (Rock Radikal Vasco in Spanish or Euskal Herriko Rock Erradikala in Basque) was a musical movement born in the Southern Basque Country at the beginning of the 1980s and, although there was no specific event, it is considered to have ended in the last years of the decade. Basque Radical Rock bands were from different musical styles, such as punk, rock or ska, but was particularly influenced by punk bands like Sex Pistols, The Ramones and The Clash. It was considered an underground movement, born in opposition to the values proclaimed by Francisco Franco and spread by thousands of people who felt the Spanish transition to democracy was an attempt to change the outward appearance, but not the underlying problems, and felt their Basque national aspirations were betrayed.

The name Basque Radical Rock was first used in 1983 in an article published in the newspaper Egin signed by José Mari Blanco (ex manager of the band La Polla Records), after a music festival against the Spanish remaining in NATO. The concept of BRR was very controversial from the beginning. Despite being Basque nationalists, some bands felt manipulated and denied the label as they considered it commercial. The band Eskobuto nevertheless, claimed that "Rock does not have any fatherland".

The thing that united all the bands was their social and political criticism and the high number of the lyrics criticising organizations in power: The Spanish state, the police, the Spanish monarchy, the Roman Catholic Church, the military, the bullfights and the Guardia Civil are some examples. Together with independant radio stations, fanzines, squat houses and some alternative groups, the movement surrounding the leftist independent political party Herri Batasuna backed the movement. Herri Batasuna in a campaign called Martxa eta Borroka (Rhythm and Fight) began organizing rock concerts combined with political rallies. This helped the bands spread their music in the whole Basque Country. Moreover, thanks to the competitions organized by the newspaper Egin, many bands for example: La Polla, Hertzainak, Potato, Kortatu, RIP, Barricada and Cicatriz, became more widely known.

History

Zarama in Irun in 1986.

The birth of the movement

Before the invention of the label Basque Radical Rock, there were some minor radical bands in the Basque Country, but these had limited influence. In 1977 the first Basque punk-rock bands were created, mainly influenced by the rhythms coming from England. These bands were spread across the Basque region and had limited resources. Linked to the punk philosophy that someone does not necessarily need to know an instrument to play it, more bands were quickly created. Odio (Hate), Basura (Trash), Vulpess, Optalidon, Cirrosis and RIP were some of the first bands.

In the 1980s, as the movement grew stronger, the bands that had the most followers, and consequently drove the movement ahead were: Hertzainak, La Polla Records, Zarama, MCD, Eskorbuto, Barricada, RIP, Kortatu, Vómito and BAP!! but Basque Radical Rock hardly had any effects in the Northern Basque Country.

Campaigns and competitions

Member of RIP, Jul (1986).

The newspaper Egin, and especially the journalist Pablo Cabeza, had a big influence on spreading the BRR. The promoters of the movement used the music section of the newspaper to promote these bands' names and their philosophy. They also organized a competition (Egin Rock Txapelketa) to choose which were their readers' favourite bands. The final of the competition was held in the football stadium of Gasteiz and attracted thousands of punk fans. The band from each area that had received the most votes played: RIP (from Gipuzkoa), Hertzainak (from Araba), Barricada (from Nafarroa) and Zarama (from Bizkaia).

Another important step in spreading the movement was the campaign Martxa eta borroka (Dance and fight) began in 1985 by the leftist independent political party Herri Batasuna. In this campaign political rallies were interspersed by concerts by RRV bands. Despite some bands refusing to join the campaign, the initiative was very successful, allowing Herri Batasuna to correct the initial reaction people may have had against punk and rock music, linking it with drugs and the loss of the Basque conscience, and the BRR movement continued along these political lines.

The gaining of social support, and the increasing number of concerts, had a big impact in a short period of time, and the movement that was initially marginal and supported by few people, became the common ground for thousands of Basque people. Many concerts were linked to the Basque National Liberation Movement, so many were supporting ETA prisoners, Nicaragua, ikastolas or Basque language schools, anti-nuclear movements, local squat houses or free radio, or against militarism, fascism, racism and sexism.

Musically it was not an homogeneus movement. Different musical styles were played under the RRV banner. For example, Barricada played rock, Kortatu and Hertzainak ska and punk, Potato played reggae, Vomito dark rock, and La Polla Records and Cicatriz played punk-rock. It was the attitude rather the music that linked all these groups.

The movement became known outside the Basque Country. Many groups, particularly those who sang in Spanish, played concerts in Europe or South America. Nevertheless, bands singing in Basque like Kortatu, Hertzainak and Jotakie, played in Germany, the Netherlands, Italy and France. In particular the festival held in Barcelona (Catalonia) in November 1985 under the name of Basque Rock, attracted more than 10,000 people to see RIP, Hertzainak (who did not play because of trouble with the Spanish police), La Polla Records, Kortatu and Cicatriz.

From Spanish to Basque

Iñigo Muguruza, member of Kortatu playing in Egia.

Even though Spanish was the main language of the movement, some groups chose to sing in Basque, notably Hertzainak and Zarama. Despite the fact they came from very different areas, they both made the same decision, that to make punk in the Basque Country, the band had to sing in Basque; so the singers of both bands (Xabier Montoia of Hertzainak (who later would create M-ak) and Roberto Moso of Zarama) both decided to learn the language.

Some groups switched from Spanish to Basque, notably Kortatu, who issued their first discs only in Spanish. They gradually evolved inserting more and more songs in Basque until their last disc Kolpez Kolpe is only in Basque. Fermin Muguruza, the singer of the band also learnt the language and later would create other bands like Negu Gorriak and sung mainly in Basque. Danba and BAP!! had a similar evolution.

Independent record companies and the media

The consolidation of the movement is linked to the social-political reallity of the Basque Country in the 80's. The massive birth of black and white fanzines, the network of free radio stations and the squatting movement had a big influence on spreading everything related to the RRV.

At the beginning of the decade the first independent record companies were created: Soñua Oihuka, Discos Suicidas and Basati Diskak, and informal magazines reported on the bands recording their discs with these record companies.

Slowly the movement initially created in an underground environment of bands, recording studios and managers, became more professional. Record companies such as Elkar, IZ and Soñua) opened recording studios and the first sound technicians, such as Jean Phocas, Kaki Arkarazo and Angel Katarain were trained there. The movement even created its own rock management agencies such as Matxitxa.

Legacy

As well as politics, there were other important influences on BRR, especially drugs. Hundreds of musicians and fans died of Heroin. Many others who survived the addiction later dicovered they had the AIDS virus, which was unknown at the time.

The music and attitudes of the period became important for the entire Basque Country and still are for many young people. RRV also had a re-birth when many younger bands released their first records inspired by bands such as La Polla Records, Hertzainak, Eskorbuto or RIP, instead of looking for references in the US or England]. Some of these bands are Etsaiak, Soziedad Alkoholika, Negu Gorriak, Su Ta Gar, Berri Txarrak, Skalariak, Betagarri. Some other later bands from outside the Basque Country influened the RRV., including Reincidentes, Boikot, Ska-P or Extremoduro in Spain; Banda Bassotti in Italy and Mokoka in France.

There was no clear end to the movement, but it occurred at the beginning of the 1990s, as newer bands began to play in more sophisticated music styles. Nevertheless, the influence of the movement is still present in bands, bars, town festivals and popular movements after almost 20 years.

The Basque Radical Rock in films

The documentary Salda Badago directed by Eriz Zapirain describes the beginning of the movement.

Bands

BAP!! Baldin Bada Barricada Basura Cicatriz Delirium Tremens Eskorbuto Hertzainak Jotakie Korroskada Kortatu La Polla Records

M.C.D. Odio Potato RIP Tijuana in Blue Txorromorro Skalope Vómito Vulpess Zarama Zer Bizio?