Ekhymosis
Encyclopedia
Ekhymosis was a Colombian
rock band
formed by Juan Esteban "Juanes
" Aristizábal Vásquez, along with friends Andrés García, Fernando "Toby" Tobón and José David Lopera from Medellín
. The band was created in 1988 with heavy influences from Metallica
and other important metal
acts of the 80s, as well as some popular Latino music.
. After some live performances to become known in their city (and more regions of Colombia
), the band recorded a demo of two songs, which described the violence in Medellín
and the injustice of innocent deaths and other problems in Colombia. The demo sold out (thanks to friends and family of the band), and they decided to record a second. This time Ekhymosis had luck: In the studio was a Codiscos representative; she heard and liked the demo and the band signed with that label.
1993 saw the release of Niño Gigante, a heavy metal album that included one of the band's most well known songs, "Solo".
Controversy and the term "sell-out" surrounded the band with their next release: 1994's "Ciudad Pacífico" produced by Federico López, a more hard rock-oriented record with more Latin sounds.
Ekhymosis was looking for their unique sound; they didn't want to be the "Spanish Metallica". Rather, they wanted to create Colombian rock.
In the following year, 1995, the band with its two new members, released "Amor Bilingüe", topping the Colombian charts with the single "De Madrugada". The video of the song had incredible replay value on MTV
Latino.
The same year, Ekhymosis recorded a rock version of the National Anthem of Colombia
, which caused controversy among some but was well-received among Colombian youth.
Ekhymosis was the chosen band to open for Bon Jovi
in November of that year, but due to the murder of the politician Alvaro Gómez
the band decided not to play in order to allow the concert to finish earlier.
The next year, the band released their unplugged album, entitled "Acústico", and Ekhymosis decided to go to Los Angeles
where they played in local pubs and began recording their new album.
In 1997, the band, now with four members (Juan Esteban, Andrés, Toby and José) recorded in L.A their self-titled album, which saw the re-makes of three of their best songs ("Solo", "Sin Rencores", "De Madrugada") and new ones, the most remarkable being "La Tierra", known by some fans as "the second Colombian Anthem".
The band was at its peak, but little knew the fans that those were the last days of one of the most important bands in Colombia.
In 1998, Ekhymosis won 3 Shock Awards (Best National Group, Best Song for "La Tierra", and Best Composer for Juan Esteban).
Some months later, due to internal problems in deciding the future of the band, Ekhymosis disbanded. Juan Esteban, then, began his solo career as Juanes
; the drummer of the band, Jose Lopera, worked with him on his first album, and has continued to work with Juanes to this day; the guitarist of Ekhymosis, Toby, started to play with Juanes on his second album and has continued with Juanes as well.
Juanes has been known to perform Ekhymosis songs at his concerts, namely "Solo" and "La Tierra".
Colombian people
Colombian people are from a multiethnic Spanish speaking nation in South America called Colombia. Colombians are predominantly Roman Catholic and are a mixture of Europeans, Africans, and Amerindians.-Demography:...
rock band
Rock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
formed by Juan Esteban "Juanes
Juanes
Juan Esteban Aristizábal Vásquez , better known as Juanes is a Colombian musician who was a member of heavy metal band Ekhymosis and is now a solo artist. In 2000, his solo debut album Fíjate Bien won three Latin Grammy Awards.Juanes has sold more than 13 million albums...
" Aristizábal Vásquez, along with friends Andrés García, Fernando "Toby" Tobón and José David Lopera from Medellín
Medellín
Medellín , officially the Municipio de Medellín or Municipality of Medellín, is the second largest city in Colombia. It is in the Aburrá Valley, one of the more northerly of the Andes in South America. It has a population of 2.3 million...
. The band was created in 1988 with heavy influences from Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
and other important metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
acts of the 80s, as well as some popular Latino music.
Career
Even since their beginning as a rock band, Ekhymosis showed the same pro-Latino lyrics as Kraken (band)Kraken (band)
Kraken is a heavy metal band founded in Medellín, Colombia, in 1983. The current lineup consists of Andrés Leiva , Julian Puerto , Luis Alberto Ramírez , Rubén Gelvez , and Elkin Ramírez...
. After some live performances to become known in their city (and more regions of Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
), the band recorded a demo of two songs, which described the violence in Medellín
Medellín
Medellín , officially the Municipio de Medellín or Municipality of Medellín, is the second largest city in Colombia. It is in the Aburrá Valley, one of the more northerly of the Andes in South America. It has a population of 2.3 million...
and the injustice of innocent deaths and other problems in Colombia. The demo sold out (thanks to friends and family of the band), and they decided to record a second. This time Ekhymosis had luck: In the studio was a Codiscos representative; she heard and liked the demo and the band signed with that label.
1993 saw the release of Niño Gigante, a heavy metal album that included one of the band's most well known songs, "Solo".
Controversy and the term "sell-out" surrounded the band with their next release: 1994's "Ciudad Pacífico" produced by Federico López, a more hard rock-oriented record with more Latin sounds.
Ekhymosis was looking for their unique sound; they didn't want to be the "Spanish Metallica". Rather, they wanted to create Colombian rock.
In the following year, 1995, the band with its two new members, released "Amor Bilingüe", topping the Colombian charts with the single "De Madrugada". The video of the song had incredible replay value on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
Latino.
The same year, Ekhymosis recorded a rock version of the National Anthem of Colombia
National Anthem of Colombia
Himno Nacional de la República de Colombia is the official name of the national anthem of Colombia...
, which caused controversy among some but was well-received among Colombian youth.
Ekhymosis was the chosen band to open for Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi is an American rock band from Sayreville, New Jersey. Formed in 1983, Bon Jovi consists of lead singer and namesake Jon Bon Jovi , guitarist Richie Sambora, keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, as well as current bassist Hugh McDonald...
in November of that year, but due to the murder of the politician Alvaro Gómez
Álvaro Gómez
Álvaro Gómez is the name of:* Álvaro Gómez Hurtado , Colombian politician* Álvaro Gómez , Chilean actor* Álvaro Gómez , Colombian cyclist* Álvaro Gómez , Colombian sprinter...
the band decided not to play in order to allow the concert to finish earlier.
The next year, the band released their unplugged album, entitled "Acústico", and Ekhymosis decided to go to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
where they played in local pubs and began recording their new album.
In 1997, the band, now with four members (Juan Esteban, Andrés, Toby and José) recorded in L.A their self-titled album, which saw the re-makes of three of their best songs ("Solo", "Sin Rencores", "De Madrugada") and new ones, the most remarkable being "La Tierra", known by some fans as "the second Colombian Anthem".
The band was at its peak, but little knew the fans that those were the last days of one of the most important bands in Colombia.
In 1998, Ekhymosis won 3 Shock Awards (Best National Group, Best Song for "La Tierra", and Best Composer for Juan Esteban).
Some months later, due to internal problems in deciding the future of the band, Ekhymosis disbanded. Juan Esteban, then, began his solo career as Juanes
Juanes
Juan Esteban Aristizábal Vásquez , better known as Juanes is a Colombian musician who was a member of heavy metal band Ekhymosis and is now a solo artist. In 2000, his solo debut album Fíjate Bien won three Latin Grammy Awards.Juanes has sold more than 13 million albums...
; the drummer of the band, Jose Lopera, worked with him on his first album, and has continued to work with Juanes to this day; the guitarist of Ekhymosis, Toby, started to play with Juanes on his second album and has continued with Juanes as well.
Juanes has been known to perform Ekhymosis songs at his concerts, namely "Solo" and "La Tierra".
Albums
| Year | Album |
|---|---|
| 1989 | Desde Arriba Es Diferente |
| 1990 | De Rodillas |
| 1993 | Niño Gigante |
| 1994 | Ciudad Pacífico |
| 1995 | Amor Bilingüe |
| 1996 | Unplugged (Acústico) |
| 1997 | Ekhymosis |