Molotov is a Mexican rock band formed in Mexico City in 1995. Their lyrics, which are rapped and sung by all members of the group, feature a mixture of Spanish and English. The band members also switch instruments and roles depending on what song they are performing. Most of the group's songs are best known for their content of political satire and social criticism towards the Mexican government and society, which lead them to be a subject of censorship at the beginning of their career. Molotov are one of the best-selling Latin bands of all-time, having sold more than four million copies of their albums worldwide. Although some media outlets describe them as one of the most irreverent in their genre, they are still considered one of the best in contemporary rock en español.[1][2][3]
History
The band began in 1995 when two friends, Tito Fuentes (guitar) and Micky "Chicho" Huidobro (bass), started playing together. Javier de la "J" Cueva and Iván Jared "La Quesadillera" Moreno joined them in September of that year, becoming the first line up for the band. Moreno would eventually leave and be replaced by Randy Ebright, the only American member of the band, in October 1995.[4] In February 1996, de la Cueva would also leave. He was replaced by Paco Ayala, establishing the four-member lineup that has remained consistent over the years.
Throughout 1996, the band played in many underground locations in Mexico City and began to gain a small group of fans. More success came when they opened for Héroes del Silencio in Monterrey and later for La Lupita in Puebla. During a concert at which they opened for Illya Kuryaki and The Valderramas, talent scouts from Universal Music Latin Entertainment offered them a record deal. It was a difficult period, with the band having to sell cassettes during their concerts while they prepared their debut album.
In July 1997, they released their debut album ¿Dónde Jugarán las Niñas? The album took its name partly from Maná's album ¿Dónde Jugarán los Niños? This generated controversy, with stores refusing to sell it because of its lyrics and cover. Molotov went out to the street to sell their discs as a form of protest. In 1998, they participated with the song "Payaso" in the album Volcán: Tributo a José José a tribute to legendary singer José José.
In 1998, Molotov released Molomix, an album with remixes of Donde Jugarán, including a version of the classic Queen song "Bohemian Rhapsody" titled "Rap, Soda y Bohemia", and a new song, "El Carnal de las estrellas", which attacks the Mexican television network Televisa as a response to its refusal to air the band's videos. In September 1999, Apocalypshit was released and the band toured Europe, including Russia, and were also a part of the 1999 Vans Warped Tour.[5] In 2001, after a couple of years of touring, they took a rest and contributed to the soundtrack of the film Y tu mamá también. The soundtrack was nominated for a Latin Grammy.[6]) They also worked on the soundtrack of the film Atlético San Pancho.
On January 18, 2007, Molotov's official website addressed a separation rumor, saying that it could neither be confirmed or denied but that more information would be coming soon.[8] A few weeks later, the band confirmed on its website that it would indeed be touring and posted dates starting on April 3 in Ventura, California, and ending on April 15 in Dallas, Texas. Despite no official break-up update, many radio stations announced the tour as Molotov's last. Later that year, the band released the album Eternamiente (a portmanteau of eternamente [eternally] and miente [he lies]) with the hit song "Yofo". The album saw first-week sales of nearly 1,000 copies.[9]
Molotov in November 2006
Molotov performed at the 2009 Coachella Music Festival.[10] In an interview, the band talked about the possibility of releasing a live DVD. In a later interview, Ebright said the DVD would possibly be directed by Y tu mamá también director Alfonso Cuarón. The band's manager, Jorge Mondragón, has said that a book would be published recounting their 15 years as a band.
Band lead guitar Tito Fuentes said that their next album would be released independently during 2010. On May 14, 2010, it was announced that the band would perform at Mexico City's Zócalo for the first time in the band's history, having been denied the chance to play the venue in their hometown five times before. The band performed a concert along with other bands such as Jaguares and Maldita Vecindad to protest against Arizona's SB 1070 law.[11] The band recorded their performance at the Creation of Peace Festival in Kazan in Russia. In May 2012, this was released as the live album Desde Rusia con amor, with an accompanying DVD. The band worked with Mexican film director Olallo Rubio, providing music for a documentary called Gimme the Power in which Rubio analyzes Mexico under the power of the Institutional Revolutionary Party. The documentary was released on June 1, 2012.[12][13]
Music and lyrics
Molotov's lyrics include a mixture of politics, sex, and expletives with dark humor and social commentary[14] which made it hard for Molotov to enter mainstream media. LGBT organization GLAAD criticized the band for their song "Puto", which GLAAD categorized as being homophobic. Molotov's lead vocalist and guitarist Tito Fuentes responded to the controversy over the song by stating, "It's about cowards not homosexuals," further elaborating in regard to their lyricism, "We don't [care] about being politically correct. We respect the art of it. The expression."[15]
Publications such as Vibe said that their music "is incendiary by nature [...] with poisoned darts aimed directly at the heart of the oppressive paternalism of the government".[16] For example, the song "Gimme Tha Power" contained a line that literally translated to, "We have to rip out the problem by the roots and change the government of our country." These lyrics reflected aspects of the tumultuous political climate of the late 1990s. In 2000, the voting public in Mexico elected a president from a different political party than that which had held uninterrupted power since 1940.
In 2018, the song Gimme Tha Power was featured in the episode "Cucaracha/K’uruch", the seventh episode of the second season of the crime drama television series Mayans M.C..[27]
In 2021, the song Here We Kum was featured in the radio soundtrack of Far Cry 6.[28]
Members
Note: The members alternate instruments depending on what song they are performing; the below list shows their main roles in the band.
Tito Fuentes
Ismael Fuentes de Garay Poeta (born 6 September 1974) is a guitarist, bassist, and vocalist for the band. Born in Mexico City to exiled parents from Barcelona after the Spanish Civil War, Fuentes was part of a rock group called La Candelaria after completing high school, of which fellow Molotov member Micky Huidobro was part of as well. His uncle, Alfonso de Garay, is one of the authors of the official anthem for the National Autonomous University of Mexico.
Micky Huidobro
Miguel Ángel Huidobro Preciado (born 11 January 1974) bassist, guitarist, drummer, and vocalist for the band. A Mexico City native, he is the younger brother of Francisco Huidobro, co-founder and lead guitarist of Fobia.
Paco Ayala
Juan Francisco Ayala (born 16 May 1977) bassist, guitarist, drummer, and vocalist for the band. Ayala began his career at a very young age, participating in children's groups until he turned 11 when he decided to become a musician. Before joining Molotov, Ayala collaborated with several bands and artists such as Kenny y los Eléctricos, César Costa, and Thalía. In 1995, the first national rock contest organized by Coca-Cola was held where Ayala, along with his band Perro Bomba placed 5th, the same contest where Molotov won 1st place. Finally, he joined Molotov in February 1996. He was the last to join the group as the fourth vocalist. Ayala is married to internet personality, Heydee Hofmann.
Randy Ebright
Randy Clifford Ebright Wideman (born 16 May 1977) is a drummer and a vocalist for the band, and sometimes plays the guitar and bass. Born in Ithaca, Michigan, his father worked in law enforcement with the Drug Enforcement Administration, having joined the agency in 1984. Upon his recuritment, Ebright and his parents moved and lived in Louisiana for several years until Ebright's father was assigned to work in Mexico City in 1992. Ebright completed his high school studies in Mexico but was introverted with few friends. As a result, he started playing the drums in his spare time. He participated in several bands of different musical styles until in 1995, Jay de la Cueva recruited him to join Molotov after the departure of Iván Jared Moreno from the band. Ebright has been in a relationship with Paraguayan actress and model Fiorella Migliore since 2017, and they have two children children.[29][30]
