Desaparecidos

By the close of 2000, Desaparecidos had emerged as an indie rock side project for Conor Oberst, singer and guitarist of Bright Eyes. Their first live appearance occurred on April 21, 2001, at a benefit concert. The name Desaparecidos references the 1970s practice in which certain South American governments abducted dissidents and dropped them from airplanes into the ocean. Lyrics centered on the erosion of human values are driven by high-energy vocals, heavy drums, and powerful chords. The 2001 single “The Happiest Place on Earth” preceded the release of their debut album, Read Music/Speak Spanish. Oberst declared the band’s breakup the following year, noting that Bright Eyes had grown into a full-time commitment amid its rising success. Desaparecidos staged a one-off reunion show in 2010, then officially regrouped in 2012 with plans to record the album Payola for Epitaph Records in 2015.