Los Pericos

Los Pericos emerged as an Argentine rock outfit whose sound fused experimental impulses with heavy reggae and ska elements. Two Buenos Aires radio DJs gave the group its first significant exposure in 1987, after which the track “El Ritual de la Banana” quickly caught on and secured the band a contract with Berlin Records. Their self-titled debut appeared in December 1988 and moved 150,000 copies within months. Extensive road work across Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Chile followed, leading to the Herbert Vianna–produced King Kong. The video for “Fronteras en America” marked their international breakthrough once MTV Latino added it to rotation. Rab A Dab Stail arrived in 1990, while Big Yuyo reached stores in 1993. On 17 September 1994 the band shared a bill with UB40 and Paralamas before 50,000 spectators at Estadio Monumental de River Plate; Pampas Reggae also surfaced that same year. In summer 1995 Los Pericos performed at the Festival de Viña del Mar, one of South America’s premier music gatherings, and subsequently visited Spain and France. Mystic Love and Vivos both appeared in 1999.