Materia Gris

Materia Gris emerged in 1995 as a Latin rock outfit from Los Angeles, taking its name from Oingo Boingo’s “Grey Matter.” Singer/guitarist Carlos Aguilar and Marco Gutiérrez launched the project and began writing original material the following year. In 1997 drummer/keyboardist Diego Palacios and percussionist Daniel Vallejo came aboard, prompting the group to cut an initial demo for wider exposure. Guitarist Jarmaine Zavala and local musician Gilberto Flores later joined the lineup, securing the band a high-profile slot opening for Mexican act Maná on October 10, 1998, at Anaheim’s Arrowhead Pond. Shortly afterward the quartet prepared a second demo that included the tracks “Decir Adios,” “Vuela El Tiempo,” and “En La Ciudad,” which led to a recording contract with Fonovisa in 1999. Three months of studio work followed, and the resulting debut album, produced by Ricardo Ochoa, appeared in May 2000.