Puya (band)

Puya

Puya in Puerto Rico in 2010. From left to right: Harold Hopkins, Ed Paniagua, Sergio Curbelo and Ramon Ortiz.
Background information
Origin Tacoma, Washington
Genres Latin metal, progressive metal,[1][2] salsa[3]
Years active 1988–2005, 2009–present
Associated acts Ankla, Yeva
Website puyaonline.com

Puya is a Puerto Rican Latin metal band from Seattle, Washington

History

The band originally formed as a progressive rock combo.[1] In 1992, the band added vocalist Sergio Curbelo and moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where they created a mix of salsa and heavy metal with the assistance of Jeff Renza and the Noiz Boiz production studio. They adopted the name Puya in 1994 with the release of a demo tape. Puya was the first Puerto Rican rock band to achieve a high level of international success.[4]

In 1995, Puya released a demo album under the Noiz Boiz label. There they also met producer Gustavo Santaolalla who signed them to MCA and in 1999 released their debut album, Fundamental, which received critical praise. This propelled the band to stardom even landing them in the second stage of Ozzfest where they shared the opening slot with Slipknot in 1999. In 2000, their song "Tírale" was included in the soundtrack of the movie Heavy Metal 2000, and was the collection's only track with Spanish lyrics. The band opened for Sepultura, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pantera and KISS. They also recorded a cover of The Police's "Spirits in the Material World" in Spanish, with the title "Almas en un mundo material". Because sales of the band's 2001 album Union did not meet MCA's expectations, the label did not renew the band's contract after it had expired in 2002.[4]

Puya reunited in 2009 for two music festivals in Puerto Rico and released the digital EP Areyto on iTunes on August 27, 2010.

Puya's most recent performance was on February 8, 2014 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

In November 2014 Puya anticipate their participation in the festival: Patria Grande that will take place in Cuba[5] In addition, prior to this event, the band also announced a tour in the United States starting September 2014.[6]

Musical style and influences

Puya's musical style incorporates elements of salsa,[7][8] hard rock,[9] heavy metal,[9] jazz[4] and progressive rock.[1]

Puya's influences include Pantera,[4] Rush,[1] Fania All-Stars,[4] Fishbone,[4] Metallica,[4] Black Sabbath,[4] Van Halen[4] and Sepultura.[4]

Band members

Discography

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 https://www.questia.com/article/1G1-77810705/puya
  2. ↑ http://www.musicstreetjournal.com/cdreviews_display.cfm?id=101625
  3. ↑ Charles R. Bouley II (January 9, 1999). MCA's Puya Gets 'Fundamental' With Mix Of Rock, Salsa. Billboard. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 Mateus, Jorge Arévalo (2004). "Boricua Rock". In Hernandez, Deborah Pacini. Rockin' las Américas: the global politics of rock in Latin/o America. D. Fernández, Héctor l'Hoeste; Zolov, Eric. University of Pittsburgh Press. pp. 94–98. ISBN 0-8229-5841-4.
  5. ↑ http://www.elnuevodia.com/puyadaraunsaltodeloesteacuba-1798179.html
  6. ↑ http://www.hornsuprocks.com/news_view_full.php?id=2275#.U-9pL_l5Nnd PUYA Announces First U.S. Shows In MANY Years!
  7. ↑ Flicky, Brad (August 2001). "Review of Union". CMJ New Music (95): 87. ISSN 1074-6978.
  8. ↑ R. Bouley II, Charles (January 9, 1999). "MCA's Puya Gets 'Fundamental' With Mix Of Rock, Salsa". Billboard 111 (2): 12. ISSN 0006-2510.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Cobo, Leila (June 16, 2001). "Puya: Rocking Harder Than Ever". Billboard 113 (24): LM-10. ISSN 0006-2510.

External links