El Tri
Encyclopedia
El Tri is a Mexican rock band from Mexico City
fronted by Alex Lora
. Founded in 1968 as Three Souls in My Mind, the group is regarded as influential in the development of Mexican rock music.
Over the years, El Tri's sound has touched on several different styles including rock, psychedelic rock
, hard rock
, acoustic rock, blues-rock
, and blues
. The group has enjoyed moderate success garnering numerous gold-certified
albums in Mexico.
Memo Berea lead guitar and lead vocals, Ernesto de Leon on lead guitar
, and Carlos Hauptvogel on the drum
s, the band has been accompanied on some albums by Arturo Labastida on saxophone
and Carlos Martinez on trumpet
. Sergio Mancera also played guitar on some albums. They performed their first public engagement in October, 1968, and released 15 albums on the RAFF
record label before officially changing their name and lineup in 1985.
As rock in Mexico was originally seen as "unauthentic" when sung in Spanish, Three Souls mostly sang covers of American rock and blues songs in English. However, at the Festival de Avándaro, often called "Mexico's Woodstock", they crossed over, singing first in English, then in Spanish. From then on they recorded primarily in Spanish, writing most of their own songs. When asked why they switched to Spanish, Lora replied that it was important for the audience to understand the messages of the songs. While Three Souls had a popular following among the younger generation while singing in English, changing attitudes toward rock pushed the band to perform in the "hoyos fonquis", where the lower classes held semi-chaotic rock shows. Singing in his original language and for a new, energetic, young, and discontented audience, Lora's songs began reflecting more of the reality of the daily lives of average Mexicans, while simultaneously allowing concertgoers to forget those same troubles. Lora gave his own identity to Mexican rock & roll
, becoming its emblem.
", which contains their first single: "Triste Canción". In 1986 their song "Vicioso" became a hit in Peru, topping radio charts, which opened the way to 2 concerts in Plaza de Toros Acho, where they returned one year later for a tour in 7 cities. In the same year the band was invited by Miguel Ríos
to participate in the First Iberoamerican Rock Encounter at the Sports Palace of Madrid
, Spain
; alongside the most representative bands of countries like Chile
, Venezuela
, Argentina
and Spain
. By 1992, the band's albums were consistently going Gold in Mexico.
The United States
have also been an important part of their career, since they have had many presentations in New York
, Chicago
, Houston, and all around the state of California
, for example at Fillmore
in San Francisco, and mainly in the city of Los Angeles
, having presentations in places such as Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
, The Olympic Auditorium
, Pico Rivera, The Palace, The Hollywood Palladium
, The Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, and more. In New York
their presentations were a success in the "Roseland", with 2 consecutive sold-outs. In 2003, they were nominated for "Best Album" at the Latin Grammy Awards
, broadcast from Miami.
In 2004, Los Angeles Times
writer Marla Dickerson noted that the band had "legions of loyal fans" and had "sold tens of millions of albums in Latin America", but that in spite of their success they lost their recording contract because their record label could not compete with counterfeit
ers.
in 2006, Alex Lora said, "the fans, they tell me, 'Hey, write the song of the Pope! Hey, write the song of Che Guevara! Write the song of truck drivers, write the song of taxi drivers, of how it would be if Mexico won the soccer World Cup, write the song of prostitutes...'" and he complies, so that their audience may "feel they wrote it themselves".
Overall, the band is known for a left-wing political
viewpoint and critical perspective of Partido Revolucionario Institucional that has been featured on many of its songs and albums. In spite of their political protests, El Tri maintains steadfast loyalty to Mexico.
guide to Mexico calls El Tri "the grandfathers of Mexican rock." 2006's Rock en Español characterizes them as "Mexico's quintessential working-class rock outfit." They have been described in press as "Mexico's answer to the Rolling Stones": "Ancient, raunchy, but still hugely popular."
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
fronted by Alex Lora
Alex Lora
José Alejandro Lora Serna , better known by his stage name Alex Lora, is a Mexican musician and composer. He has been the frontman of the Spanish rock band El Tri for over 40 years...
. Founded in 1968 as Three Souls in My Mind, the group is regarded as influential in the development of Mexican rock music.
Over the years, El Tri's sound has touched on several different styles including rock, psychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that is inspired or influenced by psychedelic culture and attempts to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues rock bands in United States and the United Kingdom...
, hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
, acoustic rock, blues-rock
Blues-rock
Blues rock is a hybrid musical genre combining bluesy improvisations over the 12-bar blues and extended boogie jams with rock and roll styles. The core of the blues rock sound is created by the electric guitar, piano, bass guitar and drum kit, with the electric guitar usually amplified through a...
, and blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
. The group has enjoyed moderate success garnering numerous gold-certified
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
albums in Mexico.
Three Souls in My Mind
The name "Three Souls in My Mind" was initially chosen as a nod of the head towards conventions for long band names in rock and roll. Originally composed of Alejandro Lora on bassBass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
Memo Berea lead guitar and lead vocals, Ernesto de Leon on lead guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, and Carlos Hauptvogel on the drum
Drum
The drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a...
s, the band has been accompanied on some albums by Arturo Labastida on saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
and Carlos Martinez on trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
. Sergio Mancera also played guitar on some albums. They performed their first public engagement in October, 1968, and released 15 albums on the RAFF
Discos y Cintas Denver
Discos y Cintas Denver is an independent Mexican record label, known for their catalogue of underground Mexican rock music, among other less popular genres.-Catalogue:...
record label before officially changing their name and lineup in 1985.
As rock in Mexico was originally seen as "unauthentic" when sung in Spanish, Three Souls mostly sang covers of American rock and blues songs in English. However, at the Festival de Avándaro, often called "Mexico's Woodstock", they crossed over, singing first in English, then in Spanish. From then on they recorded primarily in Spanish, writing most of their own songs. When asked why they switched to Spanish, Lora replied that it was important for the audience to understand the messages of the songs. While Three Souls had a popular following among the younger generation while singing in English, changing attitudes toward rock pushed the band to perform in the "hoyos fonquis", where the lower classes held semi-chaotic rock shows. Singing in his original language and for a new, energetic, young, and discontented audience, Lora's songs began reflecting more of the reality of the daily lives of average Mexicans, while simultaneously allowing concertgoers to forget those same troubles. Lora gave his own identity to Mexican rock & roll
Mexican rock
Mexican rock music, often referred to in Mexico as rock nacional , originated in the 1950s with covers of standards by Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley and The Everly Brothers, among others, bands such as Los Rebeldes del Rock, Los Locos del Ritmo, Los Crazy Boys, Los Nómadas, and Javier Bátiz soon arose...
, becoming its emblem.
El Tri
In 1985 they became the first Mexican rock band to have a Gold certified record with their album "SimplementeSimplemente
Simplemente may refer to:*Simplemente , a 2001 album by Chayanne*Simplemente , a 1984 album by El Tri*Simplemente Amigos , album by Myriam Montemayor Cruz...
", which contains their first single: "Triste Canción". In 1986 their song "Vicioso" became a hit in Peru, topping radio charts, which opened the way to 2 concerts in Plaza de Toros Acho, where they returned one year later for a tour in 7 cities. In the same year the band was invited by Miguel Ríos
Miguel Ríos
Miguel Ríos is a Spanish singer, composer, actor. He is one of the pioneers of rock and roll in Spain.-Biography:...
to participate in the First Iberoamerican Rock Encounter at the Sports Palace of Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
; alongside the most representative bands of countries like Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
, Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
and Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. By 1992, the band's albums were consistently going Gold in Mexico.
The United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
have also been an important part of their career, since they have had many presentations in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Houston, and all around the state of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, for example at Fillmore
The Fillmore
The Fillmore Auditorium is a historic music venue in San Francisco, California, made famous by Bill Graham. Named for its original location at the intersection of Fillmore Street and Geary Boulevard, it lies on the boundary of the Western Addition and the Pacific Heights neighborhoods.In 1968,...
in San Francisco, and mainly in the city of Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, having presentations in places such as Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
The Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena is a multi-purpose arena, in the University Park neighborhood, of Los Angeles, California, at Exposition Park. It is located next to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, just south of the campus of the University of Southern California.-History:The Los Angeles...
, The Olympic Auditorium
Grand Olympic Auditorium
The Grand Olympic Auditorium is the former name of a sports venue in Los Angeles, California, United States. Located at 1801 S. Grand Avenue, the venue was built in 1924 specifically for the 1932 Summer Olympics, which saw the boxing, weightlifting, and wrestling events held there. At the time it...
, Pico Rivera, The Palace, The Hollywood Palladium
Hollywood Palladium
The Hollywood Palladium is a theater located at 6215 Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, California. It was built in a Streamline Moderne, Art Deco style and includes an 11,200 square foot dance floor with room for up to 4,000 people.-History:...
, The Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, and more. In New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
their presentations were a success in the "Roseland", with 2 consecutive sold-outs. In 2003, they were nominated for "Best Album" at the Latin Grammy Awards
Latin Grammy Awards
A Latin Grammy Award is an accolade by the Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry. Unlike the regular Grammy Award which primarily honors music produced in the United States, the Latin Grammy honors works produced anywhere around the...
, broadcast from Miami.
In 2004, Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
writer Marla Dickerson noted that the band had "legions of loyal fans" and had "sold tens of millions of albums in Latin America", but that in spite of their success they lost their recording contract because their record label could not compete with counterfeit
Counterfeit
To counterfeit means to illegally imitate something. Counterfeit products are often produced with the intent to take advantage of the superior value of the imitated product...
ers.
Themes
El Tri's songs cover a wide variety of subjects. Many songs are written to reflect the personal experiences of founder Alex Lora, but frequently topics for songs are suggested by fan request. In an interview with Hispanic music website batanga.comBatanga.com
Batanga, Inc. is a media company directed to a U.S. Hispanic audience. Batanga operates through several media vehicles, including Batanga.com - a streaming service hosted in Spain - Batanga Publishing and Batanga Live. Batanga, Inc. maintains offices in Miami and New York.Batanga.com also offers...
in 2006, Alex Lora said, "the fans, they tell me, 'Hey, write the song of the Pope! Hey, write the song of Che Guevara! Write the song of truck drivers, write the song of taxi drivers, of how it would be if Mexico won the soccer World Cup, write the song of prostitutes...'" and he complies, so that their audience may "feel they wrote it themselves".
Overall, the band is known for a left-wing political
Left-wing politics
In politics, Left, left-wing and leftist generally refer to support for social change to create a more egalitarian society...
viewpoint and critical perspective of Partido Revolucionario Institucional that has been featured on many of its songs and albums. In spite of their political protests, El Tri maintains steadfast loyalty to Mexico.
Legacy
The 2008 Lonely PlanetLonely Planet
Lonely Planet is the largest travel guide book and digital media publisher in the world. The company is owned by BBC Worldwide, which bought a 75% share from the founders Maureen and Tony Wheeler in 2007 and the final 25% in February 2011...
guide to Mexico calls El Tri "the grandfathers of Mexican rock." 2006's Rock en Español characterizes them as "Mexico's quintessential working-class rock outfit." They have been described in press as "Mexico's answer to the Rolling Stones": "Ancient, raunchy, but still hugely popular."
Discography
Note: "El Tri" were known as "Three Souls in My Mind" from 1970 to 1983- Libertad Condicional (2011)
- 4 Décadas en Vivo (2009)
- Del Three a El Tri (2009)
- Nada que PerderNada que PerderNada que Perder is the twenty-seventh album by Mexican Rock, Blues band El Tri.- Track listing :All tracks by Alex Lora except were noted# "Mi Beatle Favorito" – 6:01...
(2008) - A TalonearA TalonearA Talonear is the twenty-sixth album by Mexican Rock, Blues band El Tri.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Alex Henderson awarded the album 4 stars stating "Some of yesterday's angry young men have mellowed with time and let go of much of their youthful passion, but not Alejandro Lora...the...
(2007) - En Directo Desde el Otro LadoEn Directo Desde el Otro LadoEn Directo Desde el Otro Lado is the twenty-fifth album and seventh live album by Mexican Rock, Blues band El Tri.-Reception:...
(2007) - Más Allá del Bien y el MalMás Allá del Bien y el MalMás Allá del Bien y el Mal is the twenty-fourth studio album by Mexican Rock, Blues band El Tri. This is the first album with the recording company Fonovisa after parting ways with WEA.- Track listing :...
(2005) - MTV UnpluggedMTV Unplugged (El Tri album)MTV Unplugged is the twenty-third album and sixth live album by Mexican Rock, Blues band El Tri. Recorded 10 years earlier the album was released as one more compilation.- Track listing :All tracks by Alex Lora...
(Recording 1994; Released: 2004) - Alex Lora: 35 Años y lo Que le Falta TodavíaAlex Lora: 35 Años y lo Que le Falta TodavíaAlex Lora: 35 Años y lo Que le Falta Todavía is the twenty-second album and fifth live album by Mexican Rock, Blues band El Tri....
(2004)- Alex Lora: Esclavo del Rocanrol (2003), solo album by Alex Lora
- Los Número UnoLos Número UnoLos Número Uno 1968-2003 is the twentieth album and second compilation album by Mexican Rock, Blues band El Tri. Going back to the end of the Sixties when the band was only a trio known as Three Souls in my Mind the compilation take a couple of songs 30 years old as well as hits up to the latest...
(2003), compilation - No Te Olvides de la BandaNo Te Olvides de la BandaNo Te Olvides de la Banda is the nineteenth studio album by Mexican Rock, Blues band El Tri.- Reception :...
(2002) - Sinfónico IISinfónico IISinfonico II is the eighteenth album and first compilation album by Mexican Rock, Blues band El Tri. Is the second one to contain collaboration of a symphonic orchestra.- Track listing :...
(2001) - No Podemos VolarNo Podemos VolarNo Podemos Volar is the seventeenth studio album by Mexican Rock, Blues band El Tri. Is the first one to include Duets, containing 4 of them with recognized singers of Mexican music.- Track listing :...
(2000) - SinfónicoSinfónicoSinfónico is the sixteenth album and fourth live album by Mexican Rock, Blues band El Tri. The concert is the first with an orchestra as a celebration of the 30 years of the band.The album got a Gold certification.- Track listing :...
(1999)- Lora, Su Lira y Sus RolasLora, Su Lira y Sus RolasLora, Su Lira y Sus Rolas is the fifteenth studio album by Mexican Rock, Blues singer Alex Lora and the first one solo, as a separate project of his band El Tri...
(1998), solo album by Alex Lora
- Lora, Su Lira y Sus Rolas
- Fin de SigloFin de SigloFin de Siglo is the fifteenth studio album by Mexican Rock, Blues band El Tri. The most successful single was "Nostalgia" a song about the generational circle completing with the end of century...
(1998) - Cuando Tú No EstásCuando Tú No EstásCuando tú no estás is the fourteenth studio album by Mexican Rock, Blues band El Tri. The main single is "Virgen Morena" a hymn to the Mary Virgin with the cooperation of Carlos Santana; also in "Muchacho Chicho" renowned Mexican comedian Victor Trujillo gives an introduction as his main...
(1997) - Hoyos en la BolsaHoyos en la BolsaHoyos en la Bolsa is the thirteenth studio album by Mexican Rock, Blues band El Tri.- Track listing :# "Todo Sea Por el Rocanrol" – 4:44# "Pamela" – 4:41...
(1996) - Un Cuarto de SigloUn Cuarto de SigloUn Cuarto de Siglo is the twelfth album and third live album by Mexican Rock, Blues band El Tri. It records a concert held on the 25th anniversary of the bound's formation under their original name "Three Souls in My Mind"...
(1995), live - Una Rola Para los MinusvalidosUna Rola Para los MinusvalidosUna Rola Para los Minusvalidos is the eleventh studio album by Mexican Rock, Blues band El Tri.- Track listing :All tracks by Alex Lora except were noted# "Todo Es Materia" – 3:50...
(1994) - 25 Años25 Años25 Años is the tenth studio album by Mexican Rock, Blues band El Tri.The name is a reference to the duration of the career of Alex Lora who started playing in 1968 with the past incarnation of the band known as Three Souls in My Mind....
(1993) - IndocumentadoIndocumentadoIndocumentado is the ninth studio album by Mexican Rock, Blues band El Tri.The name of the album comes for the main single, "Indocumentado" is the common word for a Mexican person or any other nationality that find its way into the US without the proper documentation; The song is a tale of the...
(1992) - En Vivo!!! Y a Todo CalorEn Vivo!!! Y a Todo CalorEn Vivo!!! Y a Todo Calor' is the eighth album and second live album by Mexican Rock, Blues band El Tri.Recorded at the Hollywood Palladium, this was the first large scale concert in the USA for the band...
(1991), live - Una Leyenda Viva Llamada El TriUna Leyenda Viva Llamada El TriUna Leyenda Viva Llamada El Tri is the seventh studio album by Mexican rock, blues band El Tri.- Track listing :All tracks by Alex Lora except were noted...
(1990) - 21 Años Después, Alex Lora y El Tri21 Años Después, Alex Lora y El Tri21 Años Después, Alex Lora y El Tri is the sixth studio album by Mexican rock, Blues band El Tri.The title is a reference to the 21 years of career of Alex Lora since the creation of Three Souls on my Mind.- Track listing :...
(1989) - En Vivo!!! En la Cárcel de Santa MarthaEn Vivo!!! En la Cárcel de Santa MarthaEn Vivo!!! En la Cárcel de Santa Martha is the fifth album by the Mexican rock, Blues band El Tri the first one recorded live with this incarnation of the band and the second one along with seventh album by Three Souls in My Mind also in a jail.- Track listing :All tracks by Alex Lora*...
(1989), live - Otra Tocada MasOtra Tocada MasOtra Tocada Mas is the fourth studio album by Mexican Rock and Blues band El Tri.- Track listing :All tracks by Alex Lora# "Otra Tocada Mas" – 3:00# "Nocivo Para la Salud" – 2:56...
(1988) - El Niño Sin AmorEl Niño Sin AmorEl Niño Sin Amor is the third studio album by Mexican rock, Blues band El Tri.The name of the album is from the main single, which is a history of a homeless kid, reflecting the big problem of homeless population in Mexico....
(1986) - Hecho en MéxicoHecho en MéxicoHecho en México is the second studio album by Mexican Rock'n roll band El Tri.- Track listing :# "Hasta Que el Cuerpo Aguante" – 2:05...
(1985) - Simplemente (El Tri album)Simplemente (El Tri album)Simplemente is the sixteenth studio album by the band originally known as Three Souls in My mind and the first one as El Tri. The name come as a direct reference from the way the fans called the band tri is the way Three sounds in Spanish, hence Simply The Tri.The album was well received with...
(1984) - Renovación Moral (1983)
- 15 Grandes Éxitos (1982)
- Viejas Rolas de Rock (1981); renamed Ron & Roll in 1999
- D'Mentes (1980)
- Bellas de Noche (1979)
- El Blues del Eje Vial (1978)
- Qué Rico Diablo (1977); renamed Óye Diablo in 1992
- En Vivo en el Reclusorio Oriente (1976), live
- La Devaluación (1975)
- Es lo Mejor (1974)
- Chavo de Onda (1973); renamed Adicto al Rock'n'Roll/Three Souls Boogie in 1992
- Three Souls in My Mind III (1972); renamed Óye Cantinero in 1999
- Three Souls in My Mind II (1971); renamed Colección Avandaro 2 – Three Souls in my mind – Versiones en Inglés in 1999
- Three Souls in My Mind (1970); renamed Colección Avandaro 1 – Three Souls in my mind – Versiones en Inglés in 1999