The band formed in the early 1990s by singer Martin Sorrondeguy and

The band formed in the early 1990s by singer Martin Sorrondeguy and guitarist José Casas, both of whom remained the group’s consistent members through changing rhythm sections. Their lyrics were almost always sung in Spanish, with the song “We’re That Spic Band” (written in response to an audience member calling them a ” spic band” ) being the sole exception. Los Crudos’ lyrics were explicitly political, addressing issues such as class , police brutality , homophobia , and California ballot propositions directed against immigrants. At concerts, Sorrondeguy would often speak at length between songs about their meanings, partly as a way of getting around the language barrier, though audiences were not always happy about this. Their music was loud, fast, and energetic with songs built around three chords or fewer. “We’re That Spic Band” and “Asesinos” (a song about ” the disappearances of radical youth during military dictatorships in Latin America “) have both been described as their most well-known songs. The band’s first live shows were in Pilsen , the Latino neighborhood in Chicago where the band members lived, as well as where many of their lyrics were first sung. Sorrondeguy has said that, “One of the main reasons for singing in Spanish was to communicate directly with kids in our neighborhood.” In Pilsen, the band also worked closely with community agencies such as Project Vida , an AIDS prevention organization, and Project Hablo, a domestic violence support group.