Billboard has once again published one of its much-discussed lists, this time listing the best Latin rock bands in history. In total, it includes 50 groups from the Spanish-speaking world, mainly from Latin America, Mexico and Spain.
The list is headed by the Argentine band Soda Stereo, followed at number 2 by the Mexicans Café Tacvba and at number 3 by the also Argentinian Sui Generis. The Chileans Los Jaivas are ranked 18th as the longest-lived, while the most recent band, Diamante Eléctrico, was formed in 2012.
Enjambre opens the classification from 50th place, which includes diverse origins. For example, Los Rodríguez – the duo of Andrés Calamaro and Ariel Rot – were formed in Argentina but moved to Spain, and Mano Negra were Spaniards based in Paris.
The list includes up to eight Spanish names (nine counting Los Rodríguez), the highest being Héroes del Silencio, which appears at number 11. This would be the best Spanish rock band according to Billboard, followed at number 16 by La Unión and at number 17 by Alaska and Dinarama. Completing the top 20 are Mano Negra at 19 and Jarabe de Palo at 20. Also appearing on the list are Radio Futura at 37, Hombres G at 40 and Duncan Dhu at 45.
Regardless of what the American media says, we recommend this list of the 600 Best Latin American Records in History, which covers releases from 1920 to 2022.
The 10 best Latin rock bands for Billboard:
1.- Soda Stereo
2.- Café Tacvba
3.- Sui Generis
4.- The Fabulous Cadillacs
5.- The Prisoners
6.- Babasonic
7.- Caifanes
8.- Zoe
9.- Manna
10.- Velvety
