Héroes del Silencio
| Company type | Rock band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Predecessor | Zumo de Vidrio |
| Founded | 1984 in Zaragoza, Spain |
| Founder | Juan Valdivia, Enrique Bunbury |
| Defunct | 1996 |
| Fate | Disbanded; reunited for 2007 world tour |
| Successor | Solo careers of members |
| Headquarters | Zaragoza , Spain |
Area served | Spain, Americas, Europe |
Key people | Juan Valdivia, Enrique Bunbury, Joaquín Cardiel, Pedro Andreu, Alan Boguslavsky |
| Products | Studio albums, live albums, compilations, singles |
Number of employees | 5 (band members) (1996) |
Héroes del Silencio—translated as Heroes of Silence in English and often referred to simply as Héroes or HDS—was a rock ensemble originating from Zaragoza, Spain. Founded by guitarist Juan Valdivia alongside vocalist Enrique Bunbury, the group also featured bassist Joaquín Cardiel and drummer Pedro Andreu. They gained widespread acclaim not only across Spain but also throughout the Americas and various European nations including Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, France, Yugoslavia, and Portugal. As prominent contributors to the Rock en español movement, they are widely acknowledged as one of the genre’s most influential acts. Their hallmark sound blended poetic lyricism, intricate musical structures, and tight rhythmic patterns. After a twelve-year career producing several albums, the band parted ways in 1996, with members embarking on individual projects. In celebration of their 20th anniversary and more than a decade after disbanding, they reunited for a world tour consisting of ten concerts in 2007.
The group was distinguished by a unique visual identity rich in symbolism and iconography. Their compositions were noted for enigmatic, transcendental lyrics paired with sophisticated arpeggios and a robust rhythmic base. Inspirations ranged from literary figures such as William Blake and Charles Baudelaire to rock legends like Led Zeppelin and The Cult. According to AllMusic, they epitomize "the very definition of rock en español."
In 2021, Netflix premiered the documentary "Heroes: Silencio and Rock & Roll," which explores the band’s journey through interviews with its members.
Overview
The origins of Héroes del Silencio trace back to 1984 when guitarist Juan Valdivia, his brother Pedro, and cousin Javier Guajardo Valdivia established a band named Zumo de Vidrio. Later on, Enrique Bunbury joined initially playing bass but soon transitioned to lead vocals after demonstrating his vocal prowess. By 1985, the group had adopted the name Héroes del Silencio and began gaining traction after securing second place in a Salamanca music competition, which led to a contract with EMI producer Gustavo Montesano.
Their initial release was the EP Héroe de Leyenda in 1987, which achieved sales of 30,000 copies. The following year saw the release of their first full album El Mar No Cesa, featuring songs like "Mar Adentro," which sold around 100,000 units. This success was supported by a tour documented in the live EP En Directo.
On 10 December 1990, they launched Senderos de Traición, their most commercially successful album with two million copies sold worldwide—including 400,000 within Spain during its first two weeks. The subsequent Senda 91 tour broadened their international presence and resulted in the live album Senda '91. In 1993, Alan Boguslavsky joined the lineup for the release of El Espíritu del Vino, which moved 600,000 copies and was followed by an extensive tour throughout the Americas.
After facing internal disputes that led to a break in Benasque aimed at resolving conflicts, the band collaborated with producer Bob Ezrin on their 1995 album Avalancha, which showcased a heavier rock sound highlighted by tracks such as "Avalancha" and "Iberia Sumergida." The Avalancha tour spanned from 1995 to 1996 and concluded with the live recording Para siempre. Despite disbanding in 1996, posthumous compilations like Rarezas (1998) and El Ruido y la Furia (2005) were released.
Albums and tours
In 1988, Héroes del Silencio released their debut studio album El Mar No Cesa, quickly selling out its limited run of 30,000 copies. While this record leaned toward pop sensibilities, their live shows revealed a more aggressive edge that was captured on the live album En Directo. Their sophomore effort, Senderos de Traición (1990), produced by Phil Manzanera, merged Celtic guitar influences with metal rhythms and included enduring hits such as "Entre Dos Tierras" and "Maldito Duende". Recorded in London—with English-language versions of some songs that were never officially released—the album’s supporting Senda tour covered Europe and the Americas, earning several gold certifications and marking their commercial zenith. During this phase, Alan Boguslavsky joined after meeting the band.
The 1993 release El Espíritu del Vino, again produced by Manzanera, embraced a hard rock aesthetic reminiscent of Led Zeppelin and Guns N' Roses. Singles like "Nuestros Nombres" and "La Herida" reached top positions on European charts. The accompanying El Camino Del Exceso tour took them through Germany, Mexico, Argentina, the United States, among others. This era exposed growing creative friction between Bunbury and Valdivia.
In 1995, working with producer Bob Ezrin, Héroes introduced Avalancha, signaling a shift toward a heavier rock sound. Although Alan Boguslavsky contributed as co-writer on this album despite limited visibility during promotion, singles including "Iberia Sumergida", "La Chispa Adecuada", and "Avalancha" enjoyed chart success along with MTV rotation. The extensive Avalancha tour concluded amid speculation about an imminent breakup; their final scheduled concert was canceled due to disturbances among fans. Their parting words read: "Nos vemos en la gira del proximo milenio. Hasta Siempre" [See you on tour in the next millennium. Farewell].
Breakup and Reunion
While on the Avalancha tour, Héroes del Silencio served as the main act for the 1996 Monsters of Rock festival in Brazil. They also appeared in MTV productions such as Unplugged and Gustock. The extensive "Tour macrogira Avalancha," spanning from July 1995 to October 1996, encompassed 152 shows across Europe and the Americas. Despite their success, tensions within the band and exhaustion took a toll, with Enrique Bunbury beginning to develop solo material that hinted at his future outside the group. Their concluding performance took place in Los Angeles on 6 October 1996.
Prior to wrapping up the tour, the band declared a hiatus during a press event held in Lima, Peru. Creative disagreements, especially between Juan Valdivia and Enrique Bunbury, had escalated into personal conflicts. The deaths of their road manager Martin Druille in 1993 and Bunbury’s brother Rafael in 1994 further affected the group’s spirit. Bunbury later characterized the final months of the tour as a challenging ordeal.
2007 Reunion Tour
A decade after their split, Héroes del Silencio reunited for a tour spanning ten cities including Guatemala City, Buenos Aires, Monterrey, Ciudad de México, Los Angeles, Sevilla, Zaragoza, and Valencia. For this reunion, guitarist Gonzalo Valdivia (Juan’s brother) stepped in for Alan Boguslavsky. Each concert attracted crowds exceeding 20,000 attendees, with Valencia’s Ricardo Tormo Stadium drawing up to 90,000 fans.
This tour resulted in the live album Tour 2007, which included two DVDs: one showcasing performances from Ciudad de México and other locations, and another documentary chronicling their reunion experience. The deluxe edition box set featured CDs, DVDs, backstage passes, drumsticks, a t-shirt, and posters.
After concluding the reunion tour, Enrique Bunbury announced his solo career with the release of Hellville de Luxe, signifying a conclusive end to Héroes del Silencio.
Band Members
- Enrique Bunbury – lead vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica (1984–1996; 2007), bass (1984)
- Juan Valdivia – guitars (1984–1996; 2007)
- Joaquin Cardiel – bass guitar, backing vocals (1984–1996; 2007)
- Pedro Andreu – drums and percussion (1984–1996; 2007)
- Alan Boguslavsky – guitar, backing vocals (1993–1996)
Touring Members
- Gonzalo Valdivia – guitar and backing vocals (2007)
Studio Albums
- El Mar No Cesa (1988)
- Senderos de traición (1990)
- El Espíritu del Vino (1993)
- Avalancha (1995)
In 2006, EMI issued special editions of these albums containing bonus discs with remixes, live tracks, and previously unreleased songs.
Live Recordings
- En Directo (1989)
- Senda '91 (Las Rozas, Madrid, 26 September 1991)
- Parasiempre (Zaragoza, 8 June 1996; Madrid, 7 June 1996)
- El Ruido y la Furia (La Riviera Madrid, 20 November 1996) (released 2005)
- Tour 2007 (2007)
- Live in Germany (2011)
Compilations
- Rarezas (collection of outtakes and rare versions) (1998)
- Edición del Milenio (4-CD box set) (1999)
- Canciones 1984–1996 (2-CD compilation) (2000)
- Antología Audiovisual (2004)
- The Platinum Collection (3 CDs and 2 DVDs) (2006)
- Héroes: Silence and Rock & Roll (2 CDs) (2021)
Singles
- Tracks from El Mar No Cesa (1988–1989): La Lluvia Gris, Flor Venenosa, Mar Adentro, No Mas Lagrimas, Fuente Esperanza, Agosto
- From the album Senderos de traición (1990–1991): Entre Dos Tierras, Maldito Duende, Oración, Despertar, Con Nombre De Guerra
- Selections from El Espíritu del Vino (1993): La Sirena Varada, La Herida, Nuestros Nombres, Sangre Hirviendo, Flor De Loto
- Singles off Avalancha (1995): Iberia Sumergida, Deshacer El Mundo, La Chispa Adecuada
- Cover version of Apuesta Por El Rock'n'Roll featured on Rarezas (1998)
- The track Morir Todavia included in both Rarezas and Avalancha (1998)
Extended plays
- Released EP: Héroe de Leyenda (1987)
Unreleased albums
A number of live performance albums remain unreleased, including:
- MTV Unplugged (1993)
- La Primera Avalancha (1996)
- Rock am Ring MTV (1996)
- Acoustic (1996)
- Tour 2007 – Estadio De la Romareda (2007)
In other media
The track "Avalancha" is available as a bonus song in the video game Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock. The song "Hechizo" was featured in the 2017 Netflix horror movie Verónica, contributing to increased exposure and a broader fanbase.
Films
Music Videos
Music videos released include: Mar Adentro (1988) Entre dos Tierras, Maldito Duende, Con nombre de guerra (all 1991) Nuestros nombres, La Herida, Los placeres de la pobreza, La Sirena Varada, Flor de Loto (all 1993) Iberia Sumergida, Avalancha, La chispa adecuada (all 1995) Live version of Maldito Duende (1996), featured on the Parasiempre album
- All music videos are compiled in the collection titled Antologia Audiovisual
Documental Gira 96
- Included in the "Antologia Audiovisual" collection
Tour 2007 (2007) (2 DVD)
- Features concert footage from Mexico D.F with additional encores from various performances; second DVD contains a documentary
Heroes del Silencio: Estadio de la Romareda (2007)
- Recording of the first night of the Zaragoza show during the 2007 World Tour – issued as a LIMITED EDITION
Tesoro: El ultimo silencio (2007)
- Captured at the final concert in Valencia during the 2007 World Tour – LIMITED EDITION release
Documental El Espiritu del Vino 20th anniversary (2013)
- Filmed in 1993 and launched alongside the remixed 20th anniversary edition of the album
Heroes: Silencio and Rock & Roll (2021)
- Netflix documentary debuting concurrently with a 2 CD and 2 Vinyl album set
See also
- Enrique Bunbury
- Joaquín Cardiel
- Juan Valdivia
- Spanish rock
- Rock en Español