La Gusana Ciega
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | Late 1980s, Mexico City, Mexico |
| Founder | Daniel Gutiérrez, Manuel Leyva, Edwin Sours |
| Headquarters | Mexico City , Mexico |
Key people | Daniel Gutiérrez (vocals and guitar), Germán Arroyo (drums), Luis Ernesto Martínez "Lu" (bass) |
| Products | Alternative rock and pop-rock music |
| Website | www |
La Gusana Ciega—which translates to "The Blind She-Worm" in English—is a Mexican band known for its alternative rock and pop-rock styles. The group consists of Daniel Gutiérrez (vocals and guitar), Germán Arroyo (drums), and Luis Ernesto Martínez, also known as "Lu" (bass).
History
Originating in the late 1980s in Mexico City, the band initially comprised Daniel Gutiérrez, Manuel Leyva on bass, and Edwin Sours on drums. After several years, Germán Arroyo took over drumming duties from Sours. Following extensive performances in local clubs, their first album, Merlina, was released in 1996 and received favorable reviews. In 1997, guitarist Jorge Vilchis—previously with Guillotina—joined the ensemble, contributing to the development of their sound on the sophomore record, Superbee. By 1998, La Gusana Ciega had established itself as a prominent indie rock group in Mexico, notably opening for Oasis. Their third studio effort, Correspondencia Interna, was recorded in the United States in 1999.
The band broadened their audience through a 2000 tour encompassing Mexico and select cities in the United States, which was followed by the release of their live album lagusanaciega. In 2001, they introduced an English-language EP titled Edición Limitada, which included the track "Sunday Fever" that appeared on the Latin American version of the American Pie soundtrack.
Despite increasing acclaim, La Gusana Ciega unexpectedly disbanded in May 2002. During this hiatus, Gutiérrez became part of Cosmonova, while Arroyo and Vilchis formed a new project called Pardo VanDaik. Meanwhile, Leyva moved to the United States. The group reunited in 2005 with Luis Ernesto Martínez stepping in as bassist to replace Leyva.
Following their reunion, they released a compilation album and DVD titled Super Especial before producing their fourth studio album, La Rueda del Diablo (2006). Their subsequent works include Jaibol (2008), which features cover songs alongside one original track, and Conejo en el Sombrero (2011), made available across digital platforms as well as on CD and vinyl formats.
Their most recent album, Monarca (2014), earned a nomination for Best Rock Album at the 2015 Latin Grammy Awards. This record was produced by Howard Redekopp—renowned for his collaborations with Tegan and Sara, The New Pornographers, and Mother Mother—and represents a pivotal achievement in their musical journey.
Discography
The band's catalogue comprises seven studio albums, one live recording, one EP, and a greatest hits collection:
- Merlina (1996)
- Superbee (1997)
- Correspondencia Interna (1999)
- lagusanaciega (2000), live album
- Edición Limitada (2001), EP
- Super Especial (2005), compilation
- La Rueda del Diablo (2006)
- Jaibol (2008)
- Conejo en el Sombrero (2011)
- Monarca (2014)
- Borregos en la Niebla I (2017)