RBD

RBD

Company type	Musical group
Industry	Music
Founded	October 30, 2004 (2004-10-30)
Founder	Televisa
Defunct	March 10, 2009 (2009-03-10)
Headquarters	Mexico City , Mexico
Products	Latin pop music albums, concerts, DVDs

RBD was a Latin pop ensemble from Mexico, created as part of Televisa's telenovela Rebelde (2004–2006). The group was composed of Anahí, Dulce María, Maite Perroni, Alfonso Herrera, Christopher von Uckermann, and Christian Chávez. Active on the international stage between 2004 and 2009, they sold in excess of 15 million records, positioning themselves among the world's top-selling Latin music performers.

Their initial album, Rebelde (2004), garnered significant acclaim. The subsequent release, Nuestro Amor (2005), secured their inaugural Latin Grammy nomination in 2006. In 2006, Celestial marked their first album to be launched simultaneously across global markets; its lead track "Ser o Parecer" dominated the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart for two consecutive weeks. That same year, they introduced their first English-language project, Rebels. The 2007 record Empezar Desde Cero earned them an additional Latin Grammy nod. Their concluding studio effort, Para Olvidarte De Mí, came out in 2009.

RBD officially came together on 30 October 2004 and declared their split effective as of 10 March 2009. In September 2020, four founding members—Maite Perroni, Anahí, Christopher von Uckermann, and Christian Chávez—reunited for a virtual concert and digital release. On 19 January 2023, all members except Alfonso Herrera revealed plans for a one-time tour named the Soy Rebelde Tour.

2004–2005: Rebelde and Nuestro Amor

RBD (an acronym derived from "ReBelDe" • English: Rebel) was established on 30 October 2004 following the debut of the Mexican soap opera Rebelde, produced by Pedro Damián and adapted from Chris Morena’s Rebelde Way. The lineup consisted of Anahí, Alfonso Herrera, Dulce María, Christopher von Uckermann, Maite Perroni, and Christian Chávez. Their first single, "Rebelde", was released a month prior to the official formation of the band and served as the lead single for their debut album Rebelde, which EMI released on 11 November 2004. All four singles from this album reached number one in Mexico.

The album Rebelde performed well in the United States, peaking at number 95 on the Billboard 200 and securing the number two spot on the Latin Albums chart. In July 2005, they issued a live CD/DVD titled Tour Generación RBD En Vivo, capturing their Mexican tour that included 45 sold-out shows, with sixteen held in Mexico City alone. In Spain, the album remained at number one for five consecutive weeks and earned a triple Platinum certification after selling more than 240,000 copies.

Building on the telenovela’s popularity, the group released their sophomore album, Nuestro Amor, on 22 September 2005 while the show was on hiatus. This album featured twelve tracks plus two bonus songs and shattered sales records in Mexico by moving 127,000 units on its first day and reaching 160,000 within its initial week. In the U.S., it held the top position on the Latin Albums chart for three weeks and reached number 88 on the overall Billboard 200. Four singles from this album attained number one status in Mexico; several also charted on the U.S. Hot Latin Songs list. The album received double Platinum certification in Spain. Additionally, a Portuguese-language edition of their debut album, titled Rebelde (Edição Brasil), was launched in November 2005 targeting the Brazilian market.

2006–2007: Celestial and Rebels

At the beginning of 2006, RBD launched their inaugural U.S. tour, which was captured and issued as the CD/DVD Live in Hollywood in April 2006. This release reached number six on the Latin Albums chart. Around this time, former vocalist Lynda Thomas officially joined as a contributor to the group's projects.

In May 2006, the band introduced a Portuguese-language adaptation of Nuestro Amor titled Nosso Amor Rebelde, aimed specifically at the Brazilian market. Although its release on a Friday limited initial sales tracking, it marked their first album to break into the top 20 of the Billboard 200. This album also earned RBD a Latin Grammy nomination for Best Pop Album by a Duo or Group.

Their third studio album, Celestial, produced by Carlos Lara and Armando Ávila, was released in November 2006. It entered the Billboard 200 at number 15 with over 137,000 copies sold during its first week in the U.S., featuring popular tracks such as "Ser o Parecer". The album achieved Platinum certification in Spain.

December saw the launch of a Portuguese version titled Celestial (Versão Brasil), recorded specifically for Brazil—marking their first album production within that country. The Brazilian leg of their tour resulted in the DVD release Live in Rio. That year, they were recognized for exceeding sales of 2.5 million albums and DVDs in Brazil. Additionally, December featured the release of their debut English-language album, Rebels, which debuted at number 40 on the Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 94,000 copies and achieved Gold status in Japan for selling over 250,000 units.

At the 2007 Billboard Latin Music Awards, RBD garnered several nominations including "Latin Pop Album of the Year By a Duo or Group" for both Celestial and Live in Hollywood, as well as "Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year" and "Latin Tour of the Year" for their Tour Generación RBD. They secured wins in all nominated categories, including "Latin Pop Album of the Year" for Celestial.

2008–2009: Empezar Desde Cero and Para Olvidarte De Mí

On 2 March 2007, Chávez publicly disclosed his sexual orientation following leaked images from his marriage ceremony in Canada, appealing to fans for support and understanding. Concurrently, members engaged in side initiatives such as participating in Sálvame, aiding homeless youth, and starring in their sitcom RBD: La Familia. They received four nominations across three categories at that year’s Billboard Latin Music Awards.

In early 2007, preparations began for the Tour Celestial, which commenced on 20 April in Ecuador. On 28 May, they performed a medley during the Miss Universe 2007 finale held in Mexico City. The video for "Bésame sin miedo" was filmed in Romania during their tour that June. That same year, RBD headlined Pepsi advertisements alongside The Black Eyed Peas aimed at South American and Spanish-speaking audiences. At Premios Juventud 2007, they won seven awards including "Voice of the Moment" and "Favorite Concert". They set a record in Brazil by having three albums simultaneously within the top 20 charts. Their rendition of "Tu amor" earned a nomination for Best International Song in France. Christopher von Uckermann emphasized RBD’s worldwide impact surpassing legendary Latin groups such as Menudo and Timbiriche within just five years.

The first-ever global celebration known as "RBD Day" took place on 4 October 2007 with festivities held alongside fans in Houston. On this occasion, they announced their fifth studio album, Empezar Desde Cero, produced by Carlos Lara and Armando Ávila. The lead single "Inalcanzable" reached number two on Mexican charts. Released on 20 November 2007, the album debuted at number one on the Billboard Latin Albums chart and secured top ten positions across countries including Brazil and Mexico. By November 2008, it had sold over one million copies worldwide and was voted third best album of 2007 by readers of Billboard.

In April 2008, RBD performed a complimentary concert to an estimated crowd of half a million fans in Brazil’s capital city. They became the first artists to have six albums concurrently ranked within Slovenia’s top ten charts. Their album Empezar Desde Cero received a nomination for Best Pop Album By a Duo or Group with Vocals at the Latin Grammy Awards that year. On 14 August, they released a greatest hits compilation entitled RBD The Best Of.

On 15 August 2008, RBD announced plans to disband during 2009. Manager Pedro Damián explained that members were pursuing individual careers: Herrera and Perroni focused on acting; Chávez toured with Avenue Q while preparing solo ventures; Anahí opened a clothing boutique and founded an organization addressing eating disorders; Dulce María pursued film projects; Uckermann starred in Fox’s Colombian series Kdabra. On 25 November, they issued a farewell CD/DVD package titled Best Of.

Their final studio effort, Para Olvidarte De Mí (2009), featured its title track as a single. The live DVD documenting their concluding concert in Brazil, titled Tournée do Adeus, was released on 2 December 2009.

2020: Streaming comeback, social media revival, and Ser O Parecer Virtual Concert

Following a prolonged absence from streaming platforms caused by Universal Music’s acquisition of EMI, former band members revealed in August 2020 that all six studio albums—including their Brazilian editions—would be accessible on streaming services starting 3 September. Plans were also made to issue physical copies.

To celebrate this digital return, four original members—Anahí, Maite Perroni, Christian Chávez, and Christopher von Uckermann—came together for a virtual performance on 26 December. Alfonso Herrera and Dulce María were absent; Dulce María explained her non-participation was due to pregnancy.

After teasing the event on social media, the group released the track "Siempre He Estado Aquí" on 17 November across various streaming platforms. This release was supported by a TikTok challenge and an animated music video uploaded to YouTube.

2023: Soy Rebelde Tour

In December 2022, several members triggered reunion rumors by archiving their Instagram posts. On 19 December, RBD’s official Instagram shared a teaser linking to "soyrebelde.mundo," counting down to 19 January 2023 with the phrase "Prepare your ties."

On that day, a video confirmed the Soy Rebelde Tour, announcing dates in major cities such as Los Angeles, New York City, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Mexico City. The initial itinerary featured 26 concerts commencing on 25 August in El Paso, Texas, spanning venues across the United States, Brazil, and Mexico.

Due to overwhelming demand, extra performances were added in Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, and Medellín (Colombia). The tour set records including the highest number of shows at Mexico City's Foro Sol venue—surpassing previous marks held by Daddy Yankee and Bad Bunny—and sold out every scheduled date including additional shows. The final concert is planned for 21 December at Estadio Azteca.

Members

• Anahí –
• Christian Chávez –
• Maite Perroni –
• Christopher von Uckermann –
• Dulce María –
• Alfonso Herrera –

Timeline

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bar:Alfonso text:"Alfonso Herrera"

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bar:Anahí from:14/12/2022 till:21/12/2023 color:Anahí
bar:Christian from:30/10/2004 till:10/03/2009 color:Christian
bar:Christian from:17/11/2020 till:26/12/2020 color:Christian
bar:Christian from:14/12/2022 till:21/12/2023 color:Christian
bar:Maite from:30/10/2004 till:10/03/2009 color:Maite
bar:Maite from:17/11/2020 till:26/12/2020 color:Maite
bar:Maite from:14/12/2022 till:21/12/2023 color:Maite
bar:Christopher from:30/10/2004 till:10/03/2009 color:Christopher
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bar:Dulce from:**14**/**12**/**2022** till:**21**/**12**/**2023** color:Dulce
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Spanish Albums

Studio Releases

• Rebelde (2004)
• Nuestro Amor (2005)
• Celestial (2006)
• Empezar Desde Cero (2007)
• Para Olvidarte de Mí (2009)

Bilingual Albums

Studio Releases

• Rebelde (Edição Brasil) (2005)
• Nosso Amor Rebelde (2006)
• Celestial (Versão Brasil) (2006)
• Rebels (2006)

Television

Year	Title	Role	Additional Information
2004-06	Rebelde	Principal Cast	Band formed during filming
2007	RBD: La familia		Fictionalized portrayal of the group; 13 episodes
	Lola, érase una vez	Themselves; guest appearance; Episode 137; Perroni nicknamed "Cinderella"

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2006	¿Que Hay Detrás de RBD?	Themselves	Documentary feature
2020	Ser O Parecer:The Global Virtual Union	Themselves	Virtual concert; María and Herrera featured via archive footage
2023	Por Siempre RBD	Themselves	Concert film; Herrera not present

Tours

• Tour Generación RBD (2005–07)
• Celestial Tour (2007)
• Empezar Desde Cero Tour (2008)
• Tour del Adiós (2008)
• Soy Rebelde Tour (2023)

2005–07: Tour Generación RBD

The band's inaugural national tour encompassed 80 sold-out performances across Mexico, attracting over 150,000 attendees in Monterrey alone. OCESA certified it as the fourth fastest-selling tour in Mexico, trailing only major acts such as Britney Spears and Backstreet Boys. This tour spanned from May to December 2005 and achieved notable success throughout Latin America, especially in Colombia.

The U.S. segment commenced in January 2006 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, drawing an audience exceeding 68,000—a record attendance for a Latin act at that venue. Overall, the North American leg generated nearly $23.6 million from ticket sales totaling more than 694,000 worldwide.

2007–08: Tour Celestial

This third touring cycle included stops in Latin America, the United States, and Europe. A highlight was a Madrid concert that gathered over 40,000 fans and was recorded for the DVD release titled Tour Celestial 2007. The U.S. dates were postponed to incorporate new material from their forthcoming album Empezar desde Cero. North American shows amassed $5.4 million with close to 294,000 tickets sold globally.

2008: Empezar Desde Cero World Tour

Launching in February at Dodge Arena in Hidalgo, Texas, with Timbiriche opening in the U.S., this tour extended through Argentina, Brazil—where audiences surpassed half a million attendees, surpassing Rolling Stones attendance records—Chile, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Paraguay, Serbia, Spain, Romania, among others.

Pollstar ranked the group #49 among top-grossing acts mid-year 2008 with over 166,000 tickets sold; by year's end, North American revenue exceeded $4.4 million solely from ticket sales.

2008: Tour del Adiós

Announced on August 14 as their farewell tour spanning South America, North America, and Europe from November through December. Initial shows took place in various Argentine cities followed by performances across the Americas and Europe, concluding with final concerts in Madrid.

In Brazil ("Turnê do Adeus"), they attracted tens of thousands of fans including record-breaking crowds in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo where their last live DVD was filmed.

2023:Soy Rebelde Tour

The tour commenced in August in El Paso, Texas, initially featuring thirty concerts across the United States through October. Responding to high demand, additional dates were incorporated, including four sold-out performances in Medellín, Colombia.

In Brazil, the itinerary encompassed several shows in both Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, culminating with six concerts at Foro Sol in Mexico City.

This tour set new records at various venues, notably surpassing previous show counts at Foro Sol held by artists like Daddy Yankee and Bad Bunny. Every scheduled concert achieved sell-out status, including extra dates added up to the final event at Estadio Azteca in December.

Legacy

RBD became a pivotal force in Latin pop during the mid-2000s, propelled by the combined influence of the telenovela Rebelde, effective marketing strategies from 2004 to 2009, and a strong connection with young audiences. Their discography of six studio albums and two television series garnered multiple accolades and secured a significant cultural legacy. Christian Chávez gained recognition as Mexico’s first openly gay singer with international acclaim after publicly sharing his sexual orientation in March 2007. October 4 is celebrated annually as RBD World Day, commemorating the original premiere of 'Rebelde' in Mexico.

Fundación Sálvame

In February 2006, during a Brazilian event where all six members signed autographs and performed, a crowd surge following their departure resulted in 43 injuries and three deaths. The band addressed this tragedy during their Celestial tour, expressing profound regret and confirming meetings with the affected families.

On May 1, 2006, RBD founded "Fundación Sálvame" ("Save Me Foundation"), aimed at aiding street children with operations spanning Mexico, Brazil, and Spain.

See also

• List of highest-grossing concert tours by Latin artists
• List of most-attended concert tours
• List of music artists and bands from Mexico
• List of number-one Billboard Hot Latin Pop Airplay of 2005
• List of number-one Billboard Hot Latin Pop Airplay of 2006
• List of number-one Billboard Hot Latin Songs of 2006
• List of number-one Billboard Latin Pop Albums from the 2000s
• List of number-one Billboard Top Latin Albums of 2005
• List of number-one Billboard Top Latin Albums of 2006
• List of number-one Billboard Top Latin Albums of 2007
• List of Latin songs on the Billboard Hot 100
• List of best-selling albums in Brazil
• List of best-selling albums in Mexico
• List of best-selling Latin music artists
• List of number-one albums of 2005 (Mexico)
• Top Latin Albums Year-End Chart
• Top 100 Mexico