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ELPASO: A Punk Story

ELPASO: A Punk Story

by Benjamin Villegas

Published by Deep Vellum Publishing

8.5"x5.5", 200p, 20 b+w photos, paperback

$15.95

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In a state rife with caricatures, Benjamin Villegas’ "anti-biography" explores the history of a Texas border-town punk band too good to be true.

 

In 2015, Benjamin Villegas traveled to Texas in an attempt to write the biography of a music group that could have changed the history of rock: ELPASO, a Chicano band from the U.S.-Mexico border with a punk sensibility, a long since-defunct crew, and little left to remember it by but a suitcase of fanzines and one-off recordings.

 

This is the story of one of the many bands that will never appear in rock n’ roll history books, but is at the core of the scene; a band that earned its stripes from sweaty fans and self-taught rock aficionados in basements, garages, and small venues across the country. This is the story of two kids who came together to embrace the punk ethos of the 80’s and be a part of the rock n’ roll revolution sweeping the US, a world of the Ramones, Black Flag, and, of course, ELPASO.

 

 

Benjamin Villegas was born in Spain. He was named after Fantastic Four's The Thing, and grew up in a household full of comics, music, and movies that shaped his taste for American pop culture. He is a musician, illustrator, audiovisual producer, and graphic designer. He is also the author of Huele como a espíritu posadolescente (Smells Like Postadolescent Spirit).

 

Jay Noden (who translated this) is a Spanish translator who has worked on a variety of titles both literary and design/architecture-related. He lives in Barcelona.

 

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