Eskorbuto

Genre:Punk Rock


Eskorbuto was a punk band from Santurtzi (Greater Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain) which formed in 1980. They have been one of the most influential bands for Spanish and Latin American punk rock. They are known for their strong attitude and crude lyrics. They were one of the first bands to perform punk with lyrics in Spanish. Eskorbuto is a modified word taken from escorbuto (scurvy in Spanish). Along with the band La Polla Records, Eskorbuto has been very influential in the Spanish rock and punk scene.Born in the left margin of Nervión, in Santurtzi. They grew up, lived and died in the streets. Influence by the punk explosion of 1977 they started playing around 1980, it seems that they started out as a joke according to their earliest songs. The line up consisted of Iosu on guitar and vocals (declared fan of the Who and the Sex Pistols) and Juanma on bass and vocals (who didnt really listen to music) later to be joined by Paco on drums. They gave their first concert in a school close to their rehearsal space with the audience being a bunch of 10-year-olds.
In August 1982, the band went to Madrid to record their first demo. They did the trip in an old Fiat 124 that left Paco pulled up to Burgos, they thought of burning it but ultimately sold it for 3000 pesetas. The trip paid off as they got signed by the independent label Spansuls Records where they recorded their first single. At that time the nascent punk movement in Spain based its subjects in the humor and messing around, but they decided to play about issues that were taboo and swept with their single which was sold out in three months and contained the songs Mucha Policía, Poca Diversión, Mi Degeneración y Enterrado Vivo.


In the summer of 1983, they returned to Madrid to make a new demo, with the songs: ETA, Escupe A La Bandera, Maldito País, Iros A La Mierda. Suddenly, something happened that will forever change Eskorbutos life: they got arrested, then the police heard the demo accused the band of insulting the state and security forces. The antaerrorista law was applied and they remained arrested for 36 hours. The attorney the band chose was Cristina Almeida, they received many calls of support but none from the Basque Country.

While they were detained in Bilbao they collected signatures of support from all sides. Eskorbuto felt forgotten by the pro-amnesty when their managers were arrested in Madrid for songs such as ETA y Maldito País. This rage that embodied in his subject to the Basque Country. The shit he says in his letter "...the pro-amnesty managing sleep while we could of disgust..."
They wrote 3 more songs: Ratas En Biskaia, Soldados, Dios, Patria Y Rey, they recorded their album Zona Norte Especial in Mini-LP format, shared with the band RIP and edited by Spansuls Records in 1984. Due to poor distribution the EP is discontinued quickly. Needless to say, this EP caused them many problems. Due to the song A La Mierda El País Vasco. They were accused of being traitors and were given the worst reputations.