With a powerful vocal phrasing that reminds me of the late great Tim Buckley, Alfonso “Toncho“ Guerrero lead legendary Guadalajara, Mexico combo Toncho Pilatos, a very, very strange musical group, whose wide range of influences made them one of the most priced unknown musical gems of the country.

The band was formed in the early 70s, by brothers Alfonso y Rodrigo Guerrero, the band sounded like nothing else on the country at the time, combining pre Hispanic instruments with heavy rock and blues, Alfonso was a multi instrumentalist whose input in the eclectic mix consisted on harmonica, violin, flutes and his most powerful asset his voices, heavy reverb-treated and with a characteristic phrasing few vocalists could pair.

It would have been interesting to know the bands Toncho Pilatos was listening at the time, perhaps Led Zeppelin, Santana, Can, Jethro Tull, James Brown and the aforementioned Buckely, as the band used a heavy blues-rock base for their songs, free form singing, indigenous sounding violins and flutes and a rhythm section that could give Can a run for its money.

The band was a big success locally, but somehow they failed to became know thru all the country, overshadowed perhaps by other harder touring bands with less musical quality and originality, as the band remained in their native city most of the time, perhaps it was the lack of vision of musical entrepreneurs, who failed to see the unique nature of the band, perhaps a European tour may have ignited lost of interest in this exotic band, whose stage costumes was pretty much influenced by Aztec and Mayan culture.

Alfonso was the kind of front man any band could wish, inspired, energetic and possessed of the same manic euphoria Afro Beat legend Fela Kuti had, as Alfonso split his time on stage between singing, playing heavy blues influenced harmonica and giving the band its pre Hispanic touch by adding violins and flutes, while brother Rodrigo mixed his Santana-blues inspired chops with the heavy blues, funk beats the rhythm section was laying down.

Mexican rock acts are little known outside the country, perhaps is the lack of vision of the groups, the lack of opportunities or the lack of originality, as many prefer to become mere copies of international acts, but you just can’t understand how such an amazing band was so ignored during their lifetime, little promoted by its label (although the band was one of the very first Mexican rock groups to be signed by an international label) and plagued with personal problems which led to the sparse musical productions by the band, this, their legendary debut was issued in the 70s, the second opus was made in the 80s and the follow up was issued in the 90s, thus securing the band a place in the sacred underground, far from the spotlight it rightfully deserved, as band members descended into fatal addictions, depression and death.

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