The group emerged in 1985 with clear rock, heavy metal, and punk influences and has grown to become a musical icon in Spain and Latin America.“Porretas”is no longer just the name of the band, but also that of a square dedicated to them by their neighbors in the Hortaleza neighborhood.
On March 21, the band celebrated the 35th anniversary of the release of their first album with a big concert at La Riviera in Madrid, and in addition to filling the venue, they received a wonderful surprise from their district, Hortaleza.
Thanks to the collaboration between the Hortaleza Punks collective and the San Lorenzo neighborhood association, Porretas fans were able to enjoy a community paella and travel together to the concert on a chartered bus. As a grand finale, they installed a blue plaque bearing the name “Plaza de los Porretas” in a green space between Repelón and Barichara streets, modeled after the originals from the Madrid City Council.
Neighborhood Rock
This tribute reinforces the bond between Porretas and their roots in Hortaleza, where they remain deeply loved and cherished. In fact, the plaque is located at the back of the Hortaleza Punks collective’s space, where many neighborhood bands rehearse.
Although they couldn’t attend because they were preparing for a very important concert , the members of Porretas are very grateful for the gesture. According to El Periódico de Hortaleza, José Cobela, Bode, the band’s guitarist, said they’ll have to stop by the square “and give them a little something in return.”
A historic recognition
Madrid’s interest in honoring the musicians of Porretas is not new. It has been on the table since 2012, when Izquierda Unida proposed naming a street after the singer and founder of the group, Roberto Mira, who had passed away a year earlier.
In the end, the City Council rejected the proposal and, instead, dedicated the annual Hortaleza music competition to him, so that to this day it retains the name“Roberto Mira Music Competition.”
With this new plaque, Porretas reaffirms its presence in the neighborhood and on the music scene, following a 35-year career. They are currently still active, with an extensive concert schedule available on their website, with upcoming stops in Toledo, Bogotá, San José, and Pamplona.