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'{{Short description|Rock band}} {{cleanup|date=February 2011}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Los Dug Dug's | image = | caption = | landscape = Yes | background = group_or_band | alias = Xippos Rock | genre = [[Psychedelic rock]], [[progressive rock]], [[rock and roll]], [[garage rock]], [[hard rock]] | origin = [[Durango (city)|Durango]], [[Mexico]] | years_active = 1960-present | label = [[RCA Records|RCA]], [[BMG Music|BMG]] | website = {{URL|raybrazen.webng.com/dugdugs.com}} | past_members = Armando Nava<br />Jorge Luján <br /> Alberto Escoto <br /> Jorge de la Torre †<br />Sergio Orrante<br />Moisés Muñoz }} '''Los Dug Dug's''' is a rock group from [[Durango]], [[Mexico]], best known for their work in the 1960s and early 1970s. Los Dug Dug's is one of the first Mexican bands to show [[The Beatles]]' influence, and noted as one of the first [[Rock music in Mexico|Mexican rock]] bands to write their own songs in English, as well as cover songs by British and American acts in English, breaking what had up to then been an unwritten rule in Mexican rock.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Los Dug Dug's Biography, Songs, & Albums |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/los-dug-dugs-mn0001459070/biography |access-date=2022-08-16 |website=AllMusic |language=en}}</ref> The band continues to perform today. == Sound == Los Dug Dug's "create a harrowing sonic universe that's at once expansive and claustrophobic, like some of your most memorable drug trips".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Segal |first=Dave |title=Why Should I Give a Fuck About... Los Dug Dug's? |url=https://www.thestranger.com/music/2017/08/23/25380054/why-should-i-give-a-fuck-about-los-dug-dugs |access-date=2022-08-16 |website=The Stranger |language=en}}</ref> They have been called "a fiery and exciting band of acid rock iconoclasts" and their music described as "fuzzy, epic psych-rock jams" and "swirling, wild psychedelia".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Terich |first=Jeff |title=Get to Know the Wild Psychedelic Rock of Mexico's Los Dug Dug's |url=https://www.sandiegomagazine.com/things-to-do/the-setlist/get-to-know-the-wild-psychedelic-rock-of-mexicos-los-dug-dugs/article_342429b8-a621-53f6-b741-e4222923b430.html |access-date=2022-08-16 |website=San Diego Magazine |language=en}}</ref> When reissuing their self-titled debut, [[Light in the Attic Records]] referred to Armando Nava as a "psychedelic guru" and describes the record as a "heavy, explosive album, a record which captures the fever/dream humidity of flower children running amok on a July afternoon."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dug Dug's - Dug Dug's (aka Lost In My World) |url=https://lightintheattic.net/releases/567-dug-dug-s-aka-lost-in-my-world |access-date=2022-08-16 |website=Light In The Attic Records}}</ref> ==History== === Early years === In 1960, a seven-member rock 'n' roll band known as '''Xippos Rock''' was formed by high school students in [[Durango City|Durango]], [[Durango]], [[Mexico]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=The Story of Los Dug Dug's |url=https://www.geocities.ws/raybrazen/dugbio.htm |access-date=2022-08-16 |website=www.geocities.ws}}</ref> Roberto Miranda was lead guitarist, and Moises Munoz was the bass player. In college, they invited Armando Nava, whom they had frequently seen carrying a guitar on his bike, to join the band. Nava had a cousin, Jorge Luján, who was very close to him, and Nava taught him how to play the guitar. Later, a drummer, Sergio Orrante, joined the band, as did singer Francisco Alcalde. The final member, Jorge De La Torre, joined the band as a second singer. The band did not have electric guitars or drums, so they performed using acoustic guitars with homemade pick-ups. For drums, they used a steel chair. Los Dug Dug's played at a local radio station with the chair and acoustic guitars, as well as at local events and theatres in Durango, such as Cine Principal. The songs played in the early years were covers from other Mexican rock bands such as [[Los Teen Tops]], [[Los Locos Del Ritmo]] and Los Rebeldes del Rock. Nava and De La Torre emerged as the band's leaders after the original frontman quit.<ref name=":0" /> Nava's father was a salesperson, and he moved the family to Tijuana.<ref name=":0" /> After a year or so, Nava wanted to go back to Durango and try to bring Xippos Rock to Tijuana. The band started playing in Mazatlan, in [[Ciudad Obregón|Obregon, Sonora]], and at the request of Nava's father, their manager, Nava changed their name to Los Dug Dug's (for Durango, Durango) and continued their journey to Tijuana.<ref>Ankeny, Jason. "Los Dug Dug's: Artist Biography." ''Allmusic.'' http://www.allmusic.com/artist/los-dug-dugs-mn0001459070/biography</ref> It was here that Los Dug Dug's began to develop their English-language rock covers:<ref name=":2" /><blockquote>"During a brief visit to Texas, Nava purchased copies of the Beatles' earliest records and played them for the band."<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Los Dug Dug's |url=https://www.deezer.com/en/artist/1203322 |access-date=2022-08-16 |website=Deezer |language=en-GB}}</ref></blockquote>The band's arrival at Tijuana marked the start of their rock career. At first they had to play at bars and strip clubs on both sides of the border.<ref>Ankeny, Jason. "Los Dug Dug's: Artist Biography." ''Allmusic.'' http://www.allmusic.com/artist/los-dug-dugs-mn0001459070/biography</ref> Soon they landed a regular gig at Mike's Bar, where they established their reputation.<ref>Ankeny, Jason. "Los Dug Dug's: Artist Biography." ''Allmusic.'' http://www.allmusic.com/artist/los-dug-dugs-mn0001459070/biography</ref> After two months in Tijuana, the drummer Orrante decided to go back to Durango and return to high school. Los Dug Dug's were the first group to sing covers and original songs in English, creating what would be known as [[La Onda|La Onda Chicana]], a movement similar to other 1960s countercultural movements around the world. The artistic movement eventually included bands like [[Bandido (supergroup)|Bandido]], [[:es:Three_Souls_in_My_Mind|Three Souls in my Mind]] (currently known as [[El Tri]]), Peace and Love, and El Ritual. === From Tijuana to Mexico City === After "an extended stint as the house band at the Tijuana strip joint Fantasitas", Nava decided to move to Mexico City, where they started playing at El Harlem Cafe.<ref name=":0" /> They then moved to El Trip Cafe and Hullabulloo Cafe. During this time Nava and De La Torre became the only members to remain in the band.<ref name=":0" /> They started making a name for themselves; as Alex Lora (from El Tri) has recalled, members of other bands would go to their shows and get ideas for their own. The success in Mexico City was so big that TV stations asked them to perform and record songs for their shows, especially kids' shows. "Chicotito si", a chidlren's song, became their debut single.<ref name=":0" /> The band was signed to RCA and released several singles, including cover versions of "California Dreamin'" and "Hanky Panky."<ref name=":0" /> The band returned to Tijuana in 1968 and played a regular gig at the club Sans Sous Ci.<ref name=":0" /> Here they were noticed by Frank Mangano, an American tourist, who paid for the band to move to New York City.<ref name=":0" /> === In New York City, return to Mexico City, and modern times === In late 1968, Los Dug Dug's—now consisting of Genaro Garcia as the bass player, Armando Nava playing guitar and keyboard, Jorge de la Torre as lead singer, Gustavo Garayzar as lead guitar, and Alberto Escoto on drums—moved to New York City, where they recorded some original songs at a recording studio.<ref name=":2" /> Nava recorded songs as a singer with studio musicians. The band was required to pay a $5,000 fee, in accordance with established rules by the local musician union, which was required of any acts at that time who wished to play larger venues in Manhattan. The band returned to Mexico, but due to creative differences between Nava and de la Torre, de la Torre left the band.<ref name=":1" /> The album they were working on, their self-titled debut, appeared in 1971. The band appeared as a quartet, without De La Torre, at the [[Festival Rock y Ruedas de Avándaro|Avándaro festival]]. At this time, and with the departure of de la Torre, Los Dug Dug's were essentially no more. The singles "World of Love" and "Eclipse" from the album became Latin American hits, and in 1972, Nava started the group up again as a trio. While pop groups in Latin America were now singing in English as part of a new trend, the band performed in Spanish on 1972's ''Smog''.<ref name=":1" /> For 1974's ''Cambia Cambia'', Los Dug Dug's went with a well-groomed, clean look, bucking yet another trend among popular Latin American acts which leaned toward singing in English and wearing long hair and beards. Despite stylistic innovations, the RCA label under which they were working did not expend great effort with publicity and support for the act, and thus their 1975 release, ''El Loco'', was to be their last work at that time. Since then, Nava has kept the band going in various incarnations with multiple lineup changes, based out of Mexico City. They most often perform at Nava's club, La Reunion. Their reputation stands today as being largely responsible for Mexican rock music and the first and arguably most popular of their kind. ==In popular culture== *The band makes a brief appearance in the novel ''Xico'' by Mexican author Gustavo Vázquez-Lozano. *Their music features prominently in [[List of The Grand Tour episodes|The Grand Tour]] Colombia Special (Series 3, episodes 2 and 3). *Their song "Smog" was featured on the in-game [[radio]] for the game [[Just Cause 4]]. *Their song "Yo No Sé" was featured in the end credits of season 3 episode 2 in the American [[mockumentary]] [[comedy horror]] ''[[What We Do in the Shadows (TV series)|What We Do In The Shadows]]''. ==Selected discography== ;Studio albums *''Dug Dug's'' ([[RCA Victor]], 1971) *''Smog'' ([[RCA Victor]], 1972) *''Cambia, cambia'' ([[RCA Camden]], 1974) *''El loco'' ([[RCA Camden]], 1975) ;Compilation albums *''15 éxitos de los Dug Dug's'' ([[RCA Camden]], 1985) *''Abre tu mente'' ([[RCA Victor]], 1985) ==References== {{Reflist|2}} ==External links== *[https://archive.today/20130105105908/http://raybrazen.webng.com/dugdugs Los Dug Dug's website] ''dead link'' *[https://myspace.com/dugdugs Los Dug Dug's at MySpace] *1 [https://web.archive.org/web/20000526050541/http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Palms/5455/old/historia1.html Alex Lora comments] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20110310174719/http://www.lacloacainternacional.com/2011/02/los-dug-dugs-del-espiritu-de-avandaro.html Interview with Armando Nava of the Dug Dug's] The interview was conducted by journalist Ozaeta Ulysses on his radio program The International Cloaca *[http://www.geocities.ws/raybrazen/dugint2.htm Interview of Band] {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Dug Dug's}} [[Category:Mexican rock music groups]] [[Category:Mexican progressive rock groups]] [[Category:Hard rock musical groups]] [[Category:Musical groups established in 1964]] [[Category:Mexican psychedelic rock music groups]]'