francisco ferrer
guitar
Born in Mexico City in july 1962, just when The Beatles irrupted
in the world music scene. When he was 9 he saw on TV images
of The Avandaro Festival, a concert that would be the main
reference in terms of images and sounds in his musical life in
the long run. In 1975 a friend invited him to see Los Dug Dug’s
who with their flashy costumes, cheap effects and excellent
performance of original songs had a great impact and led him to
the Mexican underground rock scene with bands such as
Ginebra Fría, Norma Valdés and Mayita Campos, Arbol with Paco
Gruexo, Nuevo Mexico, El Tri, Vago, Hangar Hambulante etc.

The guitar was a constant presence in his home. His father
played regularly with family members for long hours over
drinks. His mother also played harmonica delighting the
audience with old songs from the Mexican revolution. Little by
little he developed his playing technique in the street with a
little help from his friends, learning different styles such as
bolero, ranchera, bossanova, blues, balada and folk rock. His
wide range of influences goes from La Sonora Santanera to Pink
Floyd, from Mike Laure to James Brown, from Acapulco Tropical
to Deep Purple, from Chavela Vargas to Janis Joplin going
through chamber music, traditional guapango from the sierras
and reaching to Cepillin, Chavelo, Chespirito and Cri-Cri. In
Mexico he formed his first band called Zona Neutra.

In 1989 he moved to The Bay area in San Francisco, CA and
participated in bands such as La Bohemia, Zudaka and Santero.
He also participated in the Boom of Rock en Español through
the popular club La Rockola in Berkeley, with bands like La
Limpia, Sangre de Mozart, Mito, La Muda, Lodo y Asfalto, Orixa,
Canal Cero, Nomadas del Tiempo, and many more.
Presently, he is actively playing with Los Nadies and points out
that his most recent influences include Zebda, Color Humano,
Ojos de Brujo, Mano Negra, Los de Abajo, La Barranca, Real de
Catorce, Macaco, Robi Draco Rosa, Dusminguet, Bersuit
Vergarbat, Ozomatli, etc.

“Music is like a long journey though the sea of solitude, where
silence is a complement of musical notes that provides harmony
and color to life”