This story originally appeared in Rolling Stone En Espanol.
The Mexican grindcore outfit Brujería announced the death of their frontman Juan Brujo last week, sharing that the vocalist had suffered a heart attack on September 16.
“It is with deep sadness we have to announce that our leader Juan Brujo has passed away today,” the band wrote on Instagram. “Juan suffered a heart attack on early Monday morning, after a day off from the current Mexorcista tour in Saint Clairsville, Ohio. He was rushed to the nearest hospital in Wheeling, West Virginia by emergency services, but, despite the medical team's best efforts, he died this morning. ”
“His family, friends and bandmates are devastated and wish to grieve privately, thanking the fans for their love and support,” the statement continued. “El Brujo has died. Long live El Brujo!”
Born in 1963, Juan Brujo was a central figure in Brujería since the band formed in the Nineties. Over the years, the group that became one of the most visible Spanish-language death metal bands, often facing criticism for lyrics about drug trafficking, sex, and satanism. Still, listeners found a figure of rebellion in the iconic vocalist.
Known for tracks like “Matando Güeros,” “La Migra,” Marijuana,” and “Demoniaco,” the band was often inspired by the Mexican drug trade, with members of the band assuming identities as fake drug lords. After going on hiatus in the 2000s, Brujería returned to the studio in 2016. They received widespread attention for their track “Viva Presidente Trump!'” Written by Brujo himself and the group's drummer Pat Hoed, the song harshly criticized the then-presidential candidate of the United States: “If Trump wins, he's going to deport everyone/He hates my race, he loves their money/This crazy güero is going to start a war.”
Following Trump's election victory, they released “Amaricon Czar”: “Today we have a new president/A rich, overconfident, güero, mixed up with Russians/Is he a communist?/Kissing the asses of fucking Russians, how did he become president ?/I'm sure he cheated.” Six months later, Juan Brujo revealed in an interview that the president “sent the secret service or the FBI to my house with vests and guns in their hands to talk to me about the songs.” The agents also visited his mother's house, something he confessed “was a little strong, but I wasn't afraid”.
Last year, the group released This Is Brujeríatheir most recent studio album. Since Brujo's passing, all tour dates have been cancelled.
