Acción Rock Band -

Acción Rock Band was a Spanish symphonic-rock band behind a 1981 self-titled album on Universitas.

Members: Enrique Fernández (vocals), Diego González Sierra (guitar), Ricardo Bartolomé (bass), Tony García (drums), Luis Mangas (organ)

Background

Acción Rock Band emerged by 1975 in Badajoz and developed as a quartet with bassist Ricardo Bartolomé, drummer Tony García, guitarist Diego González Sierra, and organist Luis Manuel Mangas. The musicians alternated rock concerts with dance engagements across Extremadura and the Portuguese towns of Elvas, Santa Eulália, and Barbacena.

Vocalist Enrique Fernández Medina, a Badajoz native, won a national talent contest on Radio Popular. As Enrico, he cut the 1974 single “Así” backed with “Aquella Muchacha,” produced by Orlando Jiménez with arranger Juan Carlos Calderón. Enrico performed with guitarist brother Jesús Fernández at a 1975 arts festival that also featured Acción Rock Band in Plaza de España, Alburquerque. In 1978, he joined the quartet as lead singer.

Acción Rock Band reached the 1980 final of Bocata Rock, a radio talent contest presented by Pepe Cañaveras. They performed “Canción sin Nombre” at Sala Cassette in Madrid for the Columbia compilation Festival Bocata Rock (En Vivo).

The group appeared on January 22, 1981, at Cine Avenida in the San Roque district of Badajoz with sound engineer Javier Mata. Bookseller José María Casado attended the concert and backed the debut Acción Rock Band through Universitas Editorial, a publisher of books by Extremaduran authors.

Discography:

Acción Rock Band (1981)

References and notes

Hasta siempre, Enrique Fernández — Regional dance engagements, Portuguese appearances, the Fernández brothers, the 1978 recruitment, and the January 22, 1981 Cine Avenida concert with Javier Mata and José María Casado. Draws on recollections from Mata and Miguel Murillo. (Proyecto Cantarrana / LaCarne Magazine, June 4, 2015)
Enrico (1974) — Archive entry for the early Fernández single, with production credited to Orlando Jiménez and arrangement participation credited to Juan Carlos Calderón. Identifies Ulises Fernández as the supplier of the recording. (Cantarrana Corps)
Enrique Fernández — National Radio Popular contest, Enrico stage name, “Así” / “Aquella Muchacha,” and guitarist Jesús Fernández. Reprints the obituary from La Crónica de Badajoz dated May 19, 2015. (Nuevaola80)
Recollections by Pedro Francisco de las Heras Salas — First-person account of the 1975 Alburquerque festival, with Acción Rock Band and the brothers Jesús and Enrico on the same bill; see page 136. (Manuel Pacheco: Centenario de un poeta extremeño universal, Fundación CB, 2020)
Acción Rock Band — Established instrumental quartet, Fernández recruitment, and participation in the 1980 radio contest and compilation. (Pedro J. Pérez, Nuevaola80)
Festival Bocata Rock (En Vivo) — Record photograph and discographic details: Columbia CPS-9663, 1980, “Canción sin Nombre,” and live recording at Sala Cassette with Radio Madrid/Cadena SER. (Original-record listing and photograph, Todocoleccion)
José María Casado interview — Casado describes the 1978 establishment of Universitas Editorial, publication of regional authors, and the decision to issue the Acción Rock Band album as part of the wider cultural project. (Cultura Overdose)
20 temazos extremeños y una canción desesperada… — Gives an alternative early lineup and places González and Mangas among later recruits. This conflicts with summaries that describe the established quartet as the founding group. (Cultura Overdose)