Radio Futura
Radio Futura was a Spanish pop rock band from Madrid. They mixed Latin rock, punk, new wave and reggae and became one of Spain’s most popular groups in the 1980s and early 1990s. In 1989 the public voted them the best Spanish act of the 1980s.
They started in 1979 when Herminio Molero, an artist and electronic music enthusiast, helped form the group. The early lineup included Santiago Auserón, his brother Luis Auserón, Enrique Sierra and Javier Pérez Grueso. They chose the name Radio Futura from an Italian independent radio station. Molero added electronic touches and Sierra brought a punk edge, helping the band become a symbol of La Movida Madrileña.
Their first album, Música Moderna (1980), gave them the hit Enamorado de la moda juvenil, though the band later said they didn’t fully identify with that debut. Molero and Pérez left due to disagreements, leaving the core trio of Santiago, Luis and Enrique. They brought in drummer Carlos Velázquez (Solrac) in 1981 and began to take music more seriously.
They left their first label and signed with Ariola. In 1984 they released La ley del desierto, la ley del mar, which showed a more ambitious, Latino-influenced sound and included the hit “Escuela de calor.” Their next album, De un país en llamas (1985), was recorded in London and marked a bold move toward a more experimental, Latin-flavored rock.
Producer Jo Dworniak helped shape their sound, and in 1987 they released La Canción de Juan Perro, recorded partly in New York. This album featured a more organic, Latin-rock style and the use of horns, with hits like “37 grados” and “A Cara o Cruz.” Enrique Sierra briefly fell ill and was replaced by Javier Monforte on guitar. The band then expanded to a sextet, adding Óscar Quesada on drums and Pedro Navarrete on keyboards.
In 1989 they released Escuela de Calor, a highly successful live album. Veneno en la piel (1990) topped the charts and led to their biggest concert tours. Soon after, the band members grew tired of the music industry, and with Halsall’s death in 1992 and ongoing health issues, Radio Futura decided to disband. Their last studio project was Tierra para bailar (1992), which included new versions of older songs and a final new track, El puente azul.
After breaking up, there were several compilations and tributes. In 2008, Escuela de Calor was featured in Guitar Hero: World Tour. Radio Futura’s work is remembered for shaping Spanish-language Latin rock and for influential lyrics from Santiago Auserón.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 04:47 (CET).