Aitor Ibarretxe

Lendakaris Muertos

Lendakaris Muertos are a band that is well known and loved in the Spanish punk scene. Founded in Navarra in 2004 they are renowned for their high speed, short punk songs which combine criticism, satire and humour to highlight social and political issues of the Basque Country and the rest of Spain.

After releasing a free download EP in 2004 (which achieved more than 20,000 downloads) they were soon signed to the record label - GOR Discos. An album release followed soon after in 2005.

Since then they have released 10 albums, the most recent being “Mucho Asco (Casi) Todo” in 2024.

Touring since day one, they have been a regular on the Spanish music festival and club circuit and in 2017 they undertook an exhaustive tour of the American Continent – performing in Los Angeles, San Diego, Tijuana, Cuernavaca, Mexico City, Bogota, Valparaiso, Santiago de Chile and Buenos Aires.

Now in their 21st year as a band they are touring and performing as much as they did in the early days – three dates already done and another thirteen events scheduled across Spain before the end of the 2025.

Lendakaris Muertos recently performed at Gazpatxo Rock Festival in Ayora and I caught up with frontman, founding member and vocalist – Aitor – for a chat about the band and his views on the current music scene after the show.

Here is what he had to say:

For people who are not familiar with Lendakaris Muertos – how would you describe the band and the music style?

Our sound and style is classic punk rock. Punk Rock was born in the UK and USA, but mainly the UK. When this music style came to the Basque Country it evolved into another style, it was punk but more political, a special style, it became unique to the Basque Country. when punk first arrived I was too young, but later when we started Lendakaris Muertos we took the Basque Country punk style and the political lyrics and we added humour. Basque Country punk was very political and angry, it was very serious - we took the form of punk and made it humourous.

Specifially, punk always goes against the police, politicians – but as Lendakaris Muertos we also went against our equals. We criticise them, but we also criticise ourselves.

Which bands inspired you as you grew up and influenced you when you started Lendakaris Muertos.

It was local, Basque bands like Vomito, Eskorbuto, La Polla Records, but also The Ramones and The Sex Pistols. The bands that had the most influenceon us were Basque Radical Rock bands.  

A lot of people say that Spanish punk was born in the Basque Country - would you agree?

Yes! But, in my opinion in Basque Country there is (and always was) a very big political movement and I think the reason that Punk in Spain was born here is that there was a punk movement in the whole of Spain, but in Basque Country there was a musical industry, a scene, a lot of squatters and places to play music and from this came a political movement that supported Punk music. I think that that movement was not interested in the rest of Spain, just the Basque Country and that the reason I think best bands were born here.

Its 21 years of Lendakaris Muertos – you are touring a lot, there has been a new album, what’s in store for this year?

It’s actually 21 years – 2 days ago!  No, we don’t really have any big plans for this year. We are going to take a little rest next year and then I don’t know! We will obviously go on touring, making and playing music – but who knows!

Your shows are so full of energy, full of humour, you get involved with the crowd and the shows are theatrically immersive. How do you organise and choreograph your show and how has it evolved since the early days?

It is something that has evolved over the years in a very natural way. The shows we did 20 years ago and the show that we do now is almost the same. But now it’s a little bit more professional, we do it better – because now we have other people working with us, lighting, sound, stage and management.

When we started, we decided to produce a show that we would want to watch ourselves, because 20 years I ago I remember when I went to Rock and Roll shows I felt that they were boring to watch. We wanted to create and perform music but also add theatrics and of course interaction with the people to make them more entertaining.

I must confess, my favourite song that you perform is Oso Panda – what is your favourite to perform and why?

My favourite song is “Urrusolo Sistiaga” because it’s a little longer, people love it and I remember when I composed it, the moment was special! After I composed the song, we didn’t record it for five years before releasing it on the album “Cicatrize n la Matrix.”

Your songs all carry a political message, in a humorous way. Why is it important for you to get those messages across?

That’s a good question and I don’t really know! I think the humour in our songs is more important than the politics. I think people need to have some fun. Maybe now is different, but when I was younger everything was very political and we were very radical, but also in that moment I knew we had to use humour because you cannot just feel anger all the time, you can defend your ideas and humour is a good way of dealing with the anger.

Over the last 20 years the music industry has changed a lot – 20 years ago you would sell vinyl and CD’s, now its Spotify and downloads and it’s harder to make money from sales. How do you feel about the current state of the music industry?

I think it’s great right now – because you have big opportunities for new bands, maybe older bands like us don’t feel comfortable with the current situation. It is a lot easier than 20 years ago to become well known and to get your music out and to be heard. Anyone can create a band, without needing big record companies. You do not a lot of money to produce and release your music.

20 years it was all about listening to the radio and watching TV, now its Spotify and YouTube, social media – I think it’s fantastic! There are some issues that I find frustrating, but overall I like it!

You, Asier have been in the band since you started in 2004 and Potxeta since 2008. Many punk bands split up, change members, what has kept you all together as Lendarkis Muertos?

There are two things: We all still feel the same passion for music and to play live like we did 21 years ago, and the second thing is money! Money is the glue – because if there was no money, I don’t think the band would still be together. Maybe if I was 20 years old I would not say that, but we are in our 50’s and 60’s and its important!

If you could perform with any band (dead or alive) who would you perform with?

Easy – Sex Pistols! I think Never Mind the Bollocks is an amazing album. The songs, the energy and the moment in time when it was done was a cannon for what we have now.

What advice would you give to a new band, just starting out?

If you are going to sign a contract – make sure you read it! Understand what you are signing, enjoy yourselves and have fun.

Thanks Aitor, it’s always a pleasure to hang out with you and the band and I look forward to seeing you soon!

Words & photos: Rhyan Paul