Why is it that some musicians have such synergy together? Belanova describes the fusión that is created when each distinct musical personality comes together, and how this unique “fusion” has brought them from after-class practice to stadium-filled tours.

Arriving in December of ‘71, a young Arturo Vega decides that it is New York where he is going to clavar, or stay put. His journey began in Mexico, where he began his artistic life as an actor and participant in experimental theater or “happenings”—an art form which was not well received by the powers that be in that country.

A little research tells us that the musical comedy Arturo did with Héctor Suárez at the Teatro de los Insurgentes was Sigue tu onda (Follow Your Wave), a Spanish language adaptation of a Broadway show known to American theater-goers as Your Own Thing. Soon Arturo himself would be heading to New York on a tip from Paul McCartney’s agent that he could land a spot in Hair...

Edgar Huerta, keyboardist of Belanova, refers to Joselo of Cafe Tacuba as un cuate. The word comes from the indigenous Nahuatl word coatl, which means “twin.” But Joselo is not Edgar’s gemelo, cuate is known by all Mexicans to refer to a “good buddy,” a “dear friend.”

To hear La Gusana Ciega play live we trekked to a club called Babel located in a giant mall / theme park called Mundo E, located just north of Mexico City. Come backstage with us for an exclusive interview you’ll find only here!

As it turns out the young Arturo Vega, Mexican emigré actor and artist in New York, lived below a girl who was seeing a young man named Douglas Glenn Colvin (who would come to be known as “Dee Dee Ramone”). The two visionaries got to talking…

Belanova is appreciative and proud that so many of Latin America’s and Mexico’s biggest stars, such Joselo and Coti saw fit to take the time to join them on their tour. The band is humble, but not without ambition; they have set their sites beyond the habla hispana, seeing potential fans in Australia, Italy and even Japan.

We skip backstage once again to get some final thoughts from La Gusana Ciega, learning a bit more about their career and personnel changes. Like many of Mexico’s popular bands today, they got their start at a Mexico City club called Cocotitlán, which is also the name of a municipality well known for its corn festival.

The 51-year-old Alejandro Fernández has released twenty-three albums over the years. The son of another popular Mexican singer (Vicente Fernández), Alejandro has come into his own as a passionate man, unafraid to show his feelings. This documentary brings us inside the recording of Viento a Favor, an album that quickly went platinum.

Alejandro Fernandez is not just a Mexican singer any longer: he has become a star of Latin-American proportions. Not only has he succeeded everywhere but he also has adopted different sounds from different countries. Viento a Favor was recorded both in Buenos Aires and in Los Angeles, a perfect axis through the whole continent.

Arturo Vega is a big part of The Ramones’ history. We even have proof! Actually he was the one who designed the well known Ramones’ logo, which is one part presidential seal, one part outlaw biker. In this interview he tells us why they chose to be represented by an aguila.

Some people could see Arturo Vega as just a guy who happened to design the Ramones logo, but the truth is that he had to get his hands dirty with hard work, and that meant loading tons of equipment, manning the lights and basically doing whatever was needed by the band. The reward was great: thousands, maybe millions, wearing an image that he created.

These guys are partially obsessed with stardom, or at least with astronomy. Now they’re talking about “el núcleo de Belanova,” the core of their energy.

Our friends from Nortec Collective are known for their eclectic mix of electronic and norteño music (hence the name: norteño + techno = Nortec). Here, a band member discusses how the group got started, down to the very first time he read about a synthesizer. Don’t miss their Grammy award-nominated Tijuana Sound Machine.

Meet some of the members of Banda Pionero, a Sinaloa style band from Mazatlan, Mexico. These guys are really friendly and even sang a capella for us.

Karla and Isabel provide us with clues about some popular musical instruments so that we might guess which ones they are describing.

Lifelong mariachi artists explain their passion for the mariachi music and way of life.

"Mambe & Danochilango" sing about a "Cumbia Universal" [Universal Cumbia] with the power to liberate individuals and unite nations.

Karen invites us to explore the heart of Monterrey, Mexico's nightlife, the "Barrio Antiguo," or "Old Quarter."

"Limón y Sal" [Lemon and Salt] is the title track from Mexican artist, Juliet Venegas' fourth studio album, which focuses on the ups and downs of relationships.

Luis Miguel performs his famous tune, "La Bikina," which refers to a tormented woman. Composed by Ruben Fuentes, some say he coined the term after seeing women in bikinis during a walk on the beach, while others claim it was inspired by a legend during the times of the Cristeros in Jalisco, Mexico.

Manuel Guarneros was the famous Mexican singer Chavela Vargas' main guitar player. In this video, he'll share with us his perception about various Mexican accents and slang as well as performing for us a piece of the popular polka song "El barrilito" [literally "The Little Barrel"], which is known in English as Beer Barrel Polka.

Professional guitarist Manuel Guarneros tells us about his experience touring with legendary Mexican singer Chavela Vargas.

In this second part, professional guitarist Manuel Guarneros tells us about some of his magical experiences on tour with Chavela Vargas.