MANÁ

The seed of Maná sprouted in the 80's in the Mexican city of Guadalajara, when a group of ambitious teenagers with a bongo started a band called Sombrero Verde. The band began by playing covers from the groups they admired (Beatles, Stones, Led Zeppelin and The Police) but eventually dared to write their own rock, which reflected their Latin roots and was written in Spanish, even before this practice became commonplace. Looking to renew their image, the band adopts the name Maná, under which they would gain international recognition. With Fher Olvera as lead singer, Juan Calleros as bassist, Alex Gonzalez as the drummer, and Sergio Vallan as guitarist. The name Maná was chosen because of the significance it has in the Polynesian language: "Positive Energy," not precisely for its biblical connotations. Nonetheless, the change did seem as though it was heaven sent, as it enabled them to reach a level of professionalism they had previously been denied.