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Brujería, an American death metal band with Mexican roots, has long been known for its profane lyrics about sex, drugs, social protest, drug trafficking, and Satanism.
Since their rise to fame in 1990, their controversial content has attracted attention, but recent tragedies have brought the band back into the spotlight. Two key members of the group, including the lead singer, have died within a short period of time, leading some to speculate about a curse related to their provocative subject matter.
On September 18, news broke that Brujería’s lead singer, known as ‘Juan Brujo’, had died, just two months after the death of another band member, ‘Pinche Peach’, who passed away on July 17. Both deaths, eerily similar, marked the end of more than three decades of music for the band. News of ‘Juan Brujo’s’ death sparked rumors on social media, with many suggesting that the band had fallen victim to a curse tied to years of exploring taboo subjects rejected by mainstream society.
What caused the deaths of Juan Brujo and Pinche Peach?
According to the band’s official statement, Juan Brujo died of a massive heart attack. He had been hospitalized in Ohio for several days before passing away at the age of 61 on September 18. The band’s official Instagram account confirmed his death, sparking an outpouring of grief from fans around the world.
Interestingly, the similarities between his death and Pinche Peach’s are hard to ignore. Pinche Peach also died of heart-related issues, and Juan Brujo personally announced his passing on Instagram this time. Both men died about two months apart from heart attacks during the band’s first US tour in years, with plans for a European tour in 2025.
Many fans took to social media to theorize that the members’ deaths were the result of a long-standing curse on the band, which became infamous in 1993 when they released their controversial debut album, “Matando Güeros”.
The graphic cover, depicting a severed and burned head, was banned in several countries, while many parents refused to let their children listen to the band’s music. Rather than shy away from the controversy, Brujería embraced it, turning the severed head into their official mascot, “Coco Loco”, and using it to sell merchandise at their shows.
Since the band’s early days, there have been persistent rumors that Brujería’s success was linked to Satanism, with many claiming that they had made a pact with the devil. However, these allegations have never been proven. The band’s frequent references to death and the devil in their lyrics have only fueled speculation, but Brujería has continued to deny any direct connection to Satanism.
Brujería’s Encounter with Donald Trump
Brujería has faced public criticism throughout their career, but their most significant political controversy occurred in 2020 when former US President Donald Trump allegedly targeted the band. After releasing the song “Viva Presidente Trump”, which criticized Trump’s stance on immigration and the construction of a border wall between the United States and Mexico, the band claimed that Trump had sent the FBI to Juan Brujo’s home as an intimidation tactic.
In an interview with “Pólvora”, Juan Brujo recounted the experience, saying, “Everything was fine 20 years ago, there was no anger like this until Trump became president, and oh my god, everything went back 100 years! The racism, all the crazy white people—it was unbelievable what that guy did to spread hatred in people, against Mexicans and blacks. The country has been going backwards for years, and that makes me angry. That’s why we came back after 15 years to set the record straight.”
Despite Trump’s efforts to pressure the band, Juan Brujo has never been charged with any crime.
What will Brujería do next?
With the departure of Juan Brujo and Pinche Peach, two of Brujería’s founding members, the future of the band remains uncertain. It’s unclear whether the group can continue without its two key figures. For now, fans are grieving the loss of two musicians whose provocative music and rebellious spirit defined the era of death metal.
Originally published in Latin Times
Tags Latin Music, Metal, Celebrity Death