Mano Negra

Named in honor of an Andalusian anarchist group, Mano Negra emerged from the same Parisian artists' scene which also gave rise to the like-minded Les Negresses Vertes, drawing equal influence from the punk ethos of the Clash and the multitude of sounds and rhythms endemic to the global music community. Formed in 1986 from the remnants of the neo-rockabilly unit the Hot Pants, Mano Negra essentially consisted of vocalist Manu Chao, his brother/trumpeter Tonio, and his cousin/drummer Santiago Casiriego, Spanish natives who fused rock, rap, flamenco, and rai to create a heady brew they dubbed "Patchanka," a name derived from a Spanish pejorative for dancehall music. After 1994's Casa Babylon, which proved to be the group's final record, Manu Chao later released his first solo album (Clandestino) in 1998. ~ Jason Ankeny