Lima's Los York's were one of Peru's leading rock & roll bands of the 1960s and '70s, and one of the few who developed an audience in North America during the garage rock revival of the 1990s and 2000s. Fronted by vocalist Pablo Luna, the group also featured Walter Paz on lead guitar, Roman Palacios on rhythm guitar, Jesus Vilchez on bass, and Pacho Aguilar on drums. While the group began in 1966 playing fairly typical fare inspired by the British Invasion and American garage rock hits of the day, Luna was a powerful vocalist not afraid to make with some freaked-out emoting, and as the band began experimenting with its sound as the decade wore on, Paz started working noise and feedback into his solos. The group's first album, Los York's 67, was a strong but straightforward affair; they began dipping their toes into psychedelia and other more adventurous sounds on their next LP, Los York's 68, which featured a bizarre cover of Cream's "Sunshine of Your Love" as well as some of Paz's best guitar work. By the time their final album was released, Los York's 69, Paz had parted ways with Los York's, and Roman Palacios moved up to lead guitar, with new member Miguel Quiroz taking over on rhythm guitar. Los York's continued performing and releasing singles until they called it quits in 1974. The band's reputation continued to grow over the years, and its albums were later reissued in Peru and Europe; the Italian garage rock label Munster Records has issued a career-inclusive anthology, El Viaje: 1966-1974. ~ Mark Deming
