A Celebration of the Iconic Tutti Frutti Bar
Tutti Frutti: El templo del underground is a documentary that honors the legendary Tutti Frutti bar, which played a crucial role in Mexico City’s counterculture and music scene during the late 20th century.
Directed by Laura Ponte and Alex Albert
The documentary brings back the history of a clandestine bar located in Lindavista, on the outskirts of Mexico City, which opened its doors in 1985 with a punk spirit and the DIY (do it yourself) aesthetic as a response to the oppressive atmosphere in Mexico City.
A Breeding Ground for Mexican Rock Bands
The Tutti Frutti stage witnessed the birth of a generation of Mexican rock bands. Bands like Caifanes, Café Tacvba, Atoxxxico, Masacre ’68, Bon y los Enemigos del Silencio, and Maldita Vecindad y los Hijos del Quinto Patio graced its small stage, measuring only five meters by two.
A Hub for Social Movements
In the 1990s, Tutti Frutti helped link Mexican rock music with social movements like Zapatismo. The bar became a space where bands could develop their sound and audience, contributing significantly to Mexico City’s counterculture.
A Neglected Chapter in Mexican Music History
The documentary captures a rarely documented moment in Mexican music history, similar to CBGB’s in New York or the 100 Club in London. Emerging from the rubble of the 1985 earthquake, Tutti Frutti became one of Mexico City’s cultural resistance centers and a meeting point for various urban tribes in the then Distrito Federal.
- Rockotitlán: A renowned music venue
- Bar Nueve: A popular gathering spot
- L.U.C.C.: A symbol of underground culture
- Gandhi and Ágora: Important bookstores fostering counterculture
The Mexican government’s policy of satanizing and prohibiting rock concerts, which began after the 1971 Avándaro festival, forced all rock expressions into clandestine and subterranean holes in the city’s periphery. This policy left a void that Tutti Frutti filled.
During the 1980s, Mexican rock found itself outside the large industrial system and returned to marginality, with no access to major record labels, commercial radio, or private television.
A Convergence of Artists
Tutti Frutti served as a convergence point for actors, filmmakers, photographers, musicians, and other artists.
Featuring Key Voices
The documentary by Ponte and Albert features interviews with Brisa Vázquez (bassist of Los Esquizitos and bartender at the place), José Luis “Pacho” Paredes (ex-bassist of Maldita Vecindad and ex-director of the Museo del Chopo y la Casa del Lago), and Rubén Albarrán (vocalist of Café Tacvba) to help tell and contextualize this musical tale.
Recently Released on Amazon Prime
El templo del underground is a time capsule of a pivotal moment in music history, rarely documented in a film.
