P.V.P.

PVP was a Madrid-based band that formed in 1980, right in the middle of the Movida scene, but they always stayed on the more alternative and combative side of things rather than the party vibe that movement was known for. Even their name, “Precio de Venta al Público” (“Retail Price”), was already a kind of ironic jab at consumer society.

 
The original lineup was made up of four guys whose names all started with the letter “J,” which is why people sometimes called them “the four J’s”: Juanjo on vocals and guitar, Jesús on lead guitar, José on bass, and Jorge on drums. They came from working-class neighborhoods in Madrid, and you could feel that in their attitude and in their lyrics. They weren’t about posing -they sang about unemployment, routine, alienation, the darker corners of the city, and everyday life on the streets. 

 
Musically, they mixed punk with new wave and post-punk influences, creating a sound that could be sharp and straightforward at times and darker or more atmospheric at others. That’s why some people compared them to The Clash back then, although the band themselves said they weren’t trying to copy anyone -they just admired that style and adapted it to their own Madrid reality. 

 
In 1982 they released their first album, 'Miedo', which eventually became a cult classic sought after by collectors. Around that same time they also put out “El Coche De La Plas,” probably their most well-known song. More albums followed, like 'Las Reglas Del Juego', 'Donde Se Pierde La Luz', and 'Bailío', where they continued experimenting and shifting between raw punk energy and a more art-tinged post-punk feel. 

 
Despite their quality and strong personality, they never achieved major commercial success. They were simply too raw, too honest, and not “marketable” enough for the mainstream audience of the era. After their fourth album, the band eventually split up in the late ’80s. 

 
Years later, in the 2000s, they reunited for a few shows driven by nostalgia and the affection of long-time fans. The death of Jorge, their original drummer, in 2012 was a heavy blow, but it also pushed the band to reconnect emotionally. In 2016 they released 'Hermanos de Piel', a comeback and tribute album with new songs and a refreshed lineup that included musicians like Manolo UVI and Rafa PPM Le Doc.

 
Today, PVP is remembered as one of the most authentic bands in Madrid’s punk scene. They were never mainstream, but they made a lasting impact on those who wanted something rawer, more real, and less commercial than what was playing on the radio in the ’80s. Their legacy lives on through their sound, their attitude, and their no-nonsense way of facing the world.