O.K. Korral

O.K. Korral were a rockabilly band from Zarautz in the Basque Country, active between 1985 and 1989. At a time when the Basque music scene was largely associated with punk and the explosive rise of Rock Radikal Vasco, the band took a different route by blending classic American rockabilly with the energy and attitude of the local underground. Their sound soon earned the nickname "Euskalbilly," a label that reflected both their musical roots and their Basque identity. 

The group grew directly out of Humedecidos, a local punk band whose entire lineup made the move into this new project. The original formation featured Lou Olangua on vocals, Dani Ulacia on guitar, Iñaki Brakamonte on bass and Eva on drums. As the band developed, Brakamonte was replaced by Fermin Iraola on bass, while Alberto took over the drum stool from Eva. Although the musicians came from a punk background, they embraced the rhythms, twang and vintage style of rockabilly without losing the raw, straightforward spirit they had built in their previous band. 

Rather than treating rockabilly as a nostalgic exercise, O.K. Korral gave it a sharper edge, combining driving guitar work, slap-style bass lines and energetic performances with influences picked up from the Basque punk circuit. Their songs mixed traditional rockabilly elements with a fast-paced approach that fit naturally alongside the independent scene of the mid-1980s. That combination made them stand out among their contemporaries, especially in a region where punk and hardcore dominated clubs and festivals. 

During their four-year run, O.K. Korral became a familiar name in the Basque live circuit, sharing stages with bands from different corners of the local underground. Their performances helped establish the idea that rockabilly could coexist with the DIY ethos that defined so much of the era's independent music. The "Euskalbilly" tag followed them throughout their career and has remained closely associated with the band ever since, describing a style that connected American rock 'n' roll traditions with the character of the Basque scene during the second half of the 1980s.