Microchips (also styled Micro Chips and M.I.C.R.O. C.H.I.P.S.) was a Mexican children's
rock music
Rock is a Music genre, genre of popular music that originated in the United States as "rock and roll" in the late 1940s and early 1950s, developing into a range of styles from the mid-1960s, primarily in the United States and the United Kingdo ...
group active from 1987 to 1993.
History
In 1987 Javier Willy (
keyboard
Keyboard may refer to:
Text input
* Keyboard, part of a typewriter
* Computer keyboard
** Keyboard layout, the software control of computer keyboards and their mapping
** Keyboard technology, computer keyboard hardware and firmware
Music
* Mus ...
) and Daniel Willy (
drums
The drum is a member of the percussion instrument, percussion group of musical instruments. In the Hornbostel–Sachs classification system, it is a membranophones, membranophone. Drums consist of at least one Acoustic membrane, membrane, c ...
) from
Torreón
Torreón () is a city and seat of Torreón Municipality in the Mexico, Mexican States of Mexico, state of Coahuila. The city's population is 720,848 inhabitants, making it the second largest city in the state of Coahuila. Also Torreón is par ...
, Mexico, decided to start a band. Soon after, Ricardo Villa (
lead guitar
Lead guitar (also known as solo guitar) is a musical part for a guitar in which the guitarist plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs and chords within a song structure. The lead is the featur ...
) and Sergio Robles (
bass guitar
The bass guitar (), also known as the electric bass guitar, electric bass, or simply the bass, is the lowest-pitched member of the guitar family. It is similar in appearance and construction to an Electric guitar, electric but with a longer nec ...
) joined them under the name ''Explotion''. Later they were joined by Jay de la Cueva. To expand their regional musical career and supported by their parents, they moved to
Mexico City
Mexico City is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Mexico, largest city of Mexico, as well as the List of North American cities by population, most populous city in North America. It is one of the most important cultural and finan ...
, where TV and
record producer
A record producer or music producer is a music creating project's overall supervisor whose responsibilities can involve a range of creative and technical leadership roles. Typically the job involves hands-on oversight of recording sessions; ensu ...
Luis de Llano Macedo, recognizing their potential he signed them and added his son, Tito de Llano. Finally, the Willy brothers invited their sister, Toti Willy, and this lineup became Micro Chips
(TV interview)
a history of Microchips, in ''El Siglo de Torreón
''El Siglo de Torreón'' is a Mexican daily newspaper based in Comarca Lagunera, Mexico. It was founded in 1922 in Torreón, Coahuila by Antonio de Juambelz y Bracho under the direction of Joaquin Moreno.
History
In 1921, Antonio de Juambelz y Br ...
'', March 18, 2007
Their first album, ''Niños Eléctricos'', (Electric Children) with original music by Spanish composer Miguel Rios, was recorded in early 1988 with the advice and help from Ricardo Ochoa (musician and producer). They released three singles. ''No quiero'' (I don't want to), ''Angello'' which was composed specially for one of the "
Menudo" members (
Angelo Garcia
Angelo Garcia (born March 28, 1976) is an American singer of Puerto Rican descent, who was a member of Puerto Rican boy band Menudo from 1988 to 1990.
Career
A native New Yorker born in Brooklyn, New York, he barely spoke Spanish when he aud ...
) and gained popularity on the radio, and ''Boomerang'', a track for a
roller coaster
A roller coaster is a type of list of amusement rides, amusement ride employing a form of elevated Railway track, railroad track that carries passengers on a roller coaster train, train through tight turns, steep slopes, and other elements, usua ...
ride in Mexico City. This record received a gold award for its high sales.
In 1989 the band radically changed when Javier, Daniel and Toti Willy decided to return to Torreón, in order to continue their studies. They later formed Rock Kids which signed with Polygram Records and released two albums.
Microchips continued and looked for new band members, and found them in Mariana Navarro (Vocals), Jorge Mercado (Keyboards) and Tomás Pérez-Ascencio (Drums and Vocals). A single was released simply called ''Batimix'' (Batmix) while preparing the next album. This was during the 1989 Tim Burton's "Batman" craze.
''De Película'' (Movielike) from 1989 was the group's second album. Produced again by Ricardo Ochoa. With participation by Aleks Syntek and Jorge "Chiquis" Amaro as composers. Engineered and recorded by Juan Switalski. Several singles were released, "Grandes Años Del Rock And Roll", a cover of Jive Bunny's "Swing the Mood". ''Perro Lanudo'' (Fluffy Dog) was also released as a single. At the end of the subsequent tour Mariana Navarro left the group.
In 1990 ''Energía es Amo''r was released, produced by Marco Flores and recorded at Dallas Sound Lab studios., this time two new female singers join, Yani Contreras from Mexico City and Jessica Herreman from Guadalajara. Several singles were released from this album, Including ''Quiero Ser'' (I Want To Be) and ''Tiempo al Tiempo (Give Time the Time).'' This album also has songs written by Marco Flores, Ricardo Arjona, and band members Jay de la Cueva, Ricardo Villa and Tomás Pérez-Ascencio.
1992 brought ''No Somos Números''. Produced by Óscar Flores was the fourth and final album, again there were band member changes. Anna Borrás (Vocals) formerly at La Onda Vaselina/OV7 comes in place of Yani, and Alejandro Santoyo (Keyboards) comes in place of Jorge. The album is recorded in New York City and includes two cover songs from Jovanotti which also became two hit singles. ''Números-I Numeri'' (Numbers) and ''Sácalo-Diritti E Doveri'' (Rights and Duties). They toured extensively in Mexico and also did some concerts in the US.
In 1993 the band decided to record a new album and started looking for a new name, since they were no longer children. However this never happened, and the musicians continued their musical careers separately.
Children's Day
Children's Day is a commemorative date celebrated annually in honour of children, whose date of observance varies by country.
In 1925, International Children's Day was first proclaimed in Geneva during the World Conference on Child Welfare. Sin ...
, on April 30.
On February 23, 2024, on the band's Facebook page was announced the 35th Anniversary release by Universal Music México, of the Album "Niños Electricos" on March 8, 2024, featuring 3 bonus tracks, never released.
Band members
Original lineup (Mark I)
*Javier Willy (Keyboards and Vocals)
*Daniel Willy (Drums and Vocals)
*Toti Willy (Vocals)
*Ricardo Villa (Lead Guitar and Vocals)
*Jay de la Cueva
Javier Fernando de la Cueva Rosales (born January 5, 1978), known professionally as Jay de la Cueva or Bryan Amadeus Moderatto is a Mexican model, actor, producer, singer, bassist, drummer, guitarist, pianist and songwriter. He has participated ...
(Bass and Vocals)
*Tito De Llano (Guitar and Vocals)
Second generation (Mark II)
*Ricardo Villa (Lead Guitar and Vocals)
*Jay de la Cueva (Bass and Lead Vocals)
*Tito de Llano (Guitar and Vocals)
*Tomás Pérez-Ascencio (Drums and Vocals)
*Jorge Mercado (Keyboards)
*Mariana Navarro (Vocals)
Third generation (Mark III)
*Ricardo Villa (Lead Guitar and Vocals)
*Jay de la Cueva (Bass and Lead Vocals)
*Tito de Llano (Guitar and Vocals)
*Tomás Pérez-Ascencio (Drums and Vocals)
*Jorge Mercado (Keyboards)
*Jessica Herreman (Vocals)
*Yani Contreras (Vocals)
Fourth Generation (Mark IV)
*Ricardo Villa (Lead Guitar and Vocals)
*Jay de la Cueva (Bass and Lead Vocals)
*Tito de Llano (Guitar and Vocals)
*Tomás Pérez-Ascencio (Drums and Vocals)
*Jessica Herreman (Vocals)
*Anna Borrás (Vocals)
*Alejandro Santoyo (Keyboards and Vocals)
Discography
From:
#No Quiero
#Las Máquinas
#Angello
#Perdidos En La Distancia
#Boomerang
#Rock de La Cárcel
#Niños Eléctricos
#Quiero Cantar Rock And Roll
#Ser Feliz
#Horrible Pesadilla
#Recuerdos
#La Pared
*1989: Batimix (Melody SU/082, 12 in Extended Single)
*1989: De Película (Melody MEPR/7010, L
#Grandes Años Del Rock And Roll
#No Digas Para Nada
#Rock En El Universo
#Despertar
#Juguemos a Batman
#Microtecnochips
#Quiero Que Sepas
#Perro Lanudo
#Un Sueño Para Ti
#Batimix
*1990: Energia Es Amor (Melody LMD/613, L
#Energia
#Quiero Ser
#Tiempo Al Tiempo
#Oyendo Tu Voz
#Tu Amor Mi Vitamina
#A La Hora de Cantar
#A La Luz de La Luna
#Ganas
#Por Eso Te Quiero
#No Me Puedo Dejar Derribar
1992: No Somos Números (Melody LMD/746, L
#Sirena
#Números
#Playa
#Sombra
#Ángeles
#Miente
#Lugar
#Sácalo
#Destino
#Chipicucu
*2024: ''Niños Eléctricos 35 Aniversario''
#No Quiero
#Las Máquinas
#Angello
#Perdidos En La Distancia
#Boomerang
#Rock de La Cárcel
#Niños Eléctricos
#Quiero Cantar Rock And Roll
#Ser Feliz
#Horrible Pesadilla
#Recuerdos
#La Pared
#Rock Queremos - 2024
#Televisor - Bonus Track 1988
#Soldedad - Bonus Track 1988
References
{{reflist
External links
InstagramFacebook
TwitterSoundcloud MyspaceJW&A
Mexican rock music groups
Mexican pop music groups
Rock en español music groups