Latin rock band Maria Fatal became one of Los Angeles' rock en español scene pioneers in the early '90s. Formed by brothers Gabriel, Ernesto, and Fernando Ramírez, joined by keyboardist César Hernández, the group started playing in Mexico City's club circuit before moving to the U.S., debuting with a self-titled album released by San Francisco-based Aztlán Records in 1994. That same year, Maria Fatal participated in Austin's South by South West Music Seminar, while their song "Portate Mal," was climbing on Latin charts. In 1996, Jim Mankey and Johnette Napolitano produced Pasiones, Torturas y Otros. A year later Maria Fatal joined a compilation called Aztlán Alternativo, featuring "Silicon," "Antes," "Por Ella," and "Las Aves," covering the Cure's "10:15 Saturday Night," on Tributo a the Cure, released by the Latin division of WEA, soon, founding its own label, MoFo Records, and issuing Dermis in 2001. ~ Drago Bonacich