Deep Vellum Books presents an evening of music, reading, and conversation with Benjamin Villegas, author of Elpaso: A Punk Story (trans. Jay Noden).

About the Book

In 2015, Benjamin Villegas traveled to Texas in an attempt to write the biography of a music group that could have changed the history of rock: ELPASO, a long-since defunct Chicano band from the U.S.-Mexico border with a punk sensibility and little left to remember it by but a suitcase of fanzines and one-off recordings.

This is the story of one of the many bands that will never appear in rock n’ roll history books, but are at the core of the scene; a band that earned its stripes from sweaty fans and self-taught rock aficionados in basements, garages, and small venues across the country. This is the story of two kids who came together to embrace the punk ethos of the 80’s and be a part of the rock n’ roll revolution sweeping the US, a world of the Ramones, Black Flag, and, of course, ELPASO.

About the Author

Benjamin Villegas was born in Spain. He was named after Fantastic Four's The Thing, and grew up in a household full of comics, music, and movies that shaped his taste for American pop culture. He is a musician, illustrator, audiovisual producer, and graphic designer. He is also the author of Huele como a espíritu posadolescente (Smells Like Postadolescent Spirit).