In shortNumber 1 in our ranking is Héroes del Silencio, followed by Mecano and Extremoduro.
Which are the greatest Spanish bands of all time? We weighed influence, success, the quality of their songs and how they have stood the test of time.
Are Siniestro Total, Los Secretos, Alaska y Dinarama, Love of Lesbian or Marea missing? Vote for your favourite band below or tell us which one is missing.
Thanks. You voted for . Your vote counts.
We'll publish the readers' ranking once there are enough votes for it to be representative.
1. Héroes del Silencio
Zaragoza · rock
The Spanish band that took Spanish-language rock furthest, with tours across Europe and Latin America. Bunbury and Juan Valdivia created a unique, unmistakable sound.
2. Mecano
Madrid · pop
Ana Torroja and the Cano brothers scored hit after hit in the 1980s and filled venues in Spain, Latin America and France. Their legacy lives on in musicals and covers.
3. Extremoduro
Plasencia · rock
Robe Iniesta and his poetic, untamed lyrics inspired almost religious devotion. Their farewell tour sold out in minutes.
4. El Último de la Fila
Barcelona · pop rock
Manolo García and Quimi Portet combined Mediterranean roots and rock in songs that belong to several generations.
5. Radio Futura
Madrid · pop rock
Born in the Movida, they evolved towards a more elaborate, mixed sound. For many critics, the most influential band of the 1980s.
6. Hombres G
Madrid · pop
David Summers and company sparked real 'G hysteria' in the 1980s, in Spain and Latin America. They are still filling concert halls decades later.
7. Estopa
Cornellà de Llobregat · rumba rock
The Muñoz brothers debuted in 1999 with an album that sold more than a million copies. Rumba, rock and witty working-class lyrics.
8. La Oreja de Van Gogh
San Sebastián · pop
One of the most successful Spanish-language pop bands of the 2000s, with songs that defined a whole generation.
9. Los Planetas
Granada · indie
The fathers of Spanish indie. Their 1990s albums paved the way for all the festivals and independent bands that followed.
10. Vetusta Morla
Tres Cantos · indie rock
They proved that an independent band, on its own label, could fill the biggest venues in the country. The great Spanish band of the 21st century.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most successful Spanish band of all time?
Mecano is the Spanish pop band with the greatest commercial success and international reach, and Héroes del Silencio the rock band with the greatest impact outside Spain.
Where are Héroes del Silencio from?
From Zaragoza. The band, led by Enrique Bunbury, rose to fame in the late 1980s and the 1990s.
Would you change the order?
Tell us what's missing, what shouldn't be here or what you'd put at number 1.
