The Zeros

Far from New York and London, the punk rock capitals of the 1970s, sits Chula Vista, California, birthplace of The Zeros. Formed by Robert López, Javier Escovedo, Hector Peñalosa and Baba Chenelle in 1976, The Zeros were sometimes called "the Mexican Ramones." They played fast and catchy power-pop numbers in the vein of garage punk legends like the New York Dolls, The Stooges, and, of course, The Ramones.

Think of early Green Day or latter-day The Strokes but fronted by four Mexican-American kids and you get an idea of what The Zeros sounded like. An important part of the young west coast punk scene in the late '70s, The Zeros played alongside important punk icons like The Germs, Patti Smith and The Clash.

Before disbanding in the early '80s, The Zeros released a few singles on Bomp records. Singer Robert López reinvented himself as the now pretty damn famous for an underground act El Vez – the "Mexican Elvis" – while Javier Escovedo, the younger brother of Alejandro Escovedo, continues playing in various bands. In 1999, The Zeros reformed with a new album, only to disband once again. But their legacy as Americano punk rockers lives on.