Legendary rock musician Jorge Martínez, leader of Ilegales, has died
The Spanish rock scene has suffered a heavy loss: on December 9, 2025, at the age of 70, Jorge Martínez, the founder and longtime leader of the cult band Ilegales, passed away. The musician died at the HUCA hospital in Asturias, where he was receiving treatment after a previously confirmed cancer diagnosis. Until his final days, he remained active and intended to return to work, but the illness proved stronger.
Jorge Martínez was born in 1955 in the city of Avilés and revealed himself early on as a bright and independent creative figure. In the early 1980s, he brought together the musicians who in 1982 won the First Muestra de Pop Rock de Asturias — a success that became the starting point for the formation of the legendary Ilegales. That same year, the band released its debut album, and the songs “La fiesta”, “Europa ha muerto”, “Princesa Equivocada” and later “Soy un macarra” turned the group into a landmark presence in Spanish punk rock.
For more than forty years of creative work, Ilegales maintained their recognizable style — direct, aggressive, socially charged rock without compromise. Martínez always opposed trends and commercial pressures, and his lyrics were marked by sharpness, honesty, and a strong civic stance. Thanks to this, the band became not just a musical project, but a cultural phenomenon, influencing several generations of listeners in Spain and beyond.
Even in the last years of his life, the artist continued to work actively, and in 2025 released the 13th studio album “Joven y arrogante”, which critics received with respect and surprise — so energetic and provocative was the band’s new work. However, shortly after the release, Jorge announced a serious illness, and Ilegales had to stop their concert activity.
The death of Jorge Martínez came as a shock to fans and the music community. Spanish musicians, journalists, and cultural figures call him “the last romantic of rock rebellion” and “an untamable voice” of an era. His contribution to the development of Spanish rock is compared to major European punk movements, emphasizing that his work and personality will forever remain part of musical history.
Martínez’s passing is a loss for all of Spanish culture, but his legacy continues to live in the music that remains relevant, fresh, and uncompromising even decades later. Ilegales and their frontman became a symbol of freedom, independence, and genuine sincerity — qualities highly valued by rock fans around the world.
