The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has never been a stranger to breaking boundaries, but this year’s nomination of Mexican rock titans Mana feels like a seismic abrazo to the global rhythms of rock en español. For frontman Fher Olvera, the nod is more than a career capstone—it’s a roar of recognition for an entire culture. “This isn’t just about us,” Olvera tells Variety, his voice crackling with emotion. “It’s about every kid who ever picked up a guitar and dreamed in Spanish.”
Formed in Guadalajara in 1986, Mana—Olvera, drummer Alex González, guitarist Sergio Vallín, and bassist Juan Calleros—became the unlikeliest of rock revolutionaries, fusing Santana-esque grooves, U2-sized anthems, and lyrics that pulsed with social conscience. Their 1992 opus ¿Dónde Jugarán los Niños? didn’t just go diamond; it rewrote the rules for Latin rock, proving that Spanish-language bands could ignite mosh pits from Buenos Aires to Barcelona. Over 40 million albums later, they’re still the rare act that can make a stadium sway to a ballad about deforestation (“Selva Negra”) or a reggae-rock plea for unity (“Oye Mi Amor”).
Mana’s Rock Hall nomination places them alongside legends like Cher and Ozzy Osbourne, but their inclusion cracks the door wider for Latin rock—a genre too often relegated to the “World Music” margins. Only a handful of Latino acts (Selena, Santana, Joan Baez) have been inducted, and none with Mana’s blend of headbanger grit and poetic activism. “We’ve always been luchadores,” says González, whose thunderous beats anchor the band’s sound. “To see our name beside heroes like [Ruben] Blades or [Juan] Gabriel? Es un milagro.”
Fresh off the nomination high, Mana announced a 2025 world tour, kicking off September 23rd in Mexico City before storming U.S. arenas (Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium, New York’s Madison Square Garden) with what Olvera promises will be a “espectáculo de fuego y alma.” The tour coincides with their first new album in nearly a decade, Furia del Amor, led by a title track that’s all snarling riffs and Olvera’s trademark rasp—proof that the band’s fire hasn’t dimmed. “We’re older, but the rage is the same,” Vallín laughs. “Just ask my tinnitus.”
For Mana, the Rock Hall moment is also a platform. Their Selva Negra Foundation, which has planted millions of trees and funded environmental education, mirrors the band’s belief that music and activism are twin engines of change. “You think ‘Latino’ is a trend now?” Olvera says, referencing their 1994 hit “Me Vale.” “We’ve been screaming these truths for 30 years.”
As Mana preps their next act, the Rock Hall vote looms. Win or lose, their nomination alone feels like a cultural reckoning—a belted anthem for the generations of fans who’ve chanted their lyrics in crowded campos and suburban garages alike. “When we play ‘Vivir Sin Aire,’ you see 50,000 people singing about love like it’s a prayer,” Olvera says. “That’s our Hall of Fame.”
Tour dates and tickets at mana.com.mx. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2025 inductees will be announced in April.
