Kike Maíllo Directs Biopic on Rise and Fall of Exotic 90s Spanish Group Locomía

Director Kike Maíllo, known for his Goya Award-winning film 'EVA,' is helming a new biopic titled 'Disco, Ibiza, Locomía' about the meteoric rise and scandalous fall of the flamboyant 1990s Spanish pop group Locomía. The film, set to release in theaters in May 2024, promises a captivating and unfiltered look at the band's path from Ibiza fashion designers to international music sensations, and the excesses and rivalries that ultimately led to their downfall.

Locomía burst onto the scene in the mid-1980s as a group of young, colorful fashion designers known for their extravagant outfits and flamboyant fans, becoming a sensation in Ibiza nightclubs. Even legendary singer Freddie Mercury was captivated by their performances. Music talent scout José Luis Gil had the idea to adapt their act into a boy band, giving rise to the electro-pop phenomenon that shook the foundations of the Spanish music scene in the early 1990s. "We were a group of friends from Spain who went to Ibiza in the mid-80s pursuing our dream of fashion," recalls a former member of Locomía.

Despite having no prior singing experience, Locomía, with their signature fan dances and avant-garde costumes, went on to fill stadiums across Latin America and transform nightclubs around the world. However, behind the glitz and glamour, the band's rapid success was marred by drug abuse, infighting, and power struggles with their producer Gil. "We had to sacrifice our freedom to achieve success," reveals another ex-member.

Why this matters: The story of Locomía reflects the cultural and social landscape of Spain in the late 1980s and early 1990s, a time when the country and the music industry were not ready to fully embrace the LGBTQ community. The band's rise and fall serves as a commentary on fame, excess, and the price of stardom.

To write the screenplay, Maíllo interviewed all the former members of Locomía as well as producer José Luis Gil. The director, who is not a fan of the group himself, was fascinated by their implosion at the height of their success. "It explores themes of the fight for success, the search for stardom, and the 'lost paradise' of being able to be oneself, which the group represented for the LGBTQ community," Maíllo explains. While not a traditional biopic, 'Disco, Ibiza, Locomía' aims to capture the spirit of the era and address contemporary LGBTQ issues that still resonate today.

Key Takeaways

• Director Kike Maíllo to helm biopic on 90s Spanish pop group Locomía.
• Locomía rose to fame in Ibiza as fashion designers, then became electro-pop stars.
• Biopic to explore Locomía's rapid success, drug abuse, and power struggles.
• Story reflects Spain's cultural landscape and LGBTQ issues in the late 80s/90s.
• Director aims to capture the era's spirit and address contemporary LGBTQ themes.