“Fictions” (1967) by Los Vidrios Quebrados is released now on vinyl, from the original IRT masters!

Los Vidrios Quebrados were pioneers in Chile in adopting psychedelia as a musical aesthetic, due to the influences gathered mainly from British groups. Although they bequeathed only one LP, this one is a permanent reference of research and applause, for having been worked with their own material (without covers, as was the norm of local rock at the time) and combining their electric flight with opinions of social observation. “Fictions” (1967) is one of the most important rock albums made in Chile.

In 1964, in the city of Santiago, Chile, Héctor Sepúlveda and Juan O'Brien were studying Law at the University of Chile. With a common taste for the Rock and Roll of The Beatles, The Kinks, Yardbirds, Dave Clark Five and The Byrds, plus their love for the guitar, they decided to create their own musical project, which was joined by the brother of a classmate, Cristian Larraín (bass), and his cousin Juan Enrique Garcés (drums). The first line-up under the name of The Lawyers, which later became Los Cuervos, and quickly changed to Los Vidrios Quebrados, was already rehearsing in a room on Cienfuegos Street.

Why the name Los Vidrios Quebrados? Well, because it was inspired by the stained-glass windows of the church of the French Fathers and also because it was supposed to "sound groundbreaking". It was a different name, nothing too demanding, but more than original.

They started doing covers of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Yardbirds, and a lot of The Kings. Everything was very rudimentary. The guitars were cut, glued and the frets were assembled by eye and saw.

During their first public appearance as Los Vidrios Quebrados, at a singing festival at the Catholic University in 1965, they played two original songs: “Friend” and “She'll Never Know I'm Blue”, and a Beatles song. As they were leaving the stage, Emilio Rojas approached them, saying that he was from Odeon and that he wanted to record with them.

The 1966 single “Friend” and “She'll Never Know I'm Blue” gave way the following year to the recording of “Fictions”, their only LP, under the RCA Victor and Ues Producciones label. Without merely copying their influences, the songs on the album feature smooth and fine instrumental arrangements by Héctor Sepúlveda (guitar and vocals), who also acted as the album's musical director.

They played on the radio, at the Teatro Marconi where they did very well, the Teatro de Los Sagrados Corazones and at the San Ignacio, in an empty swimming pool where they set up the stage and people danced inside. They played wherever they were called.

Even after recording, they were called to the Viña Festival, an invitation they declined because they were planning to leave Chile to promote the album. Unfortunately, there was no tour and no new opportunities to go to Viña. They also turned down an invitation to play at the Caupolicán Theater. Why? Simple arrogance, which was even transferred to television when they appeared on programs like "Juani en Sociedad" on Channel 13 where they were made to play with playback. Then, to laugh at that television effect, the drummer appeared playing with some flowers, or they sang phrases that had nothing to do with the audio at the time.

"That time we painted our faces half black and half white. Something like Kiss. We also got a lot of vibe from the lyrics, and on TV shows while we were singing, they would subtitle them. The effect of our lyrics was interesting, even though they were in English. How remarkable that was. I wanted to sing in Spanish but the rest didn't want to" recalls Juan Mateo (guitar, vocals).

Those who were lucky enough to hear them live say that they were much more rock than what we can appreciate on the album. And the music on the “Fictions” album was even more sophisticated than what was being done at the time, there was a musicality that was quite anticipatory, even foreign. If you listen to the harmonies in "Introduction to Life..." or "Concerto in A Minor", they are quite complex compared to what was heard at the time. That's why they also had a place in radio stations more accustomed to playing classical music, like Radio Andrés Bello. There was a certain intellectual taste, something like an "intellectual arrogance", like the quotations to Oscar Wilde in the lyrics of the songs, for example.

For the recording of “Fictions”, Los Vidrios Quebrados had very little time, as was customary in those days. And despite the technical limitations of the recording studios (two tracks -vocals on one side and all the instruments on the other-, bottle cap tambourines and homemade instruments), when listening to the album, the result is surprising and, considering that in Chile the music of the Beatles and the Rolling Stones was already known, the reception of “Fiction” was quite good.

After the success of “Fictions” and with a promising future, Los Vidrios Quebrados decided to go to Europe in 1969, but the idea was rejected by the parents of two of the members, who only saw music as a hobby. Different life choices and musical tastes led months later to the end of the band.