The artist helped shape the group’s original Ibiza formation.
Photo credit: Locomia
Manuel Arjona Velasco, one of the founding members of Locomía, has died at the age of 59.
Arjona was part of the original lineup alongside Xavier Font, Luis Font, and Gard Passchier, helping transform the Ibiza-born collective into one of the most recognizable Spanish pop acts of the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Known for its theatrical fashion, choreography, and oversized hand fans, Locomía became a cultural phenomenon across Spain and Latin America with releases such as ‘Taiyo’ and ‘Loco Vox’, alongside tracks including ‘Locomía’, ‘Taiyo’, ‘Gorbachov’, and ‘Rumba Samba Mambo’.
Following his departure from the group, Arjona largely remained out of the public spotlight, though his name remained closely linked to the band’s history. Interest in Locomía resurfaced in recent years following the release of the documentary ‘Locomía’ in 2022 and the feature film ‘Disco, Ibiza, Locomía’ in 2024.
Arjona’s death follows the recent passing of several other figures associated with the group, including Francesc Picas, Santos Blanco, and Frank Romero.
