El Diario de Hank

El Diario de Hank formed in Mexico City in 1995 with vocalist José Fors, guitarist Ernesto García, bassist Axel Ramírez, and drummer Vicente Jáuregui. The band's name comes from a fictional character in a Mexican comic strip. They put out their first album, 'Sueño,' in 1996, which included the song 'Ausente.' That track, with its spare arrangement and Fors's raw vocal about missing someone, became their most recognizable piece.

Their music mixed rock with some blues and folk touches, built around Fors's introspective lyrics. After García left in 1997, Fors handled most of the writing. They released 'La Suciedad y la Tormenta' in 1998 and 'El Diario' in 2000 before breaking up in 2002 due to money troubles. Other songs like 'Cree en mi' and 'Igual que ayer' kept circulating on rock radio.

The group came back together in 2006 and put out 'Silencio' that same year. They've since released 'La Era del Silencio' in 2011 and 'El Hombre Sin Rostro' in 2016. While they never reached massive commercial heights, their early material, especially 'Ausente,' has held a steady place with listeners who gravitate toward its direct, unvarnished feel.