Juan Brujo, also recognized as John Lepe, the iconic frontman of the metal ensemble Brujeria, sadly passed away at the age of 61 on Wednesday, September 18, 2024. This heartbreaking news was confirmed through Brujeria’s official Instagram account, revealing that Brujo suffered a “heart attack.” The band shared a poignant message:
“It is with deep sadness we have to announce that our leader Juan Brujo has passed away today. Juan suffered a heart attack on early Monday morning, after a day off from the current Mexorcista tour in Saint Clairsville, Ohio.”
Further elaborating, the band stated:
“He was rushed to the nearest hospital in Wheeling, West Virginia by emergency services, but, despite the medical team’s greatest efforts, he died this morning.”
In their message, the band expressed that the family is in mourning and wishes to “grieve privately.” Brujeria concluded their heartfelt post with the words:
“The Wizard is dead, long live the Wizard!”
Remarkably, just a day prior to Juan Brujo’s passing, Brujeria had announced the cancellation of their upcoming shows due to “severe health problems.” Tragically, Juan’s death followed just one day after this announcement.
Juan Brujo was a pivotal figure in Brujeria and had been a core member of the band since its inception in 1989, primarily handling the vocals. Other former band members include notable artists like Jello Biafra, Billy Gould, Tony Campos, Nick Barker, Tony Laureano, Adrian Erlandsson, and David Lepe.
As for the current lineup, Brujeria includes Pat Hoed, Shane Embury, Henry Sanchez, Anton Reisenegger, Jessica Pimentel, and Sergio Lopez.
Juan Brujo’s Impact on Music with Brujeria
Juan Brujo was renowned for his powerful vocals and played a crucial role in establishing Brujeria’s success. As a founding member, he collaborated with the band to release several influential albums, including Matando Gueros, Raza Odiada, Brujerizmo, and Pocho Aztlan. The band’s latest album, Esto Es Brujeria, was launched in 2023.
In addition, the band produced numerous tracks that resonated with fans, such as El Patron, Marijuana, Debilador, California Uber Aztlan, Angel Chilango, American Czar, COVID-666, and Mochando.
Though Brujeria is now a successful band, it originally formed in 1989 as an anonymous studio project where members concealed their identities using bandanas and face masks. Besides Brujo, the band was co-founded by Billy Gould of Faith No More and former Dead Kennedys frontman Jello Biafra.
Furthermore, it is significant to note that Juan Brujo became the second member of Brujeria to pass away recently, following the earlier loss of Ciriaco “Pinche Peach” Quezada, who died at the age of 57 due to heart disease.
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