Los Alegres del Barranco broke their silence on the controversy that has them at the center of a judicial investigation, following their performance on March 29, 2025, at the Telmex Auditorium in Zapopan, Jalisco. During the concert, images of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias El Mencho, and JoaquÃn “El Chapo” Guzmán were projected while the group performed the corrido El del Palenque. The consequences included criminal proceedings, the revocation of their US visas, and a growing debate about the limits of corridos in Mexico.
In a relaxed but tense atmosphere, journalist Luis Chaparro spoke with Pavel, Armando, Carlos, and Cristóbal, founding members of the group, from his home in Jalisco.
During the talk, which was published on Pie de Nota’s YouTube channel, the musicians detailed their experiences on the day the scandal broke and categorically stated that they never approved or requested the images that sparked the national controversy.
During the technical review, they observed the images that would be projected on screen during the song “El del Palenque,” including those of Nemesio Osegurera Cervantes, alias El Mencho, leader of the Jalisco Nueva Generación Cartel (CJNG). They immediately expressed their disagreement to the event’s producer, who, they said, had assumed full control of the visual montage for the first time.
“During the rehearsal, we said, ‘Hey, the images are a little too strong, aren’t they?’ We did tell him we didn’t agree, but by the time we realized it, everything was already done at the concert,” Pavel explained.
