An iconic band in Argentina's punk rock scene, Flema is remembered today as much for its rocky stretches and trouble with the law as it is for its beloved music. The original version of the band was formed in Buenos Aires in 1987 by a group of teenagers drawn to the angst-y energy and simplicity of punk rock. In 1992, Ricky Espinosa switched from playing guitar to taking over lead vocals, a move that would give Flema its most prominent identity for years to come. With its bratty but endearing style and tales of hard-partying, the group spent the duration of the 1990s at the top of its powers, widely considered to be the cream of the crop in regard to Argentinian punk. The chaotic presence the band embodied onstage wasn't an act, however, and oftentimes the band would be unable to perform due to run-ins with the law for possession of cocaine and other illegal substances. In 2002, after hinting at it for some time prior, Espinosa killed himself by jumping from the fifth floor of a building. Flema disbanded immediately after, but is still remembered as one of the essential Argentinian acts of the 1990s.
