Bakala

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The following article contains and discusses content that may be distressing to some readers.
Reason for Warning: This page documents a countercultural movement characterized by severe substance abuse. The history section discusses the prevalence of ecstasy use and the association of the movement's decline with fatal road accidents and police crackdowns. This content is presented for documentation only and does not endorse or promote harmful behaviors. Viewer discretion is advised.

Bakala
Three youths at Chocolate nightclub (c. 1988), showcasing the transition from post-punk to the "Bakala" aesthetic.
Origins
Other names	Makinero, Bakalaero, Ruta Destroy, Rutero, Pastillero
Decade of origin	1980s (Late) – 2000s (Early)
Location of origin	Valencia, Spain
Visuals & Themes
Key motifs	Shaved "Cenicero" hairstyles, bomber jackets (Alpha Industries), customized sportswear, gold jewelry, high-speed driving, macro-discotheques
Key colours	Orange (inside of bombers), black, neon green, yellow, denim blue
Key values	Hedonism, "destroy" mentality, tribalism, endurance (multi-day partying), speed, music appreciation (Mákina/Hardcore)
Connections
Related aesthetics	Biker Cani Electronic Body Music Gabber New Beat New Wave Pokero Rave Skinhead
Media & Culture
Related media	Bit Music (record label), La Ruta (2022 Series), IVAM "Ruta Gràfica" exhibition, Makinavaja
Related brands	Kill Off, Rottweiler, Dj's Band, Scottish Clan, Alpha Industries, Nike (Air Max/BW), Pedro Gómez, Boy London
Timeline
Preceded by	Movida Valenciana Post-Punk EBM
Succeeded by	Cani Pokero

Bakala (often used interchangeably with Makinero) is a Spanish youth subculture that emerged in the late 1980s and flourished throughout the 1990s. It refers to the primary demographic of the Ruta Destroy (or Ruta del Bakalao), a massive nightlife phenomenon centered in Valencia that involved partying in macro-discotheques for 72 hours continuously.

The aesthetic is characterized by a "hard" appearance influenced by Gabber and Skinhead fashion, a devotion to high-BPM electronic music (Mákina and Hardcore), and a specific grooming style known as the "Cenicero" (Ashtray) cut.

While originally a cutting-edge avant-garde movement in the 80s, the subculture was later stigmatized by mass media due to its association with drug use (ecstasy/speed), fatal road accidents, and eventual assimilation into the "Cani" stereotype.

History

Terminology

According to oral histories of the movement, the identity can be split into three evolutionary stages:

• Bakalaero: The original clubber of the 1980s. Sophisticated and avant-garde, they listened to EBM, New Beat, and Synth-pop. This term became obsolete by the early 90s.
• Makinero: The defining archetype of the 90s. Devoted specifically to Mákina music (a fast, upbeat evolution of Techno). They adopted the sportswear and military aesthetic.
• Hardcoriano: A harder subset that preferred Gabber, Terrorcore, and Speedcore. They maintained the most aggressive, militaristic aesthetic (shaved heads, bomber jackets) for the longest time.

The Golden Age: La Ruta Destroy

"Without EBM and North European synth-pop and Spanish clubs and DJs of the mid-80s, there would be no Techno." ― DJ The Hacker

Map of the Valencian Community, showcasing the locations of prominent nightclubs.

The origins of the Bakala subculture are inseparable from the social and cultural liberation that followed the death of Spanish dictator Francisco Franco in 1975. The subsequent transition to democracy unleashed a wave of creative energy known as the Movida Valenciana.

In the early 1980s, clubs along the CV-500 road began importing post-punk and industrial music, attracting an eclectic crowd initially known as "Bakalaeros." These early adopters were characterized by a sophisticated appreciation for EBM, Belgian New Beat, and Synth-pop (e.g., they listened to bands like Kraftwerk and Front 242), distinct from the harder "Makineros" that would define the 1990s.

By the early 1990s, the movement solidified into the "Ruta Destroy." A distinct clubbing circuit formed around venues like Spook Factory, Puzzle, and Barraca, where thousands of youths participated in a ritual of continuous partying from Friday to Monday morning. As the sound shifted toward harder, faster electronic genres, the demographic evolved into the "Makinero" or "Bakala" identity. This period, often termed the Golden Age, saw the subculture become a mass phenomenon, with youths driving from Madrid and Catalonia to participate in the communal, hedonistic atmosphere that prefigured modern rave culture.

Massification, Decline, and Polarization

Evidence of the scene's political polarization in the late 1990s. These variations of the Pont Aeri logo illustrate the ideological fracture within the subculture: adapting the brand to feature the Catalan Senyera (top left), the Spanish Rojigualda (top right), and eventually devolving into explicit far-right extremism (bottom), marking the end of the scene's golden age.

By the mid-1990s, the movement faced a sharp decline driven by media sensationalism and internal fracturing. Intense public scrutiny focused on the prevalence of fatal road accidents involving exhausted drivers and the widespread use of stimulants, leading to aggressive police crackdowns and checkpoints.

Simultaneously, the subculture became politically polarized. While the early scene was largely apolitical, the later "Hardcore" phase saw a division between "Españolistas" (Spanish nativists), who were often associated with right-wing nationalism and urban centers, and "Catalanistas" (Catalan independentists), who leaned toward anti-fascist or independence movements in rural areas. This tension, combined with the commercialization of the music into generic "Cantaditas," led to the closure of many iconic clubs by 1995 and the assimilation of the remaining aesthetic into Pokeros and the most infamously, the broader Cani subculture.

Legacy and Revival

The Ruta Destroy remains a definitive cultural touchstone for the Spanish Generation X. Following the mass closures of the late 90s, the scene evolved into a nostalgia-driven industry known as the "Remember" movement. These events recreate the music and atmosphere of the golden age but operate under stricter regulations that have largely sanitized the scene of its previous associations with road violence and political extremism.

Contemporary accounts note that the modern revival has successfully dissociated itself from the neo-fascist elements that plagued the decline of the "Hardcoriano" period. By banning political symbols and enforcing tighter security, the "Remember" circuit has fostered a more apolitical environment focused purely on the music. This cultural rehabilitation was further solidified by the critically acclaimed 2022 television series La Ruta, which re-examined the era through a humanistic lens rather than the sensationalist narratives of the 1990s media.

Fashion

Photograph of three men at Chocolate nightclub, Valencia, circa 1988. Image originally shared by Javi Frank.

The Bakala aesthetic was a functional uniform designed for endurance dancing, evolving from earlier New Romantic influences into a harder, militaristic look. The style prioritized a tight, "bad boy" silhouette that displayed physical fitness and group loyalty through specific brands.

The "Holy Trinity" of brands that defined the hierarchy of the subculture included Kill Off, famous for sweaters featuring a wizard logo appropriated from the Thunderdome hardcore festival; Rottweiler, considered the brand par excellence of the era; and Dj's Band. Other notable garments included the ubiquitous Alpha Industries MA-1 bomber jacket, often worn reversed to display the orange lining, and high-end "Pedro Gómez" puffer jackets, which served as major status symbols. As the scene politicized, brands like Scottish Clan became associated with specific nationalist factions.

Grooming was equally specific and aggressive. The definitive male hairstyle was the "Cenicero" (Ashtray) or "Uve" cut, consisting of shaved sides with a longer, flat, or spiked top, often featuring a distinct bang combed forward. Aggressive hair bleaching was common, with colors ranging from platinum blonde to "butane orange."

Women within the subculture typically favored extremely wide bell-bottom jeans ("pata de elefante") or straight-leg trousers, often paired with platform boots from the Art Company and tight tops from brands like Welcome 2 Paradise (W2P), which introduced manga-inspired illustrations to the aesthetic.

Graphic Design

Example of a promotional artwork by Spook, located in Pinedo, Valencia.

The Ruta Destroy developed a highly sophisticated visual identity that stood in stark contrast to the aggressive reputation of its attendees. Promoted through a prolific output of flyers and posters, the "Diseño Destroy" (Destroy Design) style was an avant-garde artistic movement in its own right.

Designers such as Edu Marín, Paco Bascuñán, and Quique Company established a visual language that drew heavily from industrial textures, experimental underground comics, and modernist principles like Bauhaus typography. These visuals were often high-contrast and utilized bold, striking imagery to capture the mechanical energy of the nightlife, a legacy recently celebrated in the 2022 "Ruta Gráfica" exhibition at the IVAM museum.

Examples (Flyers)

ACTV

Barraca

Espiral

Chocolate

Spook

ACTV

Metropolis

ACTV

Puzzle

Puzzle, from the summer of 1989

Barraca

Espiral

Dance and Culture

Anthropological accounts of the era distinguish between two rival dance styles that defined the subculture's regional identities. The Pont Aeri School, prominent in Catalonia, was an aggressive, high-energy style characterized by jumping, high knees, and "flying kicks" directed at the air, often involving crouching during the musical build-up to explode upward at the drop. In contrast, the Levantine School (or "Masiero"), associated with Valencia, was more grounded; it involved shuffling, small forward kicks, rhythmic swaying of the body, and distinctive hand movements performed near the head.

Music

The musical evolution of the scene mirrored the shift from the "Moderno" to the "Makinero." The early phase was defined by guitar-based Post-Punk and EBM imported from countries like Great Britain, Germany, and Belgium, featuring acts like Front 242 and The Sisters of Mercy. By the early 1990s, this coalesced into the "Sonido de Valencia," a fusion of industrial techno and New Beat.

The final and most defining phase was Mákina (or Bakalao), a high-octane evolution of hardcore techno characterized by tempos exceeding 160 BPM and melodic synth lines. Key figures included Chimo Bayo, whose performance art approach yielded hits like "Así me gusta a mí," and production groups like Pont Aeri, responsible for the anthem "Flying Free." The scene was also driven by super-clubs that functioned as musical brands, including Chasis, Scorpia, and X-Que, which released prolific compilation albums such as Maquina Total and Bit Music Greatest Hits.

The "Bakalaero" Phase (80s – Early 90s)

The "Ruta Destroy" was originally defined by an eclectic mix of guitar music and dark industrial sounds. This era is characterized by the consumption of EBM, New Beat, and Post-Punk.

• Key Artists: Front 242, Nitzer Ebb, The Sisters of Mercy, The Cult, Megabeat (Interfront), and The Neon Judgement.
• Anthems:
  • "Rain" by The Cult (an essential rock track adopted by the dancefloors)
  • "The Fashion Party" by The Neon Judgement
  • "Los Niños del Parque" by Liaisons Dangereuses
  • "Because the Night" by Patti Smith (co-opted as a closing anthem)
  • "Headhunter" by Front 242

The "Sonido de Valencia" (Early 90s)

As the 90s began, the sound shifted toward a unique local fusion of Techno and New Beat, bridging the gap between dark EBM and the upcoming explosion of speed.

• Key Artists: Chimo Bayo, Double Vision, Dunne, Committee.
• Anthems:
  • "Así me gusta a mí" by Chimo Bayo (the biggest commercial hit of the era)
  • "Knockin'" by Double Vision
  • "La Ruta se mueve" by Chimo Bayo
  • "Bombas" by Chimo Bayo

The "Makinero" Phase (Mid-Late 90s)

By 1993/1994, the sound hardened into Mákina. This genre is defined by high tempos (160+ BPM), pitch-shifted "happy" vocals, and euphoria. This era corresponds with the rise of Catalan mega-clubs.

• Key Artists: Pont Aeri, Chasis, X-Que, Scorpia, Pastis & Buenri, DJ Skudero, Xavi Metralla.
• Anthems:
  • "Flying Free" by Pont Aeri (widely considered the anthem of the generation)
  • "Lover Why" by John Wesley
  • "Streamline" by Newton
  • "Fly Attack" by Pont Aeri
  • "La Linea De La Vida" by X-que

Albums

The scene was fueled by massive compilation albums (megamixes) sold in supermarkets and gas stations, often featuring low-budget cover art or 3D graphics.

• Maquina Total (Series 1–10)
• Bolero Mix
• Lo + Duro
• Sonido De Valencia - 1990 - 1999
• Bit Music Greatest Hits

Nightclubs

The infrastructure of the movement relied on specific "temples" that defined the route.

The Valencian Circuit (La Ruta)

Located along the El Saler road (CV-500). These were the pioneers of the "destroy" schedule.

• Barraca: The pioneer (opened 1965, shifted style in the 80s). Famous for its avant-garde theater and carousel horses.
• Chocolate: Located just 200m from Barraca. Known for darker industrial sounds and serving "Paella" at dawn.
• Spook Factory: Famous for its early morning sessions and bat logo.
• Puzzle: Known for a more "sophisticated" and house-oriented crowd.
• ACTV: Located on the beach in the old Termas Victoria building.
• Espiral & NOD: Key stops on the route known for aggressive parking lot parties.

The Catalan Temples (Mákina)

As the scene in Valencia faced police crackdowns, the epicenter of the "hard" sound moved north to Catalonia in the mid-90s.

• Scorpia Central del Sonido: (Igualada) The symbol of the industrial Mákina aesthetic.
• Chasis: (Mataró) Famous for its "Megatron" energy.
• Pont Aeri: (Terrassa/Manresa) Home of the "Flying Free" song and the aggressive "flight" dance style.
• Xque: (Palafrugell) Known for high-speed Happy Hardcore and Mákina.

Media

Television

• The Route / La Ruta (2022)

Comics

• Makinavaja (1986-1994)

Resources

Genre Guides

• RYM Ultimate Box Set > Mákina
• Mákina on Rate Your Music
• Mákina on Every Noise at Once
• Ruta Destroy on Every Noise at Once

Websites

• rutadestroy.com
• makineros.com
• larutadelbacalao.com
• generacionmakina.com
• makinamania.net - A forum about Mákina music.
• MDT Radio - A radio based in Valencia that focuses on 80s-90s Techno music.
• Spektra FM - Same as above.
• scorpia.net - The official website of Scorpia Central del Sonido.
• discotecachocolate.com The official website of the Chocolate nightclub.

Gallery

DJ Chimo Bayo.

Maria Ke Fisherman collection inspired by Ruta Destroy fashion.

Teenagers at the parking lot of The Face (formerly Dream's Village)

Chimo Bayo performing at El Templo (early 1990s)

The Stone Roses at Barraca nightclub, Valencia (1989)

Cast of "The Route," a 2022 television series depicting the Ruta Destroy era.

Cast of "The Route" television series.

Ruta Gráfica exhibition at the IVAM museum, Valencia (2022)

Logos from various Valencian nightclubs.

Spook flyer from Christmas Eve, 1988.

ACTV flyer.

Videos

Ramirez - Bomba (Official Video)

Chimo Bayo - Asi me gusta a mí

No cambies - Asap

Video Ruta Destroy Por la ruta del bakalao

Documentary (in Spanish)

Navigation

Rave Subculture

Core Aesthetics

Rave ☺ Acid House ☺ Gabber ☺ Kandi Raver ☺ Berlin Techno Fashion ☺ Bakala ☺ Krocha ☺ Madchester ☺ New Beat ☺ Pokero ☺ Tecktonik ☺ UK Garage ☺ Wixa

Fusion Aesthetics

Acid Design ☺ Cyberdelia ☺ Cybergoth ☺ New Rave