Medina Azahara

Spanish flamenco-tinged prog metal group Medina Azahara, named after an Arab Muslim medieval city outside Córdoba, were formed in 1979 by singer Manuel Martinez, guitarist Miguel Galan, drummer José Antonio Molina, bassist Manuel Molina, and keyboardist Pablo Rabadan. That same year, they signed with CBS and issued their debut album, Paseando por la Mezquita, which was followed by 1980's La Esquina del Viento and 1982's Andalucia. Medina Azahara garnered a reputation as a leading force in the Andalusian rock (rock andaluz) movement, and the live album Sin Tiempo, released in 1992, became the band's breakthrough. Medina Azahara have undergone considerable lineup changes over the years, but Manual Martinez has continued to front the band, which celebrated its 30 year anniversary in 2009.