Arena Hash

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Arena Hash
First logo used by the band
Background information
Origin	San Isidro, Lima, Peru
Genres	Rock, Latin rock, Indie rock
Years active	1984–1993
Labels	CBS Records (1987–1990) SonoSur (1990–1993)
Past members	Pedro Suárez-Vértiz Christian Meier Patricio Suárez-Vértiz Arturo Pomar Jr. Álex Kornhuber (1984–1987)

Arena Hash was a Peruvian rock band formed in Lima in 1984. The band originated from the early "Paranoia", a band formed at the Colegio Maria Reina by Pedro Suárez-Vértiz.^[1] Arena Hash became famous in 1988 with their local hit "Cuando la cama me da vueltas".^[2][3] With a mix of rock, Latin rock and indie rock, the band was among the most popular of Peru during the 1980s and 90s. The band was known for revolutionizing Peruvian rock and has become a symbol of pop, new wave and ska rock around Peru and Latin America.^[4]

The beginnings of the band took place in the classrooms of the Colegio María Reina Marianistas in the San Isidro District of Lima in 1983. The origin of the band's name arises when Pedro Suárez-Vértiz wanted a compound name for the group and Álex Kornhuber asked that one of the words have to do with the beach and sea. They thought of Arena Blanca, Arena Azul, among other names; but for Suárez-Vértiz it did not fit. Then, they thought of the word Hash that sounded like hashish. Pedro liked that game of double meaning, but he was uncomfortable with the fact that it is an English word, which means 'minced meat'. Then Pedro was in the classroom with Alex and they passed around papers with the different combinations. When he received the one from Arena Hash, he loved it and everyone agreed on the name.^[5] When Peter sent the first cassette tape to the radio station, Doble Nueve, he did not like the word Hash, which he crossed out so that the name would remain only Arena. But the radio loved what was on the cross-out and announced them as Arena Hash.

In their beginnings, the band started doing garage rock and recorded a hard rock song titled "Difamación". This song was broadcast solely and exclusively by Doble Nueve 99.1 FM, and even appeared in its weekly ranking in the last quarter of 1985, being its first single at that time, despite not having the support of a record label at that time. Curiously, this song is not included in any album, but thanks to it they had started their path to popularity.

In 1987 there was a change in the group with the departure of Álex Kornhuber for personal reasons and the entry of Christian Meier on keyboard, already in January 1988. The band would be made up of Pedro Suárez-Vértiz on vocals and guitar, his brother Patricio Suárez-Vértiz on bass, Arturo Pomar Jr. on drums and Christian Meier on keyboard.

In 1988 they released, between January and April, their first debut album entitled Arena Hash. The first single from the album to be broadcast on radio stations was "Kangrejo (Sacudía)", followed by the single entitled "Cuando la cama me da vueltas", which became number one on the different radio stations across Lima and Peru. It was here where Arena Hash would become one of the most popular and largest bands in the history of Peru.

From this first album, the songs "Me resfrié en Brasil", "No cambiaré", both in new wave style, were also played, as well as "Stress" and the hard rock or heavy metal "Rompe-orejas", a reminiscence of his beginnings. In 1989 Arena Hash performed a series of concerts both in Lima and in the provinces, they filled stadiums, arenas and was one of the few groups that became idols of crowds. In 1990 they began to play "Materialismo Sexual", a song that was included in his second album; but that did not achieve the success of previous hits.

In 1991 the second album of entitled Ah, Ah, Ah was released. The first video clip of this production was "El Rey Del Ah Ah Ah" a song that became a success. In addition, "Y es que sucede Así" was also played, which quickly became number one on all Peruvian radios and of the band.^{[citation needed]} Other singles from the album were also played, such as "A ese infierno no voy a volver" and the melancholic new wave ballad "¿Cómo te va, mi amor?". Another little-known song on the album was the new wave-reggae "Quiero vivir quiz sin amor".

On Saturday, May 15, 1993, Arena Hash gave their last concert at the coliseum of the Colegio San Agustín together with Frágil, being the opening act for the band Foreigner. After that, the group dissolves to make way for personal projects of each of its members.

In 1995 Del archivo de ... Arena Hash was released, which is the reissue of their first album, which includes a song by Pedro Suárez-Vértiz and also three simulated live versions, one of them would be "Me Resfrié En Brasil" (simulated live version). Idol and founder of the band, Pedro Suárez-Vértiz died 28 December 2023 at the age of 54.^[6] Arturo Pomar Jr. created the Y Es Que Sucede Así - El show in 2025 to preserve the music created by the band.^[7][7]

These are all the members of Arena Hash.^[8]

• Pedro Suárez-Vértiz (vocals, guitar) (died in 2023)
• Patricio Suárez-Vértiz (bass)
• Christian Meier (keyboards)
• Arturo Pomar Jr. (drums).

• Arena Hash (1988)
• Ah, Ah, Ah (1990)
• Del Archivo de... Arena Hash (compilation) (1995)^[9]

• "Difamación" (1986)
• "El kangrejo" (1987)
• "Cuando la cama me da vueltas" (1988)
• "Me resfrié en Brasil" (1988)
• "Stress" (1988)
• "El rey del ah, ah, ah" (1991)
• "Y es que sucede así" (1991)
• "¿Cómo te va, mi amor?" (1991)
• "A ese infierno no voy a volver" (1991)

• Arena Hash discography at Discogs
• Listen to Arena Hash on Spotify