The Spanish music world is mourning the death of Jorge Martinez, guitarist, lyricist and lead singer of Ilegales, an essential Spanish rock band. The musician died at the age of 70, according to media reports and confirmations released on Tuesday, December 9, after several months of fighting cancer.
The news had a special impact among rock and punk fans, because Martínez -also known as “Jorge Ilegal” or “Jorjón”- was for decades a reference figure for his provocative character, his stage energy and a lyrical work with his own stamp.
According to published reports, Jorge Martínez died at the Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias (HUCA), in Oviedo, where he had been hospitalized for several days. His state of health had already been a cause for concern since September, when the band publicly announced that they would have to stop all live activity due to the treatment he would have to undergo.
In September 2025, the group’s own entourage announced that Jorge was suffering from cancer and that, for this reason, the planned concerts were cancelled indefinitely. The message stressed that the priority was for the musician to concentrate all his energies on his recovery.
The legacy of Jorge Martinez, leader of ‘Ilegales’.
In the text released on December 9, Ilegales informed of the death of its leader and asked for respect and understanding for the family and friends in a particularly painful moment. It also stressed that, although an essential figure of rock en español is leaving, his music and attitude will remain as part of the legacy he leaves behind.
After hearing the news, several artists expressed their farewell on social networks. Among the messages that circulated, words of admiration and affection for Martínez were shared, recalling his authenticity and his fidelity to his own musical discourse. These reactions reinforced the idea that his figure transcended the band: he was a symbol of combative and direct rock that marked several generations.
Media such as El País described him as the “soul” of Ilegales and recalled his importance since the 80s, with a trajectory crossed by sharp lyrics and an irreverent attitude that was maintained until the end. His death comes when the band was immersed in the presentation stage of their album “Joven y arrogante”, released in March 2025, a tour that was put on hold when the illness was announced.
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