Jorge Martínez (Ilegales): A Rebel Soul and his Ramírez Guitar

Dec 11, 2025

Jorge Martínez (Ilegales): A Rebel Soul and his Ramírez Guitar
The music world was left orphaned on 9 December, with an unexpected and broken silence. Just a few months earlier, on the Instagram account of his band Ilegales, we read with concern that they had to cancel their latest tour, ‘Joven y arrogante’ (Young and Arrogant), due to health problems. No one expected this outcome. Jorge Martínez, the charismatic, controversial, lively, sharp-tongued and brilliant leader of the band Ilegales, has left us at the age of 70. His departure marks the end of an era for Spanish rock and punk and a way of seeing and feeling the world, taking with him that irreverent attitude, far from political correctness, that defined him from his beginnings in the late 1970s to the present day.

However, behind the figure of the “hard rocker”, with his sharp lyrics and amplifiers turned up to the max, lay a musician of extraordinary technical sensitivity. At Ramírez Guitars, we have always been very proud to know that, among this figure’s collection of instruments, one of our guitars occupied a place of honour.

The versatility of the guitar: From the conservatory, flamenco clubs and tablaos to rock and roll

The Ramírez guitar is often associated exclusively with the solemnity of classical concert halls or the heartbreaking passion of flamenco tablaos. But music is a universal language that knows no barriers, and Jorge Martínez was living proof of this.

His choice of a Ramírez was no coincidence. Jorge was a connoisseur and lover of the instrument, and it was no surprise that he had an interesting collection. He knew that, to achieve certain nuances, nothing beats the warmth and projection of a Spanish guitar.

A Testimony Recorded on Video

We don’t need to speculate about his appreciation for our work; he told us himself. We are thrilled to share an interview that is now a historical document. At one point (minute 2:12), Jorge pauses in his speech to talk about his instrument. With the naturalness of someone introducing an old friend, he points to his Ramírez guitar.

In this brief excerpt, he demonstrates that great musicians, regardless of genre, always strive for excellence in their tools of the trade.

The concert by Los Magníficos

We fondly remember their performance on Radio 3’s Los Conciertos, specifically in the session by Jorge Ilegal y los Magníficos. It was a performance where the sound of our home merged with the artist’s unmistakable voice.

There, on stage, Jorge swapped distortion for acoustic resonance. He stepped out with his Ramírez, proving that intensity does not depend on decibels, but on the intention of the hands touching the strings. It was a masterful performance where the sound of our house merged with the artist’s unmistakable voice.

You can watch the full concert in the RTVE archive: Watch Jorge Ilegal y los Magníficos on RTVE.

A Legacy That Resonates

From Guitarras Ramírez, we would like to send our sincere condolences to his family, friends and legion of fans who feel a little lonelier today. Although we are left with the regret of not having met him in person, we are left with the memory of his work, his mischievous statements and the honour of knowing that one of our little ones was in his hands.

Thank you, Jorge. May the earth lie lightly on you, maestro.

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