Backstage with RBD's Christian Chávez
“The tour is a reunion with my inner child, who didn’t have the opportunity to be himself.” — Christian Chávez
After a 15-year hiatus, hit Mexican pop group RBD is back – and arguably bigger than ever. Though technically a member short (Alfonso “Poncho” Herrera chose not to return for round two) the original members – Anahí Puente, Dulce María Espinoza, Maite Perroni, Christopher von Uckermann and Christian Chávez – are all onboard, embarking on what is being touted as the most monumental Latin music reunion in history: selling 1.5 million tickets within 24 hours alone.
Their new global tour will take them from Mexico to Brazil as they revisit some of their biggest hits, including “Sálvame,” “Sólo Quédate En Silencio” and “Este Corazón” while launching a new track dubbed “Cerquita De Ti.” There’s lots to celebrate from their heyday,too. The group landed three albums at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart and a No. 15 on the Billboard 200. Five of their 10 entries on Hot Latin Songs reached the top 10, with “Ser O Parecer” topping the chart.
First formed in 2004, the Mexican soap opera Rebelde followed the highs and lows of the students of an elite musical school who launch a band, RBD. Though produced by Mexican TV giant Televisa, the format was licensed from Argentine producer Chris Morena and global distributor and producer Dori Media. Needless to say, the rights situation – to the name, the brand and even the image – was complicated. The contracts of the then young teenagers were too, being as they were under contract and therefore not earning a salary or royalties from what was a gruelling schedule of filming, recording and performing on a loop.
This time around, they are ready. For fans, watching them is a nostalgic dream. Hypebae got to go backstage at RBD’s New York show at Madison Square Garden to meet with Christian to discuss the tour, his newfound liberation and his role in advancing for LGBTQ+ visibility and acceptance in Latin American media and entertainment. Keep scrolling for the full interview.
How does it feel to be back on tour together?
It feels like a dream. It is a dream. To have the opportunity to live this again, but much more mature and under our own terms it feels different. It feels right and it feels good.
What’s been your favorite song to perform this time around?
All of them. Because honestly if I wasn’t part of RBD, I would have been a huge fan of RBD. I love pop music and especially RBD’s melodies and lyrics. So, for me, every night, even the girl’s songs, during “Otro Día Que Va”, “Enséñame” I’m singing my heart out. It’s a difficult question because I do love every single song.
If you were to go back in time and give Giovanni a different love interest in Rebelde who would it be?
For Giovanni, we always wanted, and I think that the fans were expecting, that Lupita in the second season would be something but… if he was gay, I think Joaquín and Giovanni had chemistry.
Really? we were hoping you would say Tomás…
Oh wow, yes! Probably. There was a bromance there, but a lot of bullying, too. Maybe he was disguising a crush and it was a love-hate thing.
What are you most looking forward to on tour?
I’m looking forward to everyone seeing me be myself. In this moment, I’m not being a “queer version” of myself, I’m just being the real me. I used to be a lot more tame, trying to pretend certain things, trying to be loved and liked by everyone, but now it’s not like that. This tour is a reunion with my inner child, who didn’t have the opportunity to be himself so, we’re gonna have a lot of fun. Everything you’re going to look at, from my wardrobe, to my makeup, to the way I dance, it’s just me being myself.
What city are you looking forward to next and why?
Mexico City! We didn’t have the opportunity to say goodbye to Mexico on our last tour and that was really sour for us so, I’m really longing for that. It will be such a special feeling going back, especially having the opportunity to be in such a legendary place. After all, we are Mexican and it’s always special to be home.
