The first trailer for the four-part HBO Max docuseries Menudo: Forever Young just dropped, and it looks like viewers will be getting a very intimate, first-hand account from former members of one of the first boy bands ever created. The series follows the story of the famous Puerto Rican group Menudo, which formed in the late 1970s.
Along with their catchy music, Menudo was known for having a rotating lineup of its members. Before a performer hit 18, they would simply be replaced with a younger kid. In the trailer, reporter Geraldo Rivera describes the approach as a “fountain of youth strategy” created by producer and manager Edgardo Díaz.
“You keep rotating members, and that way, you can maintain Menudo forever,” said Ricky Meléndez, a member of the group from 1977 to 1984.
Menudo’s 1981 song “Claridad” from their album Quiero Ser kicks off the trailer, which begins with archive footage of the band in bright clothes singing on stage for giant crowds and on TV programs for their countless fans.
“Suddenly, five Puerto Rican boys arrive breaking all those stereotypes, singing in Spanish…” one commentator on the film said. Another said there was a “sense of pride” because of what they were accomplishing.
However, the history of Menudo takes a dark turn, and it’s evident from the trailer that producers aren’t shying away from the controversy. This includes several sex crime allegations over the years against Díaz.
“There were a lot of good things that came out of Menudo,” said Ralphy Rodriguez, a member of the group from 1986 to 1988. “But there was a price to pay for that magic.”
Other former band members interviewed for the documentary include Johnny Lozada, Ash Ruiz, Angelo Garcia, and Andy Blázquez. Unfortunately, viewers don’t get to hear from Menudo’s most famous member, Ricky Martin, who performed with the group from 1984 to 1989.
Menudo: Forever Young premieres on HBO Max June 23.
