Overview
- Manuel 'Manolo' Arjona, a founding member of Locomía, died suddenly at his home in Viladecans, Barcelona on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, a fact confirmed to EFE by Xavier Font and by the group's official social accounts.
- Multiple reports say Arjona spent part of the day painting before going to bed and that he was found not to have woken, and some close contacts have cited a fulminant cardiorespiratory arrest while formal medical confirmation has not been released.
- Locomía and several former members published emotive tributes online and his remains are to be veiled at the Àltima Viladecans funeral home as arrangements proceed.
- Arjona was a central figure in the band's original lineup and helped shape Locomía's signature aesthetic—oversized shoulder pads, synchronized choreography and giant fans—that drove the group's late-1980s international success.
- His death follows other recent losses among Locomía alumni and will likely intensify public interest in retrospectives, reunions and discussions about the group's legacy and history.