Xava Drago, Frontman of Mexican Rock Band Coda, Dead at 56

Xava Drago, lead singer of the Mexican rock band Coda, died in Mexico City on Thursday (Aug. 21) after a battle with stomach cancer. He was 56 years old. His bandmates shared the news through the group’s social media accounts.

“Our hearts are broken. With deep sadness, we want to share with you that our beloved Xava has passed away,” read the post — which was written in Spanish — on the band’s Instagram account. “We send our love to his entire family and wish with all our hearts that they soon find comfort and peace. We are with you. Xava was always a warrior — he loved what he did, always intense, always passionate.”

The statement continued: “We are profoundly grateful to have shared life and the stage with him; it has been a great honor and an incredible privilege. We want to thank the fans, friends, the media, the doctors, Xava’s family and everyone who gave their hearts and support to stand by him shoulder-to-shoulder on this difficult journey — a journey that, sadly, has now come to an end.”

The singer, whose real name was Salvador Aguilar, was diagnosed with stomach cancer about a year ago. Since then, he had been sharing his journey with his followers. Earlier this August, he bid farewell to public life after doctors had exhausted all possible treatment options.

“To my family, fans, bandmates, and friends, my endless thanks. From the dawn of time at daybreak, you showed me your unmatched beauty and that pure, unconditional love,” read a message shared on his Facebook account on Aug. 13.

As the lead singer of Coda, Xava Drago became one of the biggest icons of Mexican rock in the ‘90s. The band’s 1993 hit “Tócame” opened the door to a string of successes. In 1994, the song “Aún” dropped, featured on the album Veinte Para las Doce, which solidified their place in the scene. That album also delivered other memorable tracks such as “Sin Ti No Se Continua” and “Eternamente.”

On Aug. 16, Xava Drago released his final solo project, an album titled Gracias Infinitas, which he recorded during the last months of his illness as a way to thank his fans and say goodbye to music.