RBD Exposed

Mexican pop sextet RBD is quickly on the rise in the live music world, leaving some asking where this straight-to-arena act came from.

Here’s the quick answer: RBD’s Anahí, Alfonso, Dulce María, Maite, Christopher and Christian were on the TV screen long before they ever stepped foot onto a concert stage.

They star in the 2-year-old telenovela “Rebelde,” which airs five nights a week throughout North, Central and South America (except Argentina), according to the Los Angeles Times. The comedy/romantic series is about a group of teens at an exclusive Mexico City prep school, and deals with issues such as teenage sexuality.

Along with the TV show, the sextet is causing a minor fashion craze among fans with stylized school “uniforms” – white shirts, red ties worn at an angle, jeans for the guys, mini-skirts and go-go boots for the girls.

Mexican newspapers have been abuzz with reports of a film, which will begin shooting later this year according to published interviews with Pedro Damián, “Rebelde’s” creator and executive producer, the Times said.

The band RBD was born when some of “Rebelde’s” principal characters decided to form a pop group, the paper said. So far, the six-piece has two albums to its credit – Rebelde and followup Nuestro Amor. The albums have sold 3.5 million copies in just 18 months.

RBD’s third effort, Live in Hollywood, was recorded in January at the Pantages Theatre, and is scheduled for an April release. It is also being released as a DVD, according to the Times.

Meanwhile, the group has just embarked on a North American tour, with 33 concerts scheduled through mid-July. More than 60,000 fans turned out for a recent performance at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Six shows each are planned in Texas and California, plus extensive legs through the South, East Coast and other markets. RBD will play double gigs in Rosemont, Ill., Miami and New York City, where the tour is set to wrap July 15-16 at Madison Square Garden.