Music Group La Oreja de Van Gogh Announces Return of Amaia Montero and Temporary Leave of Benegas

The group La Oreja de Van Gogh has announced the return of Amaia Montero and the temporary departure of guitarist Pablo Benegas. Although Benegas remains a part of the San Sebastián-based band, he has decided to take a break for a respite.

The long-awaited news was made public this Wednesday in a statement, which was leaked a few minutes earlier on social media, accompanied by a photo and a video recorded in a rehearsal space. The video features Amaia Montero already singing, alongside Xabi San Martín (keyboards), Álvaro Fuentes (bass), and Haritz Garde (drums).

The absence of Pablo Benegas is evident both in the images and in the signature of the statement. The group explains in the release that the guitarist remains part of the band, but "will step back for a while to enjoy more time with his family and explore new challenges."

In this way, the quintet—now reconverted into a quartet—hopes to reconnect with its audience after having spent the last few months revisiting their greatest hits and also writing new stories that will soon be added to their repertoire.

"Returning to the rehearsal space, turning on the microphone, and feeling the magic of our songs alive made me infinitely happy," said an emotional Amaia, who thus returns to the group she was part of until 2007.

Amaia Montero, from Irun, decided to leave the band after 12 years as its vocalist to pursue a solo career in which she has released four albums, including 'Nacidos para creer'.