Louis Alberto Spinetta he would have turned 73 this Monday 23 January. Almost eleven years have passed since his death, but his name remains an essential reference for local rock in particular and Argentine music in general.
Powerful and tireless poet, as well as a champion of creative freedom and without complacency, El Flaco has been an oracle of our rock since the frantic 70s.
Like it Lito Fog in the 60s or Charly García in the 80s, has transcended time and was recognized, three years after his death, as the argument for the National Musician’s Day to be celebrated every January 23 in Argentina.
So it was established by law (number 27.106) sanctioned by the National Congress on December 17, 2014, and promulgated on January 20 of the following year, just three days before his 65th birthday.
The way of the skinny
Born in the city of Buenos Aires on January 23, 1950, Luis found in the Núñez neighborhood the identification of his native land and the football metaphor that accompanied him among his passions, such as River Plate fan.
Creator of groups such as Almendra, Pescado Rabioso, Invisible, Spinetta Jade and Los Socios del Desierto and a varied solo career, the musician died on February 8, 2012 in Buenos Aires, at the age of 62.
With a unique style, this fundamental artist of Argentine rock has delivered in its nearly five decades of trajectory a work that has resulted in more than 40 records. The prolific musician has had a career that has steered clear of the fads and demands of the recording industry. This is probably why he wielded so much influence.
Almendra, the founding group
Spinetta’s journey began at the end of the 1960s with the founding of Almendra. At the San Román school, in the Belgrano district, Spinetta met Emilio Del Guercio. Both formed the band together with Rodolfo García and Edelmiro Molinari. In early 1969, the group’s first singles began to circulate.
At the end of 1969 the group recorded their first LP, the historic album Almendra, considered one of the most influential in the history of Argentine rock. The band broke up after a second record and Spinetta went to France. So, Girl (paper eyes)the theme of the first album, was a success.
That first album also had other songs marked by fire, such as Anne doesn’t sleep or Prayer for a sleeping child.
fish and invisible
El Flaco formed Pescado Rabioso upon his return from Europe. They recorded two albums. Due to a contractual issue, despite the band having split up, Spinetta had to sign his solo work as Pescado Rabioso: Artaud. Inspired by the French poet Antonin Artaud. At the age of 23 he left behind another hugely influential work.
Subsequently, Spinetta put together Invisible, together with Machi Rufino and Pomo Lorenzo. Then Tommy Gubitsch joined. They have left three albums: Invisible and bloody peach Y The Garden of Gifts.
The breakup of Invisible meant the formal start of Spinetta’s solo career, which was launched 18′ from the sun in 1977. In the early 1980s there was a reunion of Almendra with performances at the Obras stadium.
During that time he met Patricia Salazar, his mother four children -Dante, Catarina, Valentino and Vera-, his partner until 1995, and source of inspiration on topics such as continue to live without your Lovefrom his solo stage.
Spinetta Jade, The Desert Partners and Charly
After the separation of Invisible, the Spinetta Jade phase followed. The 1982 album Kamikaze included mud maybea song he had written in 1965.
In the 1990s he alternated solo work with the band Los Socios del Desierto. checkthe name that had one of the cuts on the air of the band’s first work, was accompanied by a video clip shot in the subway cars and played by Carolina Peleritti, who was his partner at the time.
He also knew how to crystallize a short but intense musical societywith Charly García, from which he left as a result I pray for youone of the great anthems of national rock, and a series of meetings in shows of one and the other that have given musical value to a relationship of friendship and mutual admiration.
Eternal bands and the last Cosquín
One of those meetings happened in 2009, when Flaco celebrated 40 years in music with a memorable show at the Vélez Sarsfield stadium. And of course that I pray for you it was one of the highlights of that night of December 9th.
In this crowded environment, Spinetta managed to transform that José Amalfitani into an intimate fort, filled with several generations who were able to enjoy it over four decades. The journey he took through his eternal bands in a five-hour marathon of more than 50 songs was memorable.
On 23 January 2020, the day he would have turned 70, his latest album was released, the posthumous work entitled don’t look back anymore. It was an edition with seven unreleased songs, recorded by Spinetta in his studio La Diosa Salvaje between 2008 and 2009, after the album one tomorrow and before the Bande Eterne concert.
A decade later, his family called it quits. The covers were drawings by Spinetta himself. Also, it included the topic To deservecomposed and recorded together with his sons Dante and Valentino.
Lung cancer claimed his life in February 2012 at the age of 62. His last show was at Cosquín Rock 2011, a festival where he publicly announced his health problem..
Source: Clarin
