Latin Prog That Should Be added to the list - Progressive Rock Music Forum

Seru Giran

Seru Giran is one of the first band of latin american prog, they are like the Pink Floyd of South America and the diserve their place on their archives

Dubbed "The Beatles criollos" Seru Giran greatest virtue is to have
given the fundamental step that should become a massive rock. While not
is the first "super-band" is the first to reach both the
lower classes and the average-high, "the rockers and cheats" to
use the vocabulary of the time. With record sales and spectators
their shows, this group also achieved fusion of several musical styles
to achieve a particular sound, characteristic of this transition
between decades.

The popularity of this group is also reflected in the - now
Traditional - Hair magazine surveys. Seru Giran won
for Best Guitarist, Best Keyboardist, Best Bassist, Best
Drummer, Best Composer (Garcia) and Best Live Band in the years
1978, '79, '80 and '81. To this is added Revelation Group 1978, Best
Singer (Lebon) '80 and '81, '78 Best Theme ("Seminare") and '81
("Peperina") and Best Album 1978 ("Seru Giran"). This phenomenon remains
unmatched to this day.

After the fights in The Birds Making Machine, Charly Garcia took the
determination to leave the band and travel to Brazil with David Lebon, its
friend from the time of Sui Generis. With the money collected in the
Festival of Love (Luna Park 11/11/1977) rented a house for three
months in Buzios, north of Rio de Janeiro. Not having money
sufficient to pay the tax, carrying all equipment
were confiscated at customs.

Two months after returning to Buenos Aires Charly to settle contract
Oscar Lopez and Billy Bond. One night in a pub where there was
Pastoral, Charles was fascinated with the ability to Aznar on bass.
He waited for her to finish the show and went to look at the dressing rooms. It was not
needed a lot of talk for Peter to accept travel with him to Brazil and
join the group in gestation. "... But when I saw peeling
low, I dropped my jaw to the knee. I thought, this kid is
well, it's almost better than me, "recalls David jokingly. (Clarín,
05/03/1992).

With the money he had received in advance of the contract, paid the
San Pablo passages of them and Oscar Moro, who had already
bespoken to travel. There they meet with David Lebon. "That same
first night we played together and decided to build Seru Giran "
(Charly Garcia).

Despite economic problems, this was a very creative and
fruitful, composed more than fifteen topics, which
selected the best for editing the first disc.

Recording sessions began in the studios of El Dorado St.
Paul, culminating in ABC Recording Studios in Los Angeles, United States
Together.

The first live show Seru Giran took place in the Riachuelo, on board
of an anchored ship. The concert - which was only attended by journalists,
musicians and friends - was designed to observe the response of
critics. That night the group was strong and forceful,
it seemed, would open the doors of the mass audience quickly.

The live debut of the band came to the city's public two weeks
later, on July 28, 1978, in the Luna Park stadium in the Festival
Foundation of Human Genetics, along with Nito Mestre, Pastoral,
León Gieco and others. The sound was very bad and many people were rolled her the
cells that had led recorders to record the moment.

Traveled to America to mix the album "Seru Giran" (1978), in
which involved the collaboration of Daniel Goldberg, who was in
by the musical arrangements and direction of the orchestra of 24 musicians
who participated in some songs like "Eiti" Leda "or" Seru Giran ". The
harmonic complexity of this project demonstrates that from the beginning,
the ambitions that were aimed much higher than the rest of
national musicians at the time.

The end result was very excited from disk: it sounded like a fusion
jazz-rock with Brazilian music. Peter recalls: "... when it appeared
that album, the press gave him a hell importance, was created primarily a
case ... there was a total paralysis. " Hair Magazine, one of the
publications of the time, said: "" Seru Giran "is a
album compact, extremely polished in its production, despite the
which sounds less armed Birds making machine. Seru Giran (...)
a good debut album. A music that shines through the new horizons
Garcia and his new companions. "(Hair N ° 104).

Back toward the end of '78 Stadium officially premiered Works
(Nov. 3) with orchestra (strings and wind section) and
CCTV. In the back of the stage, a
giant screen addressing the musicians on stage. David,
Peter and Oscar came dressed all in white, while Charly
chose a black mesh bag and sneakers. The beginning of the recital, with
the full orchestra playing the powerful introducing "Serú
Girán ", presaged an unforgettable night. It was not. When they touched the
track "Disco Shock," a satire of disco music, so fashionable in the
This time, people thought it was serious and after a chorus of
whistles, Garcia began to ask the "Blues release," the theme
he had composed on the occasion of the farewell of Sui Generis. The public
was taken aback and the rest of the concert went to the
general indifference. People did not understand the message or not Serú
was able to express it.

The media criticism against the band raged. The daily La
Opinion, for example, reported that they were the worst he had in Argentina
and claimed that they had "gay voice." These statements were the
culmination of a "smear campaign" that had taken place
against Garcia, while the band was rehearsing in Brazil. The
forefront of this campaign was the headline: "Charly Garcia, or idol"
what? ".

For the second album, "The Fat of the Capital" (1979),
Serú chose a much more forceful. Eliminated the orchestra,
had not been fully accepted by the public, and wrote themes
simple and direct.

Criticism of Hair magazine this album was quite positive, "" The
Fat ... "is an album that will have admirers and detractors equally
unconditional. On the one hand, are those who will welcome a
Garcia left the complex and returns to the subject of criticism
social as well developed above. And on the other hand, there
who condemn the simplicity and lack of progress. Nevertheless, it is
one of the most accomplished of the year. "(Hair No 122).

Separation rumors were discredited with the presentation of
long-play, over six performances at the Auditorio Buenos Aires,
after touring the cities of Cordoba, San Luis and Mendoza. After
Start frustrating experience, preferred not to expose too much and
chose a small place.

The show began in total darkness while listening to the playback
Choir introduction to "The Fat ...". Next, it
all the lights lit and the band burst on stage. "Friday
3 AM "," Andalusian Dog "and" survivors "were the most
feted by the public. There was also room for nostalgia:

"Seminare" and "Eiti" Leda "won the recognition of people
during the encore. By dint of recitals and tenacity, managed to reverse Serú
the views of critics and the public. There he began to take shape the
mass phenomenon that still persists.

The next album would be called Seru Giran "Bicycle" (1980). Years
later recall the third album Seru Giran as the best
group, even to compare with "Abbey Road", the
transformer twelfth LP of the Beatles. But then,
means "specialty" is not attributed to such material
importance. For example, Hair said: "... the third album Serú
Girán probably travel the road to success that had the
above, but it is difficult for "Bicycle" is fully
power of this band. Seru Giran (...) peaked their
possibilities on stage, but has yet to go far
way in the studies. " (Hair No 139).

The album "Bicycle" - a name that Charly had initially proposed
for the group, but was rejected by the rest - was presented to Works
6 and 7 June 1980. The scenario could see wheels
bicycle, rabbits and flowers, something that caught the attention of the public and
the press, being the first group that had some type of concern
for staging. The fact was because there was Seru Giran
delegated responsibility to Renata scenic Schussheim, an old
Charly's friend. From "Bike", began with Seru Giran
great shows.

A month later, in August 1980, were presented at the Monterrey Jazz
Festival, in Rio de Janeiro. Traditionally, representatives
Argentine in this festival were more related to jazz or tango
progressive rock Serú proposing. That year the concert was divided into
two parts. In the first, had Serú, guitarist Pat
Metheny and George Duke. The success of the Argentines in the
function was such that the organizers were offered to play again
the second - the main - with John McLaughlin, Hermeto Pascoal,
Edgberto Gismonti and Weather Report. "When McLaughlin was playing, people
skating and threw paper airplanes. I want to die! If
McLaughlin you did that, we hatched us, "recalls Garcia. No
However, this prediction was completely wrong. The main
because of the favorable public response lay in the range of
nuances in the songs performed by them and also some
they had a strong rhythm that invites dancing.

This festival marked two very important facts for the life of the group.
On the one hand, they became known and left a very good impression
Cariocas, a fact highlighted by the media including Argentina (Clarín,
08/28/1980). On the other, that's where he met Pat Metheny with Pedro Aznar
the beginning of the end.

Before the end of the year, two other milestones in the history of Rock
National players would like this group. The first were the two
concerts (12 and 13 September) in which they played next to Spinetta
Jade. It is a historical fact that two groups of such magnitude
were simultaneously on stage.

When Luis Alberto Spinetta appeared and began with the issue of Sui
Generis "Once I start to be alone," people understand that no
faced with a joint recital. Then the darkness came Charly
with the theme "What do you see the sky." Under a climate ecstatic Lebón
performed "Music of the soul" and then came everyone else: Aznar
Moro, on the one hand, Spinetta, Pomo, and Rapoport Satragni and Del Barrio by
the other. Together they performed tracks from the group led by Hardy and
the crowd applauded wildly. The concert closed with the two groups on
the stage performing "The beggar on the platform" and "Chrysalis."

Spinetta Jade's performance was widely praised, despite its difficult
style. It was evident Spinetta effort to achieve greater simplicity
his music, so the public could understand his message works. Seru
Girán, however, was cheered from the start, revealing
the awesome "feeling that I had with people.

The other important milestone took place at La Rural. On December 30,
60,000 people, according to figures from the Federal Police, gathered to
listen to the band number one: "... the ring was the Rural
crowded. (...) A compact tail reaching to the Pacific station.
Although the police did not find any key in the lyrics of "Alice in Wonderland
Country ", repeated ad nauseam, also retained a handful of
boys. The producers finally negotiated and that December 30 does not
was arrested "(Ramos / Lejbowicz, p.23). Garcia said: "... with
this matter to go to concerts and take you cane, people to
eventually realizes that the only thing that happens is you go to sleep in a
station, but no one can for every wave. " (Humor, 1981).

In 1981 de facto President Roberto Viola aims to bring
musicians. Wisely, he used the strong descent of the latter on
youth, to show the country his "sorrow" for the problems
suffered by young people. The rockers were amazed no. Spinetta
recalls an anecdote about it: "I would I beat a couple of things and also
I suggested they build the largest observatory in the world ... a
delirium, but what will he say? "(Berti, pág.60). On the issue
"Meeting with the devil," quipped David Lebon on this meeting:
"I never meet the boss in his office in such good humor /
asking me to say what I think / what is that I think of this
situation. "

"Peperina" (1981), the fourth album Seru Giran, who had begun to
record in April, was released later that year. History
Peppermint is known: "I want to tell a good story / of a
girl who lived euphoria / to be part of rock / tea making
peppermint. " The issue is about a girl who wrote notes
Rock en Córdoba. Whenever Serú played in that city, she called
presenting an "an embarrassment." Needless to say that, despite its
defenestrantes reviews, filled stadiums. It is said that when
heard 'their' issue for the first time, he said that was still Seru Giran
like it, but that Garcia was "a good sociologist" (?).

With respect to the disk, Charly says is a significant advancement in
As for recording quality. However, no hair magazine
was very pleased with this work "does not impress as a Peperina
compact album. In it there are songs that clearly differ from
level, literary and musical. (...) They are all familiar brands
Serú music: melancholy songs, pleasing melodies
startled by a blazing riff and the same failures of
production that the group draws from their first album
(...) The album will not disappoint the fans, but has no
homogeneity of "The Fat ..." and raises the question of the future
(...) Then came the difficult time at the top and what you can do
state or stagger them. " (Hair N ° 154).

By contrast, Gloria Guerrero, at number 63 on Comedy, said:
"The album, from what little I could hear him in a cassettito, the
spent, and this would not surprise me. " In the next number, complete:
'... Probably, "Peperina" not a' huge 'step forward
after his previous job. It seems, by dint of being sincere, kind
as an "album complementary" "Bicycle", but more loose and
spontaneous. "

On 4, 5 and 6 September, the album was presented in the stadium
Works. In honor of Sgt Pepper's by The Beatles, went on Seru Giran
scene with a simple show. This simplicity allowed the combination
music-image would smoothly. In principle, when Charles and David
composed the songs of this album, Garcia thought it was over
a film of a long-play. So he got the idea to put
in the recital a giant screen showing videos recorded
and the group especially in shadow play, accompanying these
images. What prevented the realization of this idea was the roof
too low the stadium: the screen would clog much of the scenario
and they would be almost completely hidden. Finally, the idea was
discarded.

To see the year, played 25, 26 and 27 December in the theater
Colosseum, in the Federal Capital. For these shows, Charly hired the
Bay Biscuits, a theater-rock group composed of Vivi Tellas, Mayco
Castro Volpe, Lisa Wakoluk, Diana Nylon and Faithfull Marianne (the latter
would be stable after the band's vocalist Charly). The number was
sandwiched in the concert and were greeted with whistles and insults
of all kinds.

In January '81 Aznar is convened by the American guitarist Pat
Metheny to join his band. They agreed to meet in the
United, and that Peter would travel next year to study at
Berklee College. This event would mark the end of the band.

Criticism of previous albums agreed on one thing: a Serú in
studies lacked the strength and energy I had in vivo. Was
not until the very end of this grouping (at least
the time the dissolution was final) to reach a record
this material.

"When Peter told me he was going, I felt awful - recalls Charlie -
because we made a group that sounded great (...) We
got a lot of communication with people (...) In addition, we were
opening the gates of Europe and without it we will not take advantage.
On the other hand, Peter is a musician who is well above the level of the
which is now Argentina (1982) and it was nice to play with a guy like that. But
I was also very well because Peter has other perspectives of life and
other musical tastes. He wants to be as a person, and I think
barbaric. " (Hair N ° 160).

When Aznar told him the group was leaving, they decided to take a
time for reflection. It was thus that Charles went to Brazil to work
in his first solo album, David took a holiday in Punta del
This and Oscar stayed in Buenos Aires. The following month (February
1982), the four musicians got together for a tour of the
Atlantic Coast: San Bernardo, Villa Gessell, Necochea, Pinamar, Miramar,
Santa Teresita and, obviously, Mar del Plata were the sites chosen
by the band. The final day of the group was getting closer.

But the group's history deserved a gold brooch was necessary a
Seru Giran goodbye. Should be a spectacular concert was organized to
6 and 7 March at Obras Sanitarias, Cathedral Rock. In this
opportunity, the group "... and never sounded like the work of the musicians on
scenario spared no fervor, despite being recorded live. Charly,
David, Peter and Oscar gave a solid performance, vibrant and
emotional, and which showed a puff rocker in the style of
group. Pedro Aznar was fired by a standing ovation because, although
his musical tastes were far from the rest of the group and the public
generally gave Serú (...) a very particular and distinctive sound. "
(Legends No. 7).

"Do not cry for me Argentina" (1982) ended up being a compilation
vivo of the major successes of the band, with the exception of item
same name and "Popotitos" a cover of the classic theme.

In this regard, Gloria Guerrero says, "... there were three reasons (for
wait for this LP). The first, preserving the last testimony to the work
Pedro Aznar. The second, assisting, at last, the sound of Seru Giran in
vivo. The third, to have on hand the new songs: "Do not cry for me"
"Grief in My Heart" (...) As the last work of Seru Giran-quartet is
all the historical value and full value that gives the undisputed
quality group. " (Humor N º 84).

"Do not cry ..." is a hot topic, which marks a kind of summary
time, a kind of balance - do not forget that it was composed in 1982,
the beginning of the Falklands War, the fall of the military junta and
subsequent advent of democracy - in a tone of protest and
criticism at a time, a style that would give both revenue Garcia in
subsequent years.

While at first it was considering the possibility of continuing as
trio (from Lebón to the dual role of guitarist and bassist), and in
any case, look for a replacement for live performances, the
lack of motivation was evident and the project was dropped. Lebon
working on his solo project "The time is fast" and Garcia was already
embarked on the double album "Going to bed at the living / Pubis
angelic. "

On May 16, 1982, Serú part of the Festival de la Solidaridad
American, held before 60,000 people in the hockey field
Works to collect items for children suffering Argentines
in the Falklands and to thank those countries that had provided support and
had expressed solidarity with Argentina. Broadcast live on radio and
television, showed the most important musicians of the moment: the
remained the now dissolved Seru Giran, Leon Gieco, Spinetta Jade, Raúl
Porchetto, Nito Mestre, and many more.

From mid-1991 began to handle the possibility of returning
Seru. "This is more than a memory. - García reflected by that
time - long ago we are working to keep her greatness
for the guy who once saw Seru Giran see him again and not
disappointed and the guys who have not seen a flash. "
That's exactly what happened. "Seru '92" is without a doubt, the most
floppy disks of all of the band. Much more pop, sometimes sin
of "light", lacking the characteristic commitment.

However, it was a commercial success, with sales exceeding the 200,000
multitudinous copies and shows in Rosario, Cordoba and two in the Capital
Federal, the latter to more than 160,000 people, which were
published in two new LPs. While they did not want to turn your Serú
back in business - and less for others - this is not entirely the
scope of their plans. "Let us end once and the division between
spirit and matter. It's all the same: we feel immense pleasure
by touch and has a price most people do not hesitate to pay. A
does not exclude the other "(Pedro Aznar to Clarín, 03/05/1992). "If it was for
Silver? Of course it was for silver ... among other things. We will not play
River for nothing. Obviously you have to defend you and once you
up there, something you have to do. And I think we did pretty well. The
Silver is an element, if you do not have it, you can not do the show. "
(Garcia Clarín, 01/21/1993).

He was also floating the unknown as to whether the return would be for those
shows or if you would proceed with the project abruptly interrupted
1982. Before leaving the arena, no one dared to confirm any
the two, perhaps because even they know it. During
the encore of the second and last show of the band in Buenos Aires, burst
that fight latent reigned since so long ago between Garcia,
strong personality and natural leader of the group, David Lebon, fed
the desire for ownership of the former. It took Pedro mediation
Aznar for the guitarist climbed back on stage and so
all together, definitely fired presentations
vivo.

In short, ended up being a moment in which all (those inside and
outsiders) made that the time had not elapsed. Of
that way, and only then, the return of Seru Giran was positive. The
Fireworks burst that closed the show ended
wake up this melancholy assumption, to bury definitively the
band.

In 1995 he published a collection, "Gold", taking advantage of the launch of
the movie "Peperina" directed by Raul de la Torre and starring
Andrea del Boca in the role of Patricia Perea (true Peperina).
This documentary film contains footage of the return of 1992.

Oscar Moro died in July 2006, the victim of a hemorrhage
stomach.

They Are From Argentina

They Play Prog-Rock

Discography

--------------------------Seru Giran, Year 1978,