Zurdok
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Zurdok | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
||
| Background information | ||
| Origin | Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico | |
| Genre(s) | Rock en español, Alternative rock, Post-rock | |
| Years active | 1993–2002; 2006 (reunion) | |
| Label(s) | Universal Music Group (1997-2002) | |
| Associated acts |
Vaquero, Dalai | |
| Former members | ||
| Gerardo Garza "Chetes" Fernando Martz Maurizio Terracina David Izquierdo Gustavo Mauricio "Catsup" Jorge "Fletch" Sáenz |
||
Zurdok was a Mexican rock band based in Monterrey. It was formed in 1993 under the name Zurdok Movimento, changing it several years later to simply Zurdok. It was one of the most important bands in the Mexican rock band scene at the end of the 1990s and the beginnings of the 2000s.
The band recorded 3 studio albums that got success into the rock en español critics and audience. In a beginning, it had 2 main singers: Fernando Martz and Chetes, but Martz left the band in 1999 and Chetes remained as the main vocalist. They got into hiatus in 2002, when finally decided then to finish the band. In 2006, Chetes released his solo career and Martz did a reunion of Zurdok along David Izquierdo.
Contents |
[edit] Biography
[edit] Early Years
"Fletch" Sáenz and David Izquierdo were friends from elementary school. One day in 1993, they decided to form a band. Maurizio Terracina joined as bassist. He presented Gerardo Garza (better known as Chetes) to them. On 15 July 1993, the band met for the first time with the simple intention to make music, creating songs for themselves and without trying anything else.
After months to be composing and experimenting they decided to recruit a vocalist, that had a powerful voice able to shout over the heavy sound which was a part of all their songs then. It was by recommendation of Alejandro Rosso (current Plastilina Mosh member) that Fernando Martz arrived at the rows from Zurdok. Later, keyboardist Gustavo Mauricio was integrated, and the Zurdok Movimento project was taken more seriously.
The group continued composing and made its debut concert on 13 May 1994, obtaining its following in their hometown of Monterrey. Just a short time later, the name "Zurdok Movimento" was familiar in the city and they began to be heard more frequently. It wasn't until the year 1995 when the band's name was made known beyond Monterrey. The regio grouping won what was then the most important rock-contest in Mexico: "the Battle of the Bands"; competing against more than 400 groups of all the Republic and thus becoming the first non-capital group in the gaining of this prestigious award.
Eventually, the name of Zurdok Movimento began to make the rounds and made some noise within the different transnational label companies. It helped that the executives of the companies started to care about the music of the north of Mexico and signing to Zurdok Movimento with Discos Manicomio, in that then subdivision of Polygram.
[edit] Antena
In January 1997 Zurdok Movimento it went to Los Angeles to record his first album under the leading of Jason Roberts (which already had worked with Cypress Hill, and with also known regiomontano group Control Machete). In August 1997 it is released the Antena album, giving to know the grouping in several parts of the country and with the integration of Chetes as the vocals, being a group with 2 vocals. "Tropecé" was the first name of the single to come off this album, which they followed songs to it like: "Si me hablas al revés", "Gallito Inglés" and "No Importa".
[edit] Hombre Sintetizador
Plenty of experiences learned during the recording and promotion of Antena, and with a change in the name of the grouping (now simply called "Zurdok"), the group felt ready to record its second album. In November 1998, the recording of Hombre Sintetizador began, working in almost all tracks with the producer Peter Reardon. Most of the recording of this album was done in a mansion left to the outskirts of Monterrey, same that Zurdok prepared as recording studio. The group decided on a sound influenced by the sound britpop of bands like Oasis and Radiohead.
This disc arrived with the first single "Abre los ojos". It called the attention of the critic of Monterrey, calling it "one of the best songs than has given the regio rock". David Ruiz "Leche" directed the video for the same song.
After finishing the first promotion of the first single, for reasons that still to date are not known, Fernando Martz practically left the band without saying goodbye. Two years later, he announced that he decided to start a solo project in Los Angeles, called Envértigo. Now Zurdok converts into a quintet.
After Fernando leaves, Zurdok moved on, with the radial success "Si me adverti", the melodic "Cuantos Pasos", and the hypnotic "Luna". With this Zurdok song, they closed the cycle of the Hombre Sintetizador, and continued on. This album consolidated the band and the specialized critic called to this disc "one of best discs of the rock in Spanish". Zurdok was listened to throughout all of the continent, including the United States. Their went into tour all the year of 1999, and 2000.
[edit] Maquillaje
After the success of the Hombre Sintetizador, Zurdok returned to the recording studio to make what would be their most ambitious project. The band flew to L.A in August 2000 to meet with the producer Peter Reardon and to record their third album: Maquillaje. This was recorded in the famous studios of Capitol Records in L.A. as well as in the recording studio of Peter Reardon, also in L.A.
After the recording of this disc, Zurdok lost yet another member. Gustavo Maurizio "Catsup" decided to leave the band to dedicate himself to making videos and to begin to plan a movie. After the exit of Catsup, Zurdok regrouped and put everything in order for the exit of their third Maquillaje material of which they decided to only send pre-singles made available only on over the Internet: "Asi Es". Later, they chose like first simple formal for the radio "Estatico" song, publishing simultaneously the first video of their third production. After Estatico, it was promoted "Para Siempre".
[edit] Dissolution and reunion
After opening the concert of the British band Placebo, the group decided to have a hiatus in 2002, due its contract with their label Universal Music had finished. Nevertheless, just a short time later, the group announced that the hiatus would be definitive due to "artistic differences" between the members of the group, finishing therefore.
In 2005, Chetes and Terracina returned to the scenes with the Vaquero band. Chetes released his debut album as a single artist in 2006: Blanco Fácil (Easy Target).
Fernando Martz and David Izquierdo decided to revive the old glories of the grouping in 2006. They made a pair of presentations recruiting to Daniel Plascencia, Charly Pornet and Roger Bristle (these last two members of Jumbo) for the new alignment. It is possible to mention that, during these new appearances, they performed songs of the first two Zurdok records (those were Martz was present). They obtained a good answer in the festival Vive Latino 2006 and on 21 April 2006, appeared in its hometown Monterrey in the well-known Cafe Iguana, having a total plenty (inclusively hundreds of people remained outside of the bar).
As a result of previous, Vaquero also performed the song "Si me advertí". Chetes decided to do the same thing as solo, playing four songs of Zurdok in its presentation in the Metropolitan Theater of Mexico City.
Months later, David Izquierto wrote a letter to the unofficial site Hombre Sintetizador, saying that "the reunion band coudn't have more concerts and album because Martz moved to another country". So Izquierdo and the line-up of the reunion band decided to do a new project with Marcela Bovio (singer of Elfonia) called Dalai.[1].
[edit] Line-ups
[edit] 1993-1998
- Fernando Martz
- Gerardo Garza "Chetes"
- David Izquierdo
- Maurizio Terracina
- Jorge "Fletch" Saenz
- Gustavo Mauricio "Catsup"
[edit] 1998-2001
- Chetes
- David Izquierdo
- Maurizio Terracina
- "Fletch" Saenz
- Catsup
[edit] 2006 reunion
- Fernando Martz
- David Izquierdo
- Daniel Plascencia
[edit] Discography
- Antena (1997)
- Hombre Sintetizador (1999)
- Maquillaje (2001)
