La Renga

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La Renga
Origin Mataderos, Buenos Aires City, Argentina
Genre(s) Hard rock
Years active 1988–present
Label(s) PolyGram
Universal Music
La Renga Discos
Website www.larenga.com
Members
Chizzo
Tete
Tanque
Chiflo
Manu
Former members
Locura

La Renga is a hard rock band from Argentina, formed in 1988.

They have a moderate success with the albums A Dónde Me Lleva La Vida and Bailando en una pata, between 1993 and 1995, but it was the release of Despedazado por Mil Partes, in 1996, that made them nationally famous.

With the releases of La Renga in 1998 and La Esquina del Infinito the following year, they gained some international fame, touring and doing concerts in Uruguay, Chile, Paraguay, Spain and other countries of America.

Contents

[edit] Members

[edit] Current members

  • Gustavo "Chizzo" Nápoli - vocals, lead guitar (1988 - present)
  • Gabriel "Tete" Iglesias - bass (1988 - present)
  • Jorge "Tanque" Iglesias - drums (1988 - present)
  • Gabriel "Chiflo" Sanchez - sax, trumpet (1991 - present)
  • Manuel "Manu" Varela - sax, harmonica, rhythmic guitar (1992 - present)

[edit] Former members

  • Raúl "Locura" Dilelio - lead guitar (1988 - 1991)

[edit] History

[edit] Early years (1988-1992)

In 1988, four young men of the neighborhood of Mataderos (Buenos Aires City) celebrated New Year's Day by playing covers of Creedence Clearwater Revival, Vox Dei, The Animals, Manal and other bands. Months later they decided to form a band, and thus La Renga was born. The band was formed by Chizzo (voice and rhythmic guitar), Locura (lead guitar), Tete (bass) and Tanque (drums). Their first gigs were at Larrazabal Club, Teatros del Plata, Galpones del Sur and other clubs.

In 1989 they started recording what would become their 1991 album entitled Esquivando Charcos, a totally independent production that was made up of nine songs, seven of which were recorded in studio and two live in the "rehearsal room."

Because of personal problems, "Locura" Dilelio decided to leave the band. The band began the search for a replacement, but didn't find anyone suitable, so Chizzo decided to become the band's lead guitarist.

[edit] Moderate success (1993-1995)

In 1993 A Dónde Me Lleva La Vida was released, which was, again, independently produced, but the requirement to fulfill the public's demand persuaded the band to sign with a major label, PolyGram, with the firm position of not losing artistic independence. Polygram being only in charge of the manufacture and distribution of discs.

In 1994, and after much effort, they managed to completely sell out a concert at Arena Obras Sanitarias, demonstrating a great growth in the following of the band.

In 1995 Bailando En Una Pata was released, which contains live versions of the songs of Esquivando Charcos, accompanied by the song that gives the name to the album, and a version of "Born to Be Wild" by Canadian group Steppenwolf. During 1995 and 1996 La Renga carried out several presentations through Buenos Aires and Greater Buenos Aires, many of them to benefit.

[edit] "DpMP" release and Rise to fame (1996-2000)

At the end of 1996, under the artistic production of Divididos' singer Ricardo Mollo, Despedazado por Mil Partes is released and is presented in Buenos Aires with four performance of the complete album in Obras. This new album sold well and attracted great public attention. This album opened doors worldwide and in 1997 their first international tour took place.

On their return in October they participated along with other Argentinian bands in the show in tribute to the twenty years of the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo in front of nearly 20,000 people on the stage of Ferro Carril Oeste. By the end of 1997 La Renga had appeared for the first time in a stadium before 20,000 people affirming the great pull of the band.

In 1998 they appeared on January 1 at the "Tent of Dignity," mounted to protest about education in Argentina. During 1998 La Renga took it upon themselves to improve the profile of their music in the interior of Argentina, by touring and reaching a new audience. This tour also took them for the first time to Uruguay and later they were invited to appear in Spain. When finalizing this tour the band called a halt to the gigs to begin to producing their fifth record work.

Finally, in September 22, 1998 appeared the new album without title, called by the fans as "the album of the star" in reference to the white star that appears on the cover, which in less than one week became platinum. This disc was promoted in the Argentinian capital in two shows on the stage of Atlanta before a total of 48,000 people and with a tour of twenty two Argentinian province , finishing in the end of September of 1999 in Formosa.

After the tour ended the hour arrived for another great concert in the Argentinian capital. This time it took the form of two shows in the Estadio Ciudad de Vicente López, because of a ban which causes were not clear. La Renga appeared in the impressive Hurricane Stage in two shows where they played songs from their entire repertoire, including the more recent and some songs that would appear on their next album.

In 2000 La Renga visited Montevideo for the second time in the Teatro de Verano. They appeared in Chascomús and soon started preparation for La Esquina del Infinito, their next album, that would be launched in August. The album was promoted with two dates in the Stage of Ferro and with concerts in the interior of Argentina.

[edit] 2001-present

In 2001 La Renga returned to the Estadio Tomás Adolfo Ducó on May 19 and recorded their new live disc, Insoportablemente Vivo that hit stores in September. The show was filmed and was presented in small cinemas throughout the country, a few years later being published in DVD. Without making publicity, and to celebrate the launching of the new album, La Renga returned to the Arena Obras Sanitarias with four shows the 21, 22, 28 and 29 of September.

In the year 2002 they reached the peak of their career: a gig in the stage of River Plate before 70,000 people. Along with the entrance of the recital was sold an EP called Documento Único that contained three songs.

There, nevertheless, the history of La Renga would not finish since in year 2003 they would publish Detonador de Sueños, album recorded completely in the rehearsal room, like Documento Unico, which would mark a new methodology of the band in the production of their albums, obtaining a sound similar in power to that of their live concerts. The album would be promoted in the Estadio Olímpico Chateau Carreras of Córdoba. On April 17, 2004, this time in Buenos Aires in the stage of River Plate. The band would close the year with a huge show, promoted only by word of mouth, in the already-known stadium of Huracán, this show was called the Eye Of the Hurricane because the stage was located in the center of the pitch. The show was released in DVD becoming El Ojo del Huracan.

In 2005 they released the song Viva Pappo, in commemoration of the deceased friend of the band, Norberto "Pappo" Napolitano. It was performed in a double show at the Velez Stadium, with Pappo's son among the guests.

In 2006, Truenotierra was released. The album was a double CD containing new songs, but with the feature of the second disc containing jams exclusively. The Renga are, of January 20, 2007, touring.

[edit] Cover Versions

The band has covered Neil Young and Crazy Horse's song Hey, Hey, My, My (Into the Black), which originally featured on the album, Rust Never Sleeps. They released their cover version in 1999 on the album La Esquina del Infinito. Only the title was sung in English; the remainder of the song was translated into Spanish. They also have a cover of Steppenwolf's Born to Be Wild and rare live covers of Creedence Clearwater Revival and other bands.

[edit] Discography

Main article: La Renga discography

[edit] Studio Albums

[edit] External links