Comando Suicida
Encyclopedia
Comando Suicida band formed in 1984. Their lyrics discussed topics such as unemployment
, illegal immigration
, the illegal drug trade
, the working class
and violence
(such as sports-related violence known as barra brava
). At least one band member was part of the fascist
organization Movimiento Nacional Socialista.
band formed in 1981, from which came the members Sergio (vocals) and Key (guitar). El Mariskal (who later joined Trixy y los Maniáticos) and Fernán (drums, formerly of the band Alerta Roja) completed the band's lineup. The name Comando Suicida came from a quote by an English
soldier describing how he viewed the Argentine Army in the Malvinas Argentinas War in an interview. The name is a homage to the Argentine soldiers who died in the conflict.
In the beginning, Comando Suicida was sylistically similar to the raw punk sound of the Sex Pistols
, with nihilistic
lyrics, which changed significantly as the band evolved towards a more social message, influenced mainly by bands such as Cockney Rejects
, Sham 69
, Last Resort, Decibelios de España, Cock Sparrer
, The 4-Skins
and Los Italianos Nabat.
Radio Trípoli. At the time, the label was co-owned by Chuchu Fassanelli (one of the members of the band), and Walter Kolm (the band's manager). The Al K.O. EP featured four songs, including a cover of "Chaos" by The 4-Skins. The lineup included Sergio on vocals, Chuchu on drums, El Mariskal on Bass, Tano on guitar, El Gallego on bass and Adrián “Chino” Vera, actually all the guitars were recorded by Juanchi Baleiron on that EP. Vera was later a member of Attaque 77
, Conmoción Cerebral, Mal Momento and Katarro Vandáliko. The EP sold out quickly and a second edition was produced in response to the high demand.
In 1988, the band was asked to record two new songs for what would become the first Argentine punk LP, Invasión 88. The compilation record, released by Radio Trípoli, featured many up-and-coming bands, such as Attaque 77 and Flema
.
At this time, problems between two of the band's members caused the band to split. They recorded only one song, Qué loca está la hinchada, for the program Equipo desafío in 1995. The song was made popular in the 1970s by La Barra de la Goma (Club San Lorenzo de Almagro). This song was featured three years later on a compilation CD produced by Sick Boy Records, known as Comando Suicida 1982 - 1996. As the name indicates, the album featured songs spanning the band's career up to that point, some of which were taken from demo tapes and recordings of the band's rehearsals. The album included a cover version
of the Sex Pistols song No Feelings in Spanish.
Unemployment
Unemployment , as defined by the International Labour Organization, occurs when people are without jobs and they have actively sought work within the past four weeks...
, illegal immigration
Illegal immigration
Illegal immigration is the migration into a nation in violation of the immigration laws of that jurisdiction. Illegal immigration raises many political, economical and social issues and has become a source of major controversy in developed countries and the more successful developing countries.In...
, the illegal drug trade
Illegal drug trade
The illegal drug trade is a global black market, dedicated to cultivation, manufacture, distribution and sale of those substances which are subject to drug prohibition laws. Most jurisdictions prohibit trade, except under license, of many types of drugs by drug prohibition laws.A UN report said the...
, the working class
Working class
Working class is a term used in the social sciences and in ordinary conversation to describe those employed in lower tier jobs , often extending to those in unemployment or otherwise possessing below-average incomes...
and violence
Violence
Violence is the use of physical force to apply a state to others contrary to their wishes. violence, while often a stand-alone issue, is often the culmination of other kinds of conflict, e.g...
(such as sports-related violence known as barra brava
Barra Brava
Barra brava is a name for organized supporter groups of football teams in Latin America. This style of supporting is very similar to European ultras. It includes standing throughout the match, singing and other enthusiastic behavior. Some barras bravas have developed reputations for hooliganism...
). At least one band member was part of the fascist
Fascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
organization Movimiento Nacional Socialista.
Early 1980s
Comando Suicida was a partial continuation of Los Desalmados, a punk rockPunk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band formed in 1981, from which came the members Sergio (vocals) and Key (guitar). El Mariskal (who later joined Trixy y los Maniáticos) and Fernán (drums, formerly of the band Alerta Roja) completed the band's lineup. The name Comando Suicida came from a quote by an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
soldier describing how he viewed the Argentine Army in the Malvinas Argentinas War in an interview. The name is a homage to the Argentine soldiers who died in the conflict.
In the beginning, Comando Suicida was sylistically similar to the raw punk sound of the Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band that formed in London in 1975. They were responsible for initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and inspiring many later punk and alternative rock musicians...
, with nihilistic
Nihilism
Nihilism is the philosophical doctrine suggesting the negation of one or more putatively meaningful aspects of life. Most commonly, nihilism is presented in the form of existential nihilism which argues that life is without objective meaning, purpose, or intrinsic value...
lyrics, which changed significantly as the band evolved towards a more social message, influenced mainly by bands such as Cockney Rejects
Cockney Rejects
Cockney Rejects are an English punk rock band that formed in the East End of London in 1978. Their 1980 song "Oi, Oi, Oi" was the inspiration for the name of the Oi! music genre...
, Sham 69
Sham 69
Sham 69 is an English punk band that formed in Hersham in 1976.Although not as commercially successful as many of their contemporaries, albeit with a greater number of chart entries, Sham 69 has been a huge musical and lyrical influence on the Oi! and streetpunk genres. The band allegedly derived...
, Last Resort, Decibelios de España, Cock Sparrer
Cock Sparrer
Cock Sparrer are a punk rock band formed in 1972 in the East End of London, England. Although they never enjoyed much commercial success, they are considered one of the most influential streetpunk bands, helping pave the way for the late-1970s punk scene and the Oi! subgenre...
, The 4-Skins
The 4-Skins
The 4-Skins are a working class Oi! punk rock band from the East End of London, England. Originally composed of Gary Hodges , 'Hoxton' Tom McCourt , Steve 'H' Hamer and Gary Hitchcock , they formed in 1979 and disbanded in 1984 – although new line-ups formed in 2007 and 2008...
and Los Italianos Nabat.
1987-2000
The band's first official EP was released in 1987 by the then young record labelRecord label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
Radio Trípoli. At the time, the label was co-owned by Chuchu Fassanelli (one of the members of the band), and Walter Kolm (the band's manager). The Al K.O. EP featured four songs, including a cover of "Chaos" by The 4-Skins. The lineup included Sergio on vocals, Chuchu on drums, El Mariskal on Bass, Tano on guitar, El Gallego on bass and Adrián “Chino” Vera, actually all the guitars were recorded by Juanchi Baleiron on that EP. Vera was later a member of Attaque 77
Attaque 77
Attaque 77 is an Argentine rock group formed in 1987.-History:Formed in 1987 as a group of friends who got together to play their favorite songs, most of them by The Ramones, their favorite band and the one that influenced them the most...
, Conmoción Cerebral, Mal Momento and Katarro Vandáliko. The EP sold out quickly and a second edition was produced in response to the high demand.
In 1988, the band was asked to record two new songs for what would become the first Argentine punk LP, Invasión 88. The compilation record, released by Radio Trípoli, featured many up-and-coming bands, such as Attaque 77 and Flema
Flema
Flema was an Argentine punk rock band, that managed to find a unique style among other punk bands.The last configuration of the band was: Ricardo Espinosa , Fernando Rossi , Luis Garibaldo , and Pepe Carvallo . Their songs usually deal with loneliness, alcohol and drugs, friends, women, politics,...
.
At this time, problems between two of the band's members caused the band to split. They recorded only one song, Qué loca está la hinchada, for the program Equipo desafío in 1995. The song was made popular in the 1970s by La Barra de la Goma (Club San Lorenzo de Almagro). This song was featured three years later on a compilation CD produced by Sick Boy Records, known as Comando Suicida 1982 - 1996. As the name indicates, the album featured songs spanning the band's career up to that point, some of which were taken from demo tapes and recordings of the band's rehearsals. The album included a cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of the Sex Pistols song No Feelings in Spanish.
2000 and later
In 2002, Sergio recruited new members to reform the band: Charly and Lute on guitars, Tano on bass, and Tati on drums (later replaced by Nikito). While only Charly remained on guitar, and tension grew between the three remaining members, more new members were brought in: Juan Gonad on bass and Dany on drums. In 2004, the new lineup recorded a CD called Sentimiento Inexplicable at Fuera del Túnel studios. The disc included 10 songs, including one Alerta Roja cover (Juventud Perdida), one cover of a Cockney Rejects song in Spanish (Guerra en la popular), and a newly-recorded version of a 1983 song, Desaparecido, dating from the era of Los Desalmados, the band preceding Comando Suicida. The album saw a return to the band's roots in the 1980s, with an updated sound.Discography
- Al K.O. (1987)
- Oi!, Rare & Exotica - Vol. 1 (1999) (Various Artists)
- Sentimiento Inexplicable (2004)
External links
- Official site -translated into English
- Myspace profile
- Interview - translated into English
- Short biography -translated into English
- Article that mentions the band from Nizkor.org
- Article that mentions the band from Libreopinion.com