La Guardia (band)
Encyclopedia
La Guardia is a Spanish
pop-rock band. They were especially famous in the late 1980s and early 1990s, although they are still active today (after a hiatus). They have sold more than 2 million records.
in 1983
by Manuel España (voice), Enrique Moreno "Conejo" (bass guitar) and Carlos Gilabert (keyboard), with the initial name of "La guardia del Cardenal Richelieu" ("Cardinal Richelieu's Guard"). They were only teenagers and they adopted this name because they used to rehearse in the afternoons after they watched Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds
on TV.
Under this name they released a first single with techno and mod sounds. After this, Gilabert left the band, and Joaquín Almendros (guitar) and Emilio Muñoz (drums) joined it, giving birth to the band's most famous line-up. They moved to Madrid
, where the Movida was still ebullient, looking for broader success, and in 1985
, they recorded an EP, now as La Guardia, after winning the Villablanca pop-rock festival in the town of Fuengirola
.
In 1986 they travelled to London
to record their first full album Noches como esta; but it's in 1988, with the album Vámonos, when they achieved major success, thanks mostly to the hugely successful single "Mil calles llevan hacia ti", which reached #1 in the Spanish 40 Principales
chart in 1989, and which became the band's signature song. Manuel España said he had written the song while walking through the streets of the Albayzín
in Granada to his grandmother's house. Vámonos went on to become a multi-platinum album, selling over 250.000 copies, and the band performed on a tour with more than 100 dates.
In 1990 came their second album, Cuando Brille El Sol, with its same-titled and successful single, which kept them at the top of the Spanish pop-rock scene.
Al Otro Lado (1991), Contra reloj (1993) and Acento del sur (1994) were their next works, all three produced by Dusty Wakeman
. The latter was recorded in Los Angeles
at Mad Dog Studios. Shortly after this experience, Enrique Moreno died from a coronary disease, and this tragic event ultimately caused the group to disband in 1997.
Later, after he had been working for a few years on another band called Chamaco, España tried to revive La Guardia without the involvement of Almendros, which caused the latter to present two lawsuits. Finally, España won the rights to use the name for his new project and in 2003 he released Ahora!, an acoustic record produced by Carlos Goñi, from the band Revólver.
In 2007, with a new record company (Vale Music
), La Guardia recorded Sobre ruedas, an album of country-rock sounds, which sold just over 20.000 copies.
In 2008 the band celebrated their 25th anniversary with the album 25 años no es nada, in which Manuel España performed the band's hits with the collaboration of other artists such as La Mari (of Chambao
), Álvaro Urquijo
, Mikel Erentxun
, Ariel Rot
or Raimundo Amador.
Music of Spain
The Music of Spain has a long history and has played an important part in the development of western music. It has had a particularly strong influence upon Latin American music. The music of Spain is often associated abroad with traditions like flamenco and the classical guitar but Spanish music...
pop-rock band. They were especially famous in the late 1980s and early 1990s, although they are still active today (after a hiatus). They have sold more than 2 million records.
History
The group was founded in GranadaGranada
Granada is a city and the capital of the province of Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. Granada is located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains, at the confluence of three rivers, the Beiro, the Darro and the Genil. It sits at an elevation of 738 metres above sea...
in 1983
1983 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1983.-January-April:*January – ZTT Records is founded.*January 8 – The UK singles chart is tabulated from this week forward by The Gallup Organization...
by Manuel España (voice), Enrique Moreno "Conejo" (bass guitar) and Carlos Gilabert (keyboard), with the initial name of "La guardia del Cardenal Richelieu" ("Cardinal Richelieu's Guard"). They were only teenagers and they adopted this name because they used to rehearse in the afternoons after they watched Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds
Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds
Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds is an animated cartoon adaptation of the classic Alexandre Dumas story of d'Artagnan and The Three Musketeers. Most of the characters are anthropomorphizations of dogs, hence the title of the cartoon...
on TV.
Under this name they released a first single with techno and mod sounds. After this, Gilabert left the band, and Joaquín Almendros (guitar) and Emilio Muñoz (drums) joined it, giving birth to the band's most famous line-up. They moved to Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, where the Movida was still ebullient, looking for broader success, and in 1985
1985 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1985.-January–March:*January 1 - The newest music video channel, VH-1, debuts on American cable. It is aimed at an older demographic than its sister station, MTV...
, they recorded an EP, now as La Guardia, after winning the Villablanca pop-rock festival in the town of Fuengirola
Fuengirola
Fuengirola, in ancient times known as Suel and then Suhayl, is a large town and municipality on the Costa del Sol in the province of Málaga, autonomous community of Andalusia in southern Spain. It is a major tourist resort, with more than 8 km of beaches, and home to a mediæval Moorish fortress...
.
In 1986 they travelled to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to record their first full album Noches como esta; but it's in 1988, with the album Vámonos, when they achieved major success, thanks mostly to the hugely successful single "Mil calles llevan hacia ti", which reached #1 in the Spanish 40 Principales
Los 40 Principales
Los 40 Principales is the main musical radio station in Spain with more than 4,000,000 listeners. The station was founded in 1966 and in 2006 the station celebrated its 40th anniversary...
chart in 1989, and which became the band's signature song. Manuel España said he had written the song while walking through the streets of the Albayzín
Albayzín
El Albayzín is a district of present day Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain, that retains the narrow winding streets of its Medieval Moorish past...
in Granada to his grandmother's house. Vámonos went on to become a multi-platinum album, selling over 250.000 copies, and the band performed on a tour with more than 100 dates.
In 1990 came their second album, Cuando Brille El Sol, with its same-titled and successful single, which kept them at the top of the Spanish pop-rock scene.
Al Otro Lado (1991), Contra reloj (1993) and Acento del sur (1994) were their next works, all three produced by Dusty Wakeman
Dusty Wakeman
Dusty Wakeman is a rock/country music producer and engineer based in Burbank, California. Wakeman is also credited as a bass player on many recordings. Dusty has worked with Dwight Yoakam, Lucinda Williams, Jim Lauderdale, Buck Owens, Michelle Shocked, Tom Russell, Roger Clyne and the...
. The latter was recorded in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
at Mad Dog Studios. Shortly after this experience, Enrique Moreno died from a coronary disease, and this tragic event ultimately caused the group to disband in 1997.
Later, after he had been working for a few years on another band called Chamaco, España tried to revive La Guardia without the involvement of Almendros, which caused the latter to present two lawsuits. Finally, España won the rights to use the name for his new project and in 2003 he released Ahora!, an acoustic record produced by Carlos Goñi, from the band Revólver.
In 2007, with a new record company (Vale Music
Vale Music
Vale Music was a Spanish record label founded by Ricardo Campoy and the executives José María Castells, Toni Peret and Andreu Ugas that came from the breakaway Max Music. The label belongs to Universal Music Group since 2006....
), La Guardia recorded Sobre ruedas, an album of country-rock sounds, which sold just over 20.000 copies.
In 2008 the band celebrated their 25th anniversary with the album 25 años no es nada, in which Manuel España performed the band's hits with the collaboration of other artists such as La Mari (of Chambao
Chambao
Chambao is a flamenco-electronic band originally from Málaga, Andalusia, Spain, known for a Flamenco Chill sound that fuses flamenco sounds and palos with electronic music...
), Álvaro Urquijo
Álvaro Urquijo
Álvaro Urquijo is a Spanish guitarist and singer-songwriter.He founded with his brothers Javier and Enrique Urquijo the group Los Secretos in 1980.-With Los Secretos:*Tos *Los Secretos EP...
, Mikel Erentxun
Mikel Erentxun
Mikel Erentxun is a Spanish Rock en Español singer. Formerly with the group Duncan Dhu, he started his solo career in 1992. He has released six albums as a solo artist and has covered The Smiths' song, "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out", as "Esta luz nunca se apagará", as well as...
, Ariel Rot
Ariel Rot
Ariel Rot is an Argentine musician.He went to Spain when he was young and became a member of the group Tequila. Later he started a musical career alone, after which he became a member of the group Los Rodríguez .More recently he has returned to solo performing...
or Raimundo Amador.