Ries
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One of the giants of Argentine music died this week.
Daniel Melingo spanned every era of Argentine music- beginning in the 70s, he fled Argentina during the dictatorship, and played with Milton Nascimento, among others.
But he returned to Buenos Aires, to join the new lineup of the venerable band Los Abuelos de la Nada, in 1981.
Los Abuelos had started out as a rock band, but when Pappo joined, it became more blues, so the "Abuelo", Alberto Lara, quit and moved to Spain.
Like Melingo, he came back to Argentina with the fall of the dictatorship, and formed a new version of Los Abuelos, with Melingo on Saxophone.
Charly Garcia poached most of the band over the next two years, including Melingo, for his first album under his own name, Pubis Angelical.
And Melingo was also a part of the legendary backing band of Charly's, Las Ligas, which did not ever record, but toured playing his album Piano Bar in 1986.
This lineup, featuring Melingo, Fito Paez, Richard Coleman, Christian Basso, and Fernando Samalea, is only represented by some low quality live videos, but every member went on to become famous and prolific in their own right.
In the 80s, as well, Melingo was a key member of Los Twist- an Argentine new wave-ish band that was unlike anything else playing here- a bit of B52s, a bit of rockabilly, a bit of theater and camp and comedy, but with an all star lineup of amazing musicians. They were funny and fun, not tortured soul seeking singer songwriters, and the band was immediately successful. Charly Garcia produced their first album, and was a big fan.
Melingo moved to Spain in the mid 80s, leaving Los Twist- perhaps as they were relatively commercial- and started playing with post punk and electronic bands, like Los Toredos Muertos.
In 1989, he and fellow Porteno Willy Crook started Lions in Love in Spain, a band that was more electronic than rock, and had a great lead female vocalist in the Dutch Stefanie Ringes. They recorded 2 albums, and played all over Europe.
But deep down, Melingo always lived and breathed tango, and he began singing tangos in his own way in the mid 90s. Theatrical, humorous, a bit of influence from Tom Waits and Weimar Republic Germany, as well as Argentine linyeras and gauchos, its irreverent and historical at the same time.
He had a series of the best musicians in Argentina play with him, as Los Ramones del Tango, and he performed and recorded his own modern, post punk version of tango until he died.
I was lucky enough to see him live several times in various incarnations, including with Rigne a few years ago, and he was always a commanding, unique presence. He always had the BEST backing bands, lately playing a lot with the great trumpet player Hugo Lobo, as well as his regular guitarists Muhammad Habibi, and Juan Ravioli.
Here is a clip of Melingo performing his tango Narigon.
You can see what a striking and theatrical performer he was.
Daniel Melingo spanned every era of Argentine music- beginning in the 70s, he fled Argentina during the dictatorship, and played with Milton Nascimento, among others.
But he returned to Buenos Aires, to join the new lineup of the venerable band Los Abuelos de la Nada, in 1981.
Los Abuelos had started out as a rock band, but when Pappo joined, it became more blues, so the "Abuelo", Alberto Lara, quit and moved to Spain.
Like Melingo, he came back to Argentina with the fall of the dictatorship, and formed a new version of Los Abuelos, with Melingo on Saxophone.
Charly Garcia poached most of the band over the next two years, including Melingo, for his first album under his own name, Pubis Angelical.
And Melingo was also a part of the legendary backing band of Charly's, Las Ligas, which did not ever record, but toured playing his album Piano Bar in 1986.
This lineup, featuring Melingo, Fito Paez, Richard Coleman, Christian Basso, and Fernando Samalea, is only represented by some low quality live videos, but every member went on to become famous and prolific in their own right.
In the 80s, as well, Melingo was a key member of Los Twist- an Argentine new wave-ish band that was unlike anything else playing here- a bit of B52s, a bit of rockabilly, a bit of theater and camp and comedy, but with an all star lineup of amazing musicians. They were funny and fun, not tortured soul seeking singer songwriters, and the band was immediately successful. Charly Garcia produced their first album, and was a big fan.
Melingo moved to Spain in the mid 80s, leaving Los Twist- perhaps as they were relatively commercial- and started playing with post punk and electronic bands, like Los Toredos Muertos.
In 1989, he and fellow Porteno Willy Crook started Lions in Love in Spain, a band that was more electronic than rock, and had a great lead female vocalist in the Dutch Stefanie Ringes. They recorded 2 albums, and played all over Europe.
But deep down, Melingo always lived and breathed tango, and he began singing tangos in his own way in the mid 90s. Theatrical, humorous, a bit of influence from Tom Waits and Weimar Republic Germany, as well as Argentine linyeras and gauchos, its irreverent and historical at the same time.
He had a series of the best musicians in Argentina play with him, as Los Ramones del Tango, and he performed and recorded his own modern, post punk version of tango until he died.
I was lucky enough to see him live several times in various incarnations, including with Rigne a few years ago, and he was always a commanding, unique presence. He always had the BEST backing bands, lately playing a lot with the great trumpet player Hugo Lobo, as well as his regular guitarists Muhammad Habibi, and Juan Ravioli.
Here is a clip of Melingo performing his tango Narigon.
You can see what a striking and theatrical performer he was.
