Gustavo Cerati

Gustavo Cerati
Background information
Birth name	Gustavo Adrián Cerati Clark
Born	August 11, 1959 (1959-08-11) (age 52) Buenos Aires, Argentina
Genres	Rock, alternative rock, electronic rock, experimental rock, art rock, post-punk, New Wave, electronic music, pop rock
Occupations	Musician, singer-songwriter, composer, producer
Instruments	Guitar, vocals, bass, keyboards, synthesizer, sampler
Years active	1982–2010.
Labels	Sony Music
Associated acts	Soda Stereo, Tweety González, Luis Alberto Spinetta, Roger Waters, Andy Summers, Shakira
Website	cerati.com, sodastereo.com
Notable instruments
PRS Custom G&L Legacy HB Gibson ES-335 Jackson Soloist

Gustavo Adrián Cerati Clark (born August 11, 1959) is an Argentine rock musician, singer-songwriter, composer and record producer. He was the frontman, lead vocalist, lead guitarist and lead songwriter of the Argentine rock band Soda Stereo, one of the most influential bands of latin rock music. In the early 90s, with Amor Amarillo, he pursued a solo career. His work both as a solo artist and with Soda Stereo positioned him as one of the most influential rock musicians of Latin America.^[1][2] He is currently in a coma after suffering a stroke on May 15, 2010.^[3]

Biography

Early life

He was born on August 11, 1959 in Buenos Aires, capital of Argentina. He was involved musically since childhood. His first musical foray was in a group of broomsticks formed in grammar school. As a student he was seen intermittently, every year wearing a newsletter with 24 or 25 warnings. Besides music, he had other hobbies: drawing, creating comic book characters such as "super-brain" (like Superman, but with the peculiarity that the kryptonite was not anything, just the mediums came to disturb him, unable to feel).

Business for sports (I practiced swimming and athletics) won second place in a contest of the magazine Billiken, after running the 100 meters in intercollegiate competition. One of the key activities performed during those early years was to lead the school choir Instituto San Roque, where he later had to comply with a suspension burp during a celebration of Mass (He could return to office after winning a prize singing at the Coliseum, and donate to the institution.)

As a teenager worked as a sales representative for Laboratory Boehringer Argentina, in mid-1981. Then years later he led the Argentine military.

His early musical influences were bands like The Police (who offers a tribute to the song Bring On The Night, where he sings and plays bass, with Andy Summers on guitar and Vinnie Colaiuta on drums), Queen (recorded a cover of Some Day One Day with Soda Stereo) and The Cure. Also David Bowie, Brian May of Queen and Ritchie Blackmore of Deep Purple.

In high school he formed the groups with which he won a Christmas song competition on Channel 9. He then formed two bands simultaneously, "Savage", rock and blues, and "strong voice" of fusion music. Savage was also formed by two singers English and used a cabaret act in front of Centennial Park. He also formed a trio called "Trike"

Soda Stereo

Cerati performing live with Soda Stereo in 2007.

Main article: Soda Stereo

In 1982 he established a close relationship Cerati music and friendship with Héctor "Zeta" Bosio, which was to prove decisive in the future of both. They knew before they were partners in the career of advertising at the University of Salvador, [2] but only deepened their friendship deep relationship in the summer of 1982 in Punta del Este, where they decided to return to Buenos Aires and form Soda Stereo. Zeta and Gustavo shared the same tastes and musical dreams and began a search for integrating a punk rock group inspired by The Police (which was introduced in Argentina that year), with their own songs in Spanish. In that search, pre-integrated Soda Morgan band together, then the Stress group (along with Charlie Amato and drummer Pablo Guadalupe) and Erekto Project (with Andres Calamaro) [7].

Finally, the two musicians began to plan the formation of a band that would play songs. At that time know Charly Alberti who formed the trio The Stereotypes. [8] After a brief period in which various configurations tested, including at times musicians like Daniel Melero Richard Coleman and others, ended up preferring the form of trio and changed the name Soda Stereo.

The final line was: Gustavo Cerati (vocals, guitar), Zeta Bosio (bass, vocals) and Charly Alberti (drums).

From the beginning the group took to build his own image, aided by Alfredo Lois (college roommate) took care of the aesthetic details, makeup, hairstyles, and later, the top of the first albums and staging recitals. [8] The first concerts were in July 1983 at the disco Airport and Stud Free Pub Since then toured the circuit of pubs, with an obligatory stop at the Cafe Einstein and Zero, which by then represented the center of the scene less commercial of the moment, where bands played as High and Virus.

Along with Soda Stereo Gustavo Cerati recorded seven studio albums: Soda Stereo (1984), Nada Personal (1985), Signos (1986), Doble Vida (1988), Canción Animal (1990), Dynamo (1992), Sueño Stereo (1995).

Solo career

Bocanada's cover album. "Bocanada" (1999) was the first solo album that Cerati made after the Soda Stereo separation. It showed a new sound, but received very good reviews from experts and fans.

Cerati recorded two solo albums while playing with Soda Stereo. These albums are:

• Colores Santos (1991) A project with Daniel Melero. Notable songs from the álbum include "Vuelta por el Universo", "Tu Medicina" and "Colores Santos".

• Amor Amarillo (1994) Cerati’s very first solo album which included Hector (Zeta) Bosio, ex-bass player for Soda Stereo, contributing bass on the song "Amor Amarillo" ("Yellow Love"). Notable singles from the album include "Lisa", "Te llevo para que me lleves", "Pulsar" and "Bajan".

Cerati's solo albums since the breakup of Soda Stereo are:

• Bocanada (1999) Considered his first official solo album, Bocanada is marked by heavy use of electronic samples and beats. Some outstanding songs from this album include "Engaña", "Río Babel", "Bocanada", "Puente" and "Paseo Inmoral". During an interview, Cerati said that he would like to name this album "Cerati Iluminado" in regards of the lyrics and music they arranged for the records.

• +Bien (2001) Soundtrack of the movie of the same name, directed by Eduardo Capilla, in which he also stars and makes his acting debut. Another soundtrack he produced was for the movie "Solo Por Hoy".

• 11 Episodios Sinfónicos (2001) A live recording of Cerati singing with a classic orchestra performing some of the most popular songs from his own catalog and that of Soda Stereo.

• Siempre es Hoy (2002) The third non-instrumental album of his solo career, it marks a new perspective for his music and sound. Some highlights include "Karaoke", "Cosas Imposibles" and "Artefacto".

• Siempre es Hoy / Reversiones (2003) A compilation of remixes from the album "Siempre es hoy" performed by several artists of the ambient electronica around the world.

• Ahí vamos (2006) Probably his most rock-oriented album to date, Ahí vamos is an album that combines Cerati's guitar roots and a melodic style. It includes songs such as "Un lago en el cielo", "Crimen", "La excepcion", "Uno entre mil", "Adios", "Me quedo aqui" and "Medium". Hector Castillo and Tweety Gonzalez were responsible for the sound engineering of the album.

• Fuerza Natural (2009) Released on September 1, 2009, the album is Cerati’s fifth solo album and features a folk sound with acoustic guitars and presence of mandolins. The first single from the album was "Déjà vu". It also includes songs such as "Fuerza Natural", "Rapto", "Magia".

Cerati is known for his lead and rhythm guitar talents and for his ability to play intricate lead solos on guitar while singing in key. In his album Ahí vamos his guitar playing is featured prominently as opposed to the heavy use of electronic samplers as in Bocanada. Ahí Vamos was certified platinum in Argentina in only one day.

Cerati has several electronic music alter egos as well, namely Plan V, Ocio and Roken. He has produced albums for other artists, most notably Sueños en Tránsito for Nicole and Mar for Leo García as well as for the band Friccion. He is a contributing artist on several albums for artists such as Caifanes, Los Calzones, and Shakira.

Despite stating that the Grammys do not matter to him,^[4] he attended the Latin Grammys ceremony on November 2, 2006^[5][6] where he won for Best Rock Album and Best Rock Song.^[7][8]

On March 10, 2007 Cerati played a free concert in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The show was held in a popular square and main streets were closed. The concert was the closure of the Summer Programme of the city government. The government estimated that between 150,000^[9] and 200,000^[10] people attended.

On July 7, 2007 he performed at Live Earth with Shakira in Germany.

Gustavo Cerati won Best Rock Album for Fuerza Natural and Best Rock Song for Deja Vu during the 2010 Latin Grammy Awards.^[11]

Personal life

Cerati was married to Chilean model Cecilia Amenábar from 1992 until 2002. They had two children: Lisa and Benito. Amenábar contributed vocals and double bass to Cerati's first solo album, Amor Amarillo.

Stroke

On May 15, 2010, Cerati suffered a stroke^[12] due to a decompensation after his performance in Caracas, Venezuela. He was hospitalized in Centro Médico La Trinidad in Caracas under medical surveillance. Three days later, according to the Venezuelan media,^[13] Cerati underwent surgery to relieve pressure on his brain due to the ischemic stroke he suffered.

On June 7, 2010, Cerati was finally transferred to Argentina and hospitalized in the FLENI Neurological Institute in Buenos Aires.^[14] Doctors there began treatment with antibiotics due to a respiratory tract infection.^[15] The following day, doctors reported extensive brain damage due to the stroke, according to the Agence France-Presse.^[16] Cerati currently remains in a coma.

While performing at Rock in Rio Madrid on June 5, 2010, Colombian singer Shakira, a close friend of Cerati, debuted a new song, the title track from her upcoming Spanish album "Sale el Sol" (The Sun Comes Out), dedicated to Gustavo Cerati. The song states that the sun will rise even after the storm and that there is light at the end of the tunnel.^[17]

A month after the stroke, Claudio E. Pensa M.D., medical director of the FLENI Neurological Institute, issued a statement to the press stating that Cerati's medical condition remained unchanged and that he would only provide new information if changes were to occur.^[18]

Viejas Locas singer Cristian “Pity” Alvarez, during a performance in Cordoba on June 20, 2010, claimed that Cerati was already dead, but his decease was withheld due to financial issues.^[19] On June 21, Álvarez and the rest of Viejas Locas issued a statement expressing their wishes for Cerati's full recovery.^[20]

On Cerati's official webpage his family issued two statements, with the first on June 20, 2010 thanking and acknowledging the medical staff in Venezuela for their work, as well as the efforts of the personnel of Evenpro and Cerati's roadies and musicians.^[21] On June 27, 2010 the family's second statement was released, which affirmed that Cerati is receiving good medical care and asked fans to disregard any malicious rumors related to his health.^[22]

On December 2, 2010 a statement was issued by ALCLA Clinic's medical director stating that, neurologically, Cerati is reacting to thermal stimuli.^[23]

The Irish rock band U2 remembered Gustavo Cerati in one of their concerts in Ciudad de La Plata, Argentina, on March 2011 during the intro of their song "Moment of Surrender". Bono said "We would like you to think about Gustavo Cerati. We send him our love and respect, and he will hear our voices tonight", earning a standing ovation from 60,000 fans at the Único Stadium.^[24]

Guitars

Cerati with his PRS Custom.

Gustavo has an extensive collection of guitars. The guitar he uses most is the PRS Custom Multifoil, which he has used for more than 20 years and is his characteristic guitar, but unlike other musicians that only use one or just a few guitars, he uses several, varying them depending on the song that he's playing in order to achieve the right sound. The guitars he most uses are:

• PRS Custom Multifoil
• G&L Legacy HB, Black finish
• Gibson ES-335, Cherry finish
• Fender Telecaster, Cherry finish
• G&L ASAT Classic, Cherry finish
• Jackson Soloist, Blue finish
• Fender Electric XII, Sunburst finish
• Gibson Les Paul, White / Black finish
• Gibson Chet Atkins SST
• Parker Fly Deluxe
• Pensa Custom MK1, Black quilt finish

Discography

Gustavo Cerati has released five solo albums and with Soda Stereo he released seven studio albums and three live albums.

Solo releases

• Amor Amarillo (1993)^[25]
• Bocanada (1999)
• Siempre es Hoy (2002)
• Ahí vamos (2006)
• Fuerza Natural (2009)

Soda Stereo

• Soda Stereo (1984)
• Nada Personal (1985)
• Signos (1986)
• Doble Vida (1988)
• Languis (1989)
• Canción Animal (1990)
• Rex Mix (1991)
• Dynamo (1992)
• Sueño Stereo (1995)

Other albums

• Colores Santos (featuring the Argentine musician Daniel Melero) (1991)

Other Records

• +Bien (Movie Soundtrack) (2001)
• 11 Episodios Sinfónicos (Live with Symphonic Orchestra) (2001)
• Canciones Elegidas 93-04 (2004) (Compilation, European edition)
• Canciones Elegidas 93-04 (2004) (Compilation, American edition) (CD + DVD)
• Siempre es Hoy: Reversiones (2003) (Double CD- Remixes Compilations)

Other projects

• Fricción (with Richard Coleman) (1985)
• Colores Santos (with Daniel Melero) (1992)
• Colores Santos, the Remixes (1995)
• Plan V (with Andrés Bucci, Guillermo Ugarte, Christian Powditch, and Hugo Chávez) (1996)
• Plan Black V Dog (with Black Dog) (1998)
• Ocio - Medida Universal (with Flavius E.) (1999)
• Ocio - Insular (2000)
• Roken (with Flavius E., Leandro Fresco) (only live presentations, no album or record was done) (2004)
• Nicole - Sueños en tránsito (Producer) (1997)
• Leo García- Mar (Producer) (2000)

Collaborations

Cerati Gustavo has done a lot of collaborations with other artists, some of the highlights are:

• In March 2008, Gustavo Cerati reunited with Roger Waters in New York to collaborate on a track to benefit the Alas Foundation. The session took place in the Looking Glass studio belonging to the renowned minimalist composer Philip Glass. There, Gustavo Cerati and Roger Waters worked under the command of Hector Castillo, recording engineer Here we go. The song and its final destination are not yet disclosed.
• Outlandos D'Americas - Tribute to The Police, with Andy Summers, song "Tráeme la noche" ("Bring on the Night")
• Tribute to Queen (Soda Stereo, song "Algún Día" ("Some Day One Day")
• Los Durabeat (Beatles Tribute)
• Shakira - Fijación Oral Vol. 1 + 2 ("Día Especial", "The Day and the Time", "No"), Sale el Sol ("Mariposas" "Devoción" "Tu Boca")
• No lo Soporto - Avión, song "Nunca Iré"
• Plasticos from Los Calzones-tribute to Argentine rock songs made in ska version (en la ciudad de la furia)
• Bajofondo - Mar Dulce, song "El Mareo"
• "Savage" guitar solo on Los Brujos debut LP's song "Fin de Semana Salvaje". He also co-produced this album with Daniel Melero.
• "Caifanes Vol. 1" - Guitar on "la Bestia Humana".

References

1. ^ Gustavo Cerati | All Music http://www.allmusic.com/artist/gustavo-cerati-p204483/biography
2. ^ See: Soda Stereo#La banda mítica del rock latino.
3. ^ [1]
4. ^ YouTube.com
5. ^ Univision.com
6. ^ Univision.com
7. ^ Cerati.com
8. ^ CNN.com
9. ^ "Cerati coronó la fiesta del verano ante una impresionante multitud" - Clarín (Spanish)
10. ^ News.Yahoo.com "Cerati se presentó en Palermo ante 200 mil personas" - Yahoo Argentina (Spanish)
11. ^ [2]
12. ^ Estado de salud de Gustavo - Cerati.com
13. ^ El Universal - Cirugia Cerati
14. ^ http://www.clarin.com/sociedad/Cerati-pais-Fleni-aseguran-estable_0_276572406.html
15. ^ http://www.semana.com/noticias-mundo/gustavo-cerati-tiene-extenso-dano-cerebral-infeccion-respiratoria/140032.aspx
16. ^ http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jSUnWU6FmlPh86m5YWG4cghtdlpQ
17. ^ [3]
18. ^ [4]
19. ^ [5]
20. ^ [6]
21. ^ [7]
22. ^ [8]
23. ^ [9]
24. ^ Bono en Argentina: No olviden a Gustavo Cerati
25. ^ Cerati.com | Amor Amarillo

External links

• Gustavo Cerati's official website
• Soda Stereo official website
• 2006 Interview with Cerati by Patrick Ambrose at The Morning News

Persondata
Name	Cerati, Gustavo Adrián Cerati
Alternative names
Short description	Argentine musician, singer-songwriter and composer
Date of birth	August 11, 1959
Place of birth	Buenos Aires, Argentina
Date of death
Place of death