Charly García in concert in Santiago, Chile in 2009. (Photo: Christian Córdova)
Charly García (Carlos Alberto Garca Moreno), born 23rdOctober 1951, is one of the key figures in contemporary rock music here in Argentina. Talented singer, songwriter, pianist and keyboardist, Charly has had a long and successful career with over 30 albums, but not without his fair share of hiccups.
Entering the business in 1972 in a duo American folk rock style band with Carlos Alberto ‘Nito’ Mestre, his rocky career began. His original band members never showed up to their first ever gig, in avertedly creating the duo ‘Sui Generis’ with which he recorded three albums. But after the release of ‘Vida’, ‘Confesiones de Invierno’, and ‘Pequeñas Anécdotas Sobre las Instituciones’, the duo separated for various reasons and Charly began afresh, recording the album ‘PorSuiGieco’ with other Argentine acoustic rock legends.
His fame spiralled during the upcoming years with various bands until 1980, when he began to pursue a solo career, composing his own albums and writing soundtracks to films.
Notably, his success was accelerated during the Falklands War when all music in English was forbidden. One of his many songs of the time was called ‘No Bombardeen Buenos Aires’, which he performed to a backdrop of a city being destroyed by missiles, entering the stage in a pink Cadillac.
Playing alongside the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Tracy Chapman and Sting in 1988 at the Amnesty International tour, his legend status was defined.
But trouble started to brew, during the launch of his next album ‘Filosofía Barata y Zapatos de Goma’, Charly was put on trial for “insulting national symbols” in an LP that toyed with the Argentine National Anthem.
Not long after, in 1991, the star became heavily involved in drugs and newspapers publicised his close encounters with well known Pastor Carlos Novelli, director of a rehabilitation programme, as well as a serious overdose, which had led to his institutionalisation. But Charly took it on the chin and incorporated recent events into his music, mimicking them by entering his next concert in an ambulance.
Scandal after scandal, Charly was admitted to several detoxification clinics. But his problem never stopped him from producing music. In 1994, he produced a much anticipated rock opera, entitled ‘La Hija de la Lágrima’, and a year later, he played at the international song festival in Mar del Plata, covering 11 old time classics, including ‘Ticket to Ride’ by the Beatles.
North American MTV took him on in their ‘Unplugged’ series which was later released all over Latin America, spreading his fame continent-wide. But remaining controversial; in 1999, he performed a private gig for President Carlos Menem.
Still recording in 2006, the rock star entered the world of cyber, releasing a new album ‘Kill Gill’ over the internet. This led to a refusal by the record company to officially release the album as it proclaimed that the album “has already been downloaded by everyone”.
Soon after, Charly was arrested for causing serious damage to a hotel and was admitted in hospital with pneumonia, and then a psychiatric institution.
But nothing could deter Charly from his music, he has since recorded a whole new album and in 2011, delayed by four years, ‘Kill Gill’ was finally officially released.
Genre: Rock
Dates active: 1972-present.
In his own words: ”No, I like it. It is part of the religion. Those who are afraid have already left. The way it works is as always: if I dye my hair or am admitted [to hospital], I cover all the papers. If you are attributed half of the [newspaper] space every time you release a disk, you sell millions.” (His reply when asked about his feelings towards his comings and goings to various rehab clinics).
Most famous song: Los Dinosaurios
Best lyric: “Friends in the neighbourhood may disappear, the radio singers may disappear, people in the papers may disappear, the person you love may disappear, those in the air can disappear in the air, those in the street can disappear in the street, friends in the neighbourhood may disappear, but the dinosaurs will go away” (refers to the military dictatorship.)
Famous for: Singing during the dictatorship and being in rehab
Best to listen to: When you want to reflect on life
