By Kelvin Malavé @kelvinmalave
Editor's note: One day after the anniversary of Luis Alberto Spinetta's birth, Zonagirante.com pays tribute to the Argentinian artist by recovering for its archives a story written by our friend, the Venezuelan Kelvin Malavé, Published a few years ago on our website and until now mistakenly excluded from our catalog of chronicles. It's worthwhile, for the sake of fond memories, to republish it for the enjoyment, we hope, of our readers.
The year was 2006 and the main auditorium of the Central University of Venezuela was filled with the sounds of Luis Alberto Spinetta. With his guitar slung over his shoulder and in a fairly intimate formation, he was accompanied by keyboardist Claudio Cardone, bassist Nerina Nicotra, and drummer Sergio Verdinelli.
“El flaco”, as he was known by his followers, faced an almost empty audience at the university venue. The quality of his show did not diminish at any time due to the low attendance; he gave it his all. Years later we realize that was the last chance to see him around these parts.
Considered one of the greatest rock musicians in our language, It was characterized by the complexity of its works, and a strong influence of literature and poetry. He was also a follower of several thinkers, such as the Frenchman Artaud, who inspired the title of his third album with the band. Rabid Fish, Artaud.
Luis Alberto Spinetta, born in 1950, began playing in school bands. Almond This would be his first professional endeavor, formed in 1967. His solo debut took place in 1971, before returning to the group format with the trio Pescado Rabioso. This lineup lasted only two years and released four albums, being Artaud (1973) one of the best albums in Argentine rock. After his success with these and other bands, he enjoyed a prolific solo career during the 1990s. Later he formed the group The Desert Partners, to return to making music as a solo artist. During his career, he recorded more than 50 albums.
The skinny guy begins the eighties with Spinetta Jade. His first album is called Diamond soul, with lyrics inspired by four books by the anthropologist Carlos Castaneda: The teachings of Don Juan; An apparent reality; Journey to Ixtlan y Tales of Power.
In these books, the author investigates shamanism and its initiation through the hallucinogenic effects of peyote. For Spinetta «"Latin American literature is divided into before and after Castaneda, and the same is true of Ibero-American culture. It is the only literature on this continent capable of responding to so much art and so much magic from pre-Columbian culture. I believe there was a time when there were many types like Don Juan Matus, thousands of them, and each one was trying to undertake his own journey of power. (...) Perhaps the Native Americans didn't have laser beams, but then I read Castaneda and learned that, instead, they knew the techniques of dreaming and other incredible things.".
His relationship with literature was always present. His admiration for Jorge Luis Borges led him to meet him: «…They were going to bring us together for an interview. The pressure I felt to go see him, because of everything he represented to me—because of those tricks of the subconscious—was so intense that I arrived late. The interview was canceled at the last minute, and they didn't tell me. So, I found myself alone with him in his apartment. The old man sat with his cane, looking away, watching me. We exchanged very few words because it was so hard for me. I didn't even know how to start a conversation. I asked him about Antonin Artaud, and he said he didn't know him. I was petrified. We talked a little about "The Raven" by Poe, and he recited a poem in English, related to that poem. I didn't understand the words very well, and I was as afraid of being in front of him as I was of being in front of God.” (Luis Alberto Spinetta – Extract from the book Martropía. Conversations with Spinetta – Juan Carlos Diez, 2006).
Spinetta is considered one of the greatest composers of Argentine rock. His roots as a poet were evident from the beginning. Around 1969, he first performed one of the most important songs in the singer's creative output., Paper-Eyed Girl, Perhaps written for his first love; today, more than thirty years later, it remains one of the ten best lyrics in Argentine music.
Luis Alberto “el flaco” Spinetta died in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on February 8, 2012 And we give thanks to life for having been able to see it in the Aula Magna.
