Sumo

Influenced by British post-punk, Latin rock, and reggae, Sumo became one of the stars of Argentina's mainstream rock scene during the 1980s. The band formed in 1981 in Hurlingham, Buenos Aires, with Italian frontman Luca Prodan leading a lineup that also included bassist Alejandro Sokol, drummer Stephanie Nuttal, and guitarists Germán Daffunchio and Ricardo Curtet. Although the band's roster shifted several times during Sumo's short existence, the group's combination of English lyrics, reggae rhythms, and larger-than-life stage antics earned Sumo a cult following. A demo, Corpiños en la madrugada, served as the band's debut release in 1983, followed by Divididos por la felicidad in 1985, Llegando los monos in 1986, and After Chabon in 1987. Songs like "La Rubia Tarada" and "Mejor No Hablar De Ciertas Cosas" became radio hits in Argentina, but Luca Prodan's drinking habit and hard-living lifestyle proved to be insurmountable obstacles, with the singer suffering a fatal heart attack on December 22, 1987. Without their leader, Sumo's remaining members splintered into groups like Divididos and Las Pelotas, then reformed in 2007 to play a show at the Quilmes Rock Festival. Meanwhile, several recordings featuring Prodan's vocals were released posthumously, including the 1989 studio album Fiebre and the 2000 greatest-hits compilation Obras Cumbres.