I.R.A. (band)
Encyclopedia
I.R.A. is a Colombia
n hardcore punk
band from Medellín
, Antioquia
, formed in 1985 by David Viola (at present, guitarist and vocalist of the band) and some of his friends that have already left the band. It is one of the oldest bands that still exist in Medellín, thanks to the perseverance of David Viola. Its long career and recent tours in the United States
have made it one of the most important and popular punk
bands in Medellín and Colombia. In their songs, they talk about, and criticize, the actual situation of Colombia and the world, and also about the life and feelings of people in this situation.
, José R on the bass
, José Juan on the guitar
and Viola as the vocalist.
They started rehearsing in the house of a friend, but were soon thrown out because of the noise and disorder of the public that attended; they then began to rent one of the first rehearsing places that existed in Medellín, where the quality of the sound was bad. Still, it was one of the few options that the band had in order to continue.
In 1986 they changed the name of the band to I.R.A. ("Ideas de Revolución Adolescente") ("Ideas of Adolescent Revolution"). By this time, they had already found other places to rehearse in friends' houses and abandoned places, but those were rehearsals with little or no public, hoping to avoid problems.
In 1989, the band had its first performance; it was in the La Visitación neighborhood of Medellín. The same year, the band records in Chava Bluss Studios its first work: Barkizidio, a 7" EP
with nine songs.
In 1990, the band had several performances. In these, they played alongside some of the most important underground bands of that time: B.S.N. ("Bastardos Sin Nombre"), Dexconcierto, Reencarnación, Crimen Impune, C.T.C., Nada, Antioquia Podrida, Ataque de Sonido and others. The same year Yoryi (drums) left the band and he was replaced by Marcelo. Also, the band performed outside Antioquia for the first time in a performance in Pereira
, Risaralda
, organized by punks of a neighborhood of that city.
In 1991, the band recorded in Raimond Records Studios its second EP, Atentado Terrorista, which contained eight songs, with bass sounds recorded by Viola, replacing Jose R, and the second vocals by Mónica, who had been with the band since 1990.
In 1993, the line-up changed again; the new drummer is Kamel, replacing Josesito, who replaced Marcelo in 1992; Federico enters the band as the new bassist, Mónica and Viola continued to do the vocals and José Juan the guitar. With this line-up the band recorded the LP Impotable Diversión. They also did a tour in Ecuador
, where they performed in Quito
, Ambato
, and Cuenca.
In 1996, the band recorded in Pussy Music studios its first album in CD, Crónicas de una década podrida, containing 26 of their songs composed between 1986 and 1996; it was released in the Palacio de los Eventos of Medellín in a performance alongside the band Neus.
In 1997, José Juan left the band and was replaced by Federico, who was replaced on the bass by Cabe; Kamel also leaves and was replaced by Aníbal; with this line-up, the band went to Venezuela
, there they played at the Poliedro in Caracas
; later on, during that same year, Federico also left the band and was replaced by Viola.
In 1998, the band recorded three songs for the compilation Ideas encontradas, produced by Sin Piedad Records. The same year, more players left the band: Aníbal, who was replaced by Fredy, and Cabe, who was replaced by Gabriel. With this line-up, the band recorded its second album in TKG Records and Organic Sound: Entre amigos. In this album, José Juan, one of the founders of the band that had left in the previous year, returned to record the guitar, but only as a guest musician.
In 1999, the band played in "Rockatón", a concert to raise funds for the people affected by the earthquake in the "Coffee Region" of Colombia (Caldas
, Quindío
, and Risaralda
).
In 2000, Fredy left the band and was replaced by Mónica. This same year, the band performed alongside bands like: Fértil Miseria, La Zorra, Ácido Folklórico, Coffee Makers, Dumka Diskantus, 2 Minutos, 911, Tr3s de Corazón, Mojiganga
, Grito, 5 de Menos, Tres Hombres and La Siembra.
In 2003, they recorded, in El Pez studios, their third album: Epidemia de Infexion Respiratoria Aguda. This album contained 14 new songs, 14 new versions of old songs and nine songs recorded live; alongside the album the band released its first video, of the song Lo que ustedes se merecen ("What you deserve"). The band also did a short tour in Colombia, performing in Medellín, Bogotá
y Cali simultaneously with the release of the album in these cities. Later the same year the band released its second video, of the song Neurona ("Nerve cell").
In March and April of 2004, the band toured the United States, there they had fifteen performances in Boston
, Baltimore
, New York City
(where they performed in the famous CBGB
, and during which the band recorded a live album), New Jersey
, Miami (where they filmed the video of the song Explotados ("Exploited")), Monterrey
, Berkeley
and San Francisco. When the band returned to Colombia, they began a new tour through Colombia, performing in Bogotá, Cali, Manizales
, Ibagué
, Bucaramanga
, Armenia
, Rionegro
and Medellín where they performed alongside the American band Molotov Cocktail. In December they played in the Altavoz Festival 2004, in a performance in the bullring
La Macarena of Medellín. The band also recorded its fourth album Décadas de libertad which would be released the next year.
In March of 2005, the band played at the Ancón Festival 2005. Later, the band performed in Ecuador and Venezuela. After returning to Colombia they released their new album, Décadas de libertad and a documentary film
about the band: Documentira. In June of the same year the band began a new tour through the United States, releasing there their new album and performing in several cities, including again the CBGB in New York, and they filmed the video of the song Vivir para esto ("Live for This") in Miami. In August, after returning from the United States, Gabriel leaves the band. Mónica and Viola decided not to replace him and to invite other musicians to play the bass in live performances and future album recordings.
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
n hardcore punk
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
band from Medellín
Medellín
Medellín , officially the Municipio de Medellín or Municipality of Medellín, is the second largest city in Colombia. It is in the Aburrá Valley, one of the more northerly of the Andes in South America. It has a population of 2.3 million...
, Antioquia
Antioquia Department
Antioquia is one of the 32 departments of Colombia, located in the central northwestern part of Colombia with a narrow section that borders the Caribbean Sea. Most of its territory is mountainous with some valleys, much of which is part of the Andes mountain range...
, formed in 1985 by David Viola (at present, guitarist and vocalist of the band) and some of his friends that have already left the band. It is one of the oldest bands that still exist in Medellín, thanks to the perseverance of David Viola. Its long career and recent tours in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
have made it one of the most important and popular punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
bands in Medellín and Colombia. In their songs, they talk about, and criticize, the actual situation of Colombia and the world, and also about the life and feelings of people in this situation.
History
I.R.A. was formed in 1985, under the name S.I.D.A. ("Sucios y Desordenados Anarkistas") ("Dirty and wild Anarchists"), by a group of friends that used to meet in the park of El Poblado in Medellín. The band was formed at that time by: Yoryi on the drumsDrum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, José R on the bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, José Juan on the guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
and Viola as the vocalist.
They started rehearsing in the house of a friend, but were soon thrown out because of the noise and disorder of the public that attended; they then began to rent one of the first rehearsing places that existed in Medellín, where the quality of the sound was bad. Still, it was one of the few options that the band had in order to continue.
In 1986 they changed the name of the band to I.R.A. ("Ideas de Revolución Adolescente") ("Ideas of Adolescent Revolution"). By this time, they had already found other places to rehearse in friends' houses and abandoned places, but those were rehearsals with little or no public, hoping to avoid problems.
In 1989, the band had its first performance; it was in the La Visitación neighborhood of Medellín. The same year, the band records in Chava Bluss Studios its first work: Barkizidio, a 7" EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
with nine songs.
In 1990, the band had several performances. In these, they played alongside some of the most important underground bands of that time: B.S.N. ("Bastardos Sin Nombre"), Dexconcierto, Reencarnación, Crimen Impune, C.T.C., Nada, Antioquia Podrida, Ataque de Sonido and others. The same year Yoryi (drums) left the band and he was replaced by Marcelo. Also, the band performed outside Antioquia for the first time in a performance in Pereira
Pereira, Colombia
Pereira is the capital city of the Colombian department of Risaralda. It stands in the center of the western region of the country, located in a small valley that descends from a part of the western Andes mountain chain. Its strategic location in the coffee producing area makes the city an urban...
, Risaralda
Risaralda Department
Risaralda is a department of Colombia. It is located in the western central region of the country and part of the Paisa Region. Its capital is Pereira.It was divided from the department of Caldas in 1966...
, organized by punks of a neighborhood of that city.
In 1991, the band recorded in Raimond Records Studios its second EP, Atentado Terrorista, which contained eight songs, with bass sounds recorded by Viola, replacing Jose R, and the second vocals by Mónica, who had been with the band since 1990.
In 1993, the line-up changed again; the new drummer is Kamel, replacing Josesito, who replaced Marcelo in 1992; Federico enters the band as the new bassist, Mónica and Viola continued to do the vocals and José Juan the guitar. With this line-up the band recorded the LP Impotable Diversión. They also did a tour in Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
, where they performed in Quito
Quito
San Francisco de Quito, most often called Quito , is the capital city of Ecuador in northwestern South America. It is located in north-central Ecuador in the Guayllabamba river basin, on the eastern slopes of Pichincha, an active stratovolcano in the Andes mountains...
, Ambato
San Juan de Ambato
Ambato is a city in located in the central Andean valley of Ecuador. Lying on the banks of the Ambato River, the city also sits beneath several tall mountains. It is the capital of the province of Tungurahua, at an elevation of 2,577 meters above sea level. The population is 180,000 , making it...
, and Cuenca.
In 1996, the band recorded in Pussy Music studios its first album in CD, Crónicas de una década podrida, containing 26 of their songs composed between 1986 and 1996; it was released in the Palacio de los Eventos of Medellín in a performance alongside the band Neus.
In 1997, José Juan left the band and was replaced by Federico, who was replaced on the bass by Cabe; Kamel also leaves and was replaced by Aníbal; with this line-up, the band went to Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, there they played at the Poliedro in Caracas
Caracas
Caracas , officially Santiago de León de Caracas, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela; natives or residents are known as Caraquenians in English . It is located in the northern part of the country, following the contours of the narrow Caracas Valley on the Venezuelan coastal mountain range...
; later on, during that same year, Federico also left the band and was replaced by Viola.
In 1998, the band recorded three songs for the compilation Ideas encontradas, produced by Sin Piedad Records. The same year, more players left the band: Aníbal, who was replaced by Fredy, and Cabe, who was replaced by Gabriel. With this line-up, the band recorded its second album in TKG Records and Organic Sound: Entre amigos. In this album, José Juan, one of the founders of the band that had left in the previous year, returned to record the guitar, but only as a guest musician.
In 1999, the band played in "Rockatón", a concert to raise funds for the people affected by the earthquake in the "Coffee Region" of Colombia (Caldas
Caldas Department
Caldas is a department of Colombia named after Colombian patriotic figure Francisco José de Caldas. It's part of the Paisa Region and its capital is Manizales. The population of Caldas is 1,030,062, and its area is 7,291 km²...
, Quindío
Quindío Department
Quindío is a department of Colombia. It is in the western central region of the country, crossed by the Andes mountains. Its capital is Armenia. It is famous for the quality of the coffee plantations, colorful architecture, benign weather, variety of hotel accommodations and touristic landmarks...
, and Risaralda
Risaralda Department
Risaralda is a department of Colombia. It is located in the western central region of the country and part of the Paisa Region. Its capital is Pereira.It was divided from the department of Caldas in 1966...
).
In 2000, Fredy left the band and was replaced by Mónica. This same year, the band performed alongside bands like: Fértil Miseria, La Zorra, Ácido Folklórico, Coffee Makers, Dumka Diskantus, 2 Minutos, 911, Tr3s de Corazón, Mojiganga
Mojiganga (band)
Mojiganga is a Colombian ska punk band from Medellín, Antioquia, formed in 1995.The objective of the band is to be part of the underground music movement in the world and the music culture in Colombia...
, Grito, 5 de Menos, Tres Hombres and La Siembra.
In 2003, they recorded, in El Pez studios, their third album: Epidemia de Infexion Respiratoria Aguda. This album contained 14 new songs, 14 new versions of old songs and nine songs recorded live; alongside the album the band released its first video, of the song Lo que ustedes se merecen ("What you deserve"). The band also did a short tour in Colombia, performing in Medellín, Bogotá
Bogotá
Bogotá, Distrito Capital , from 1991 to 2000 called Santa Fé de Bogotá, is the capital, and largest city, of Colombia. It is also designated by the national constitution as the capital of the department of Cundinamarca, even though the city of Bogotá now comprises an independent Capital district...
y Cali simultaneously with the release of the album in these cities. Later the same year the band released its second video, of the song Neurona ("Nerve cell").
In March and April of 2004, the band toured the United States, there they had fifteen performances in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
(where they performed in the famous CBGB
CBGB
CBGB was a music club at 315 Bowery at Bleecker Street in the borough of Manhattan in New York City.Founded by Hilly Kristal in 1973, it was originally intended to feature its namesake musical styles, but became a forum for American punk and New Wave bands like Ramones, Misfits, Television, the...
, and during which the band recorded a live album), New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, Miami (where they filmed the video of the song Explotados ("Exploited")), Monterrey
Monterrey
Monterrey , is the capital city of the northeastern state of Nuevo León in the country of Mexico. The city is anchor to the third-largest metropolitan area in Mexico and is ranked as the ninth-largest city in the nation. Monterrey serves as a commercial center in the north of the country and is the...
, Berkeley
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
and San Francisco. When the band returned to Colombia, they began a new tour through Colombia, performing in Bogotá, Cali, Manizales
Manizales
Manizales is a city and municipality in central Colombia, capital of Department of Caldas and part of the region of Colombian Coffee-Growers Axis, near the Nevado del Ruiz volcano....
, Ibagué
Ibagué
Ibagué is the capital of the department of Tolima in Colombia. It is situated 1,285 m above sea level, on the eastern slopes of the Cordillera Central between the Chipalo and Combeima rivers, tributaries of the Coello River...
, Bucaramanga
Bucaramanga
Bucaramanga is a Colombian city, and capital city of the department of Santander, Colombia. Bucaramanga has the fifth largest city economy and sixth largest population in Colombia, with 1,212,656 people in its metropolitan area...
, Armenia
Armenia, Colombia
Armenia is the capital of Quindío, a department in Colombia. The city is located at coordinates 4.5170° north, 75.6830° west, 290 kilometers west of Bogotá. Armenia is a mid-size city located between Bogotá, Medellín and Cali, the 3 largest Colombian cities. The city's area code for phone calls is...
, Rionegro
Rionegro, Antioquia
Rionegro is a city and municipality in Antioquia Department, Colombia, located in the subregion of Eastern Antioquia. The official name of the City is "Ciudad Santiago de Arma de Rionegro" but is named after the Negro River which is the most prominent geographical feature of the municipality...
and Medellín where they performed alongside the American band Molotov Cocktail. In December they played in the Altavoz Festival 2004, in a performance in the bullring
Bullring
A bullring is an arena where bullfighting is performed. Bullrings are often associated with Spain, but they can also be found in neighboring countries and the New World...
La Macarena of Medellín. The band also recorded its fourth album Décadas de libertad which would be released the next year.
In March of 2005, the band played at the Ancón Festival 2005. Later, the band performed in Ecuador and Venezuela. After returning to Colombia they released their new album, Décadas de libertad and a documentary film
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
about the band: Documentira. In June of the same year the band began a new tour through the United States, releasing there their new album and performing in several cities, including again the CBGB in New York, and they filmed the video of the song Vivir para esto ("Live for This") in Miami. In August, after returning from the United States, Gabriel leaves the band. Mónica and Viola decided not to replace him and to invite other musicians to play the bass in live performances and future album recordings.
Other people that played in the band
- Yoryi: Drums (1985-1990)
- José R: Bass (1985-1993)
- José Juan: Guitar (1985-1997)
- Marcelo: Drums (1990-1992)
- Josesito: Drums (1992-1993)
- Federico: Bass (1993-1997), guitar (1997)
- Kamel: Drums (1993-1997)
- Cabe: Bass (1997-1998)
- Aníbal: Drums (1997-1998)
- Gabriel: Bass (1998-2005
- Fredy: Drums (1998-2000)
- Harry: U.S Tour( ?????)
EPs
- Barkizidio, 1989
- Atentado terrorista, 1991
- Split with Peaceful Protest (Japan), 2000
- Side By Side, split with Hellhounds (Miami), 2006
Albums
- Impotable diversion (LP), 1993
- Crónicas de una década podrida, 1996
- Entre amigos, 1998
- Epidemia de infexion respiratoria aguda, 2003
- Décadas de libertad, 2005
Compilations
- Ideas encontradas, 1998
- Punk Will Never Die, 1994
- Rock subterráneo contra el quinto centenario, 1992
- Clash World
- Angustía
External links
- Official web site - Source of the original article.
- Hagala U web site - Information about the music in Colombia and free MP3 samples, in Spanish.