Luca Prodan
Encyclopedia
Luca Prodan was a Scottish musician.
He was the son of an Italian father and a Scottish
mother, born in Rome
after the return of the Prodan family from China, where Luca's father had set up a prosperous business becoming an expert in ancient Chinese pottery, because of the Japanese invasion. Prodan attended Gordonstoun School, a private boarding school
in Scotland
, and for some time drifted in Manchester
and London
. In 1981, after a heroin crisis in the late 1970s London, he moved to an old anglo-Argentine (Timmy McKern) friend's farm in the central hills of Córdoba Province Argentina
seeking peace to try kicking his heroin addiction
.
After some time at the farm in the Traslasierra valley, he settled in Hurlingham
(a suburb of Buenos Aires
), where he founded and led Sumo
and the Hurlingham Reggae Band
.
Prodan died either of a heart attack or cirrhosis
of the liver in Buenos Aires
shortly before Christmas 1987.
After his death, he became one of the most recognized icons of Argentine rock culture. Graffiti
stating "Luca Not Dead" have been spotted around the world, especially in South America
and Europe
.
Two posthumous records of pre-Sumo recordings are available and show us an "insider's" view of the artist. Recorded mostly in the Traslasierra region of Cordoba, Argentina (his initial dwelling place), they bear testimony to his musical influences and inspiration: Peter Hammill
, Nick Drake
, Lou Reed
, Ian Dury
, Joy Division
and Bob Marley
.
After Luca Prodan's death, two bands were formed from former Sumo members: Divididos
and Las Pelotas. These names were taken from Luca's comments about Sumo's dissolution, when he said "Divididos, las pelotas".
He was the older brother of film actor and composer Andrea Prodan
.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
mother, born in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
after the return of the Prodan family from China, where Luca's father had set up a prosperous business becoming an expert in ancient Chinese pottery, because of the Japanese invasion. Prodan attended Gordonstoun School, a private boarding school
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, and for some time drifted in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
and London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. In 1981, after a heroin crisis in the late 1970s London, he moved to an old anglo-Argentine (Timmy McKern) friend's farm in the central hills of Córdoba Province Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
seeking peace to try kicking his heroin addiction
Substance dependence
The section about substance dependence in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders does not use the word addiction at all. It explains:...
.
After some time at the farm in the Traslasierra valley, he settled in Hurlingham
Hurlingham, Buenos Aires
Hurlingham is a city in the Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina. It forms part of the Gran Buenos Aires metropolitan area and is situated 23 km west of the city centre...
(a suburb of Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
), where he founded and led Sumo
Sumo (band)
Sumo was a 1980s Argentine alternative rock band, merging post-punk with reggae and ska. Headed by Italian-born Luca Prodan, it remained underground for most of its short activity, but was extremely influential in shaping contemporary Argentine rock. Sumo introduced British post-punk to the...
and the Hurlingham Reggae Band
Hurlingham Reggae Band
The Hurlingham Reggae Band was an Argentine reggae band spun off Sumo in 1984, to allow the motherband to concentrate on rock and roll. The band was primarily active between 1982 and 1984...
.
Prodan died either of a heart attack or cirrhosis
Cirrhosis
Cirrhosis is a consequence of chronic liver disease characterized by replacement of liver tissue by fibrosis, scar tissue and regenerative nodules , leading to loss of liver function...
of the liver in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
shortly before Christmas 1987.
After his death, he became one of the most recognized icons of Argentine rock culture. Graffiti
Graffiti
Graffiti is the name for images or lettering scratched, scrawled, painted or marked in any manner on property....
stating "Luca Not Dead" have been spotted around the world, especially in South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.
Two posthumous records of pre-Sumo recordings are available and show us an "insider's" view of the artist. Recorded mostly in the Traslasierra region of Cordoba, Argentina (his initial dwelling place), they bear testimony to his musical influences and inspiration: Peter Hammill
Peter Hammill
Peter Joseph Andrew Hammill is an English singer-songwriter, and a founding member of the progressive rock band Van der Graaf Generator. Most noted for his vocal abilities, his main instruments are guitar and piano...
, Nick Drake
Nick Drake
Nicholas Rodney "Nick" Drake was an English singer-songwriter and musician. Though he is best known for his sombre guitar based songs, Drake was also proficient at piano, clarinet and saxophone...
, Lou Reed
Lou Reed
Lewis Allan "Lou" Reed is an American rock musician, songwriter, and photographer. He is best known as guitarist, vocalist, and principal songwriter of The Velvet Underground, and for his successful solo career, which has spanned several decades...
, Ian Dury
Ian Dury
Ian Robins Dury was an English rock and roll singer, lyricist, bandleader and actor who initially rose to fame during the late 1970s, during the punk and New Wave era of rock music...
, Joy Division
Joy Division
Joy Division were an English rock band formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester. Originally named Warsaw, the band primarily consisted of Ian Curtis , Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris .Joy Division rapidly evolved from their initial punk rock influences...
and Bob Marley
Bob Marley
Robert Nesta "Bob" Marley, OM was a Jamaican singer-songwriter and musician. He was the rhythm guitarist and lead singer for the ska, rocksteady and reggae band Bob Marley & The Wailers...
.
After Luca Prodan's death, two bands were formed from former Sumo members: Divididos
Divididos
Divididos is an Argentine rock band.The band was formed in 1988 after the death of Luca Prodan and the consequent dissolution of the band Sumo...
and Las Pelotas. These names were taken from Luca's comments about Sumo's dissolution, when he said "Divididos, las pelotas".
He was the older brother of film actor and composer Andrea Prodan
Andrea Prodan
Andrea Prodan Scottish-Italian film actor, composer and musician is the younger brother of Argentine rock star Luca Prodan. The Prodan family, after suffering internment in a Japanese concentration camp during WW II, was expelled from China due to Mao...
.