Flema
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1987 in Avellaneda, Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| Defunct | 2002 (temporary hiatus), reformed 2007 |
| Headquarters | Avellaneda , Argentina |
Key people | Ricardo "Ricky" Espinosa (lead vocals, guitar; deceased) |
| Products | Punk rock music, albums, live performances |
Flema was a punk rock group from Argentina distinguished by numerous lineup modifications, with no founding members present in the current ensemble. The current roster comprises Fernando Rossi (lead vocals, bass), Luis Gribaldo, Miguel de Luna Campos, Bruno Gonzáles (guitars), and Sergio Lencina (drums). The band was famously fronted by the provocative punk icon Ricardo "Ricky" Espinosa until his passing in 2002. Among their well-known songs are "Borrachos en la esquina," "Semen de buey," and "El blanco cristal."
Origins and evolution
Established in 1987 in Avellaneda, part of Buenos Aires, Flema began as a group of teenagers with Espinosa serving as the central figure throughout their existence. Their first album, Pogo, Mosh & Slam, debuted in 1992 under the independent label 69 Records.
Flema rose to prominence within Argentina's punk scene through their tumultuous live performances, often marked by drunken antics and clashes with their audiences. Espinosa’s unique guttural singing style became synonymous with the band. Their sound blended energetic tunes with reflective lyrics that strongly connected with suburban youth.
The passing of Espinosa
Ricardo Espinosa died on May 30, 2002, after falling from a building in Avellaneda at age 34. At the time, he was intoxicated and playing video games at Gribaldo’s fifth-floor apartment. He jokingly threatened to jump if he lost; after losing, he stepped onto the balcony railing but lost his balance due to dizziness and wind.
Espinosa had frequently conveyed suicidal themes in his music, with song titles such as "I'm Gonna Commit Suicide" and "You Will Remember Me," which led many to believe his death was intentional. His funeral attracted large crowds that forced the closure of the venue; subsequent mourning took place privately at his brother’s residence, attended by notable punk figures including Christian Aldana and Niko Villano. Three days later, Flema reunited for a tribute show before entering a temporary hiatus.
Each year on May 30, hundreds of admirers visit Espinosa’s gravesite at Juan XIII cemetery in Avellaneda.
Reunion
On November 2, 2007, Flema’s remaining members came together for a concert at El Teatro Flores in Buenos Aires to celebrate the band’s twentieth anniversary. Although initially planned as a single event, the reunion expanded into a tour throughout 2008, eventually leading to the band’s official comeback and renewed activity.
Last lineup
- Ricky Espinosa - guitar (1987–1988), lead vocals (1992–1999)
- Luichi Gribaldo - guitar (1994–1999)
- Maximiliano Martin - guitar (1999)
- Fernando Rossi - bass (1993–1999)
- Diego Piazza - drums (1999)
Previous members
- Fernando Cordera - vocals (1987–1988)
- Juan Fandiño - guitar (1987–1988)
- Luis Rossi - guitar (1992)
- Santiago Rossi - guitar (1993–1997)
- Gonzalo Díaz Colodrero - guitar (1993)
- Gustavo Brea - guitar (1998)
- Pablo Sara - bass (1987)
- Alejandro Kohl - bass (1988)
- Cacho Rossi - bass (1992)
- Sebastián Gador - drums (1987–1988)
- Pepe Alsina - drums (1992)
- Alejandro Alsina - drums (1993)
- Pepe Carballo - drums (1994)
- Pablo Martínez - drums (1997–1998)
Studio albums
- El primero (1987)
- Corriendo con Satán (1989)
- Pogo, Mosh & Slam (1992)
- El exceso de drogas y alcohol es perjudicial para tu salud... ¡Cuidate, nadie lo hará por vos! (1994)
- Nunca Nos Fuimos (1995)
- Si el placer es un pecado... bienvenidos Al Infierno (1997)
- Resaka (1998)
- Caretofobia I (2000)
- Caretofobia II (2001)
- Cinco de copas (2002)
- No nos rendimos (2015)
Live albums
- Es una mierd@ (1999)
- La noche de las narices blancas (1999)
- Flema Not Dead, volumen I (2010)
- Flema Not Dead, volumen II (2011)