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Sumo (band)

From Alfawiki
Sumo
Company typeMusical group
IndustryMusic
Founded1981
FounderLuca Prodan
Defunct1988
Headquarters
Buenos Aires
,
Argentina
ProductsMusic albums, live performances

Sumo was an Argentine alternative rock group from the 1980s, whose sound was strongly shaped by post-punk and reggae influences. Fronted by Italian-born Scottish musician Luca Prodan, the band remained mostly within the underground circuit but played a pivotal role in the evolution of contemporary Argentine rock. Introducing British post-punk styles to the Argentine audience, often through English-language songs, Sumo offered a raw contrast to the prevailing progressive rock and nueva canción trends dominating rock en español at the time.

Background

Born in Rome on 17 May 1953, Luca Prodan was of mixed Italian and Scottish heritage. His family had recently returned from China, where his father operated a pottery business that was disrupted by the events of World War II.

Prodan attended Gordonstoun College in Scotland—an institution also known for educating Prince Charles—but left before completing his studies and moved to London. Throughout the 1970s, he worked at EMI and formed the band The New Clear Heads, which aligned with punk acts such as XTC, The Fall, and Joy Division. The name of this band later inspired the translated title of Sumo’s debut album, Divididos por la Felicidad.

After spending time in London and Manchester—where he reportedly mingled with members of Joy Division—Prodan accepted an invitation from his school friend Timmy Mackern to visit his family’s farm located in the Traslasierra area of Córdoba province, Argentina. This relocation was intended to assist Prodan in overcoming heroin addiction following personal hardships.

Upon arriving in 1981, he began crafting songs and recording with a portable studio he had brought from London. Seeking a more vibrant music environment, Prodan and Timmy later moved to Buenos Aires’ Hurlingham district to immerse themselves in the local underground music community.

Luca in Argentina and early Sumo

During Argentina’s military dictatorship, many artists maintained a low profile to avoid police scrutiny. Important venues such as Café Einstein in Balvanera and various pubs in Olivos served as crucial meeting points for musicians. Luca Prodan quickly gathered fellow musicians to bring his innovative fusion of reggae and rock to life.[1]

Sumo’s initial lineup consisted of Prodan handling vocals and guitar, Germán Daffunchio on guitar, Alejandro Sokol playing bass, and Stephanie Nuttal—an English friend of Prodan’s and former member of Manicured Noise—on drums.[1]

At first, their performances were mostly confined to Hurlingham within Buenos Aires province and Café Einstein. Following the outbreak of the Falklands War, Nuttal returned to England. Subsequently, Sokol transitioned from bass to drums while Diego Arnedo joined as bassist. Shortly thereafter, journalist-turned-musician Roberto Pettinato became a permanent member on saxophone.[2]

Due to nationalist sentiments after the war, Sumo’s use of English lyrics limited their exposure on radio stations. Despite this obstacle, they emerged as a foundational presence within Argentina’s underground scene alongside acts like Patricio Rey y sus Redonditos de Ricota and Los Violadores.

Musically, Sumo combined aggressive rock elements with experimental British post-punk influences (notably from bands such as Joy Division and The Fall), incorporating funky guitar riffs and dub-inspired bass lines reminiscent of groups like A Certain Ratio and Gang of Four, along with British-style reggae and ska rhythms. After a brief period when Prodan returned to Europe, the band fully embraced rock music by 1984 and established the Hurlingham Reggae Band as an offshoot project. Guitarist Ricardo Mollo and drummer Alberto Superman Troglio joined during this phase—Troglio replaced Sokol on drums while Sokol continued contributing as vocalist and multi-instrumentalist.

Rise, acclaim, and dissolution

Sumo rose to prominence during the mid-1980s as Luca Prodan's distinctive approach connected strongly with the youth, merging confrontational lyrics with appreciations of working-class life, such as scenes of men drinking ginebra in local bars. Their sound included occasional Spanish verses, employing irony and allusions to substances, nightlife, and adolescent experiences, while largely steering clear of addressing the political and economic transformations occurring in Argentina throughout the 1980s.

The band’s development was intimately linked with entrepreneur Omar Chabán, proprietor of Café Einstein and the renowned Buenos Aires nightclub Cemento, venues where Sumo frequently held performances.

Prodan’s excessive alcohol consumption and rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle contributed to his deteriorating health; he succumbed to a heart attack on 22 December 1987, shortly after their concluding concert. In the wake of his passing, Sumo disbanded, yet its legacy endured through offshoot groups Divididos (featuring Mollo and Arnedo) and Las Pelotas (with Sokol and Daffunchio). Earlier cassette-only releases like Corpiños en la madrugada were later officially issued, accompanied by two solo tracks recorded by Prodan between 1981 and 1983: "Time, Fate, Love" and "Beautiful Losers."

A notable homage is the 1995 double album "Fuck You," which includes covers of Sumo’s songs performed by prominent Argentine musicians.

On 12 April 2007, original surviving members reunited for a brief three-song set at the Quilmes Rock Festival held in River Plate Stadium.

Former member Alejandro Sokol died on 12 January 2009.

1981-1982

  • Luca Prodan (vocals, acoustic guitar, bass guitar)
  • Alejandro Sokol (bass guitar, vocals)
  • Germán Daffunchio (guitar)
  • Ricardo Curtet (guitar)
  • Stephanie Nutall (drums)

1982-1984

1984-1987

Discography

  • Corpiños en la madrugada (demo, 1983)
  • Divididos por la felicidad (1985)
  • Llegando los monos (1986)
  • After chabon (1987)
  • Fiebre (posthumous release, 1989)

Compilations

  • Greatest Hits (1988)
  • The Collection (1991)
  • Corpiños en la madrugada (remastered edition, 1992)
  • Obras Cumbres (2000)

External links

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named cmtv.com.ar
  2. ↑ Pettinato, Roberto (2009). Sumo. Buenos Aires: Mondadori.
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