The Italian-Scottish musician turned an icon of Argentine tradition after the creation of SUMO, probably the most influential teams in modern Argentine rock.
Luca Prodan was born in Rome, he was one of many 4 youngsters of the Italian Mario Prodan and Cecilia Pollock, of Scottish origin.
On the age of 9 he was despatched as a pupil to the celebrated Gordonstoun College in Scotland, chosen by excessive society and thought of among the finest boarding faculties in Europe, the place King Charles of England additionally attended.
In Gordonstoun he met Timmy McKern, an Argentine of Scottish origin, who would grow to be his pal and can be instrumental in Prodan’s subsequent arrival in Argentina.
In 1970 Luca escaped from the boarding faculty with out sustaining contact along with his household, which required Interpol to seek for him.
After touring totally different locations in Europe, he settled in London, the place he started working in a file retailer and shaped his first band. Prodan’s musical vocation was enriched by the heyday of dub and reggae, rhythms that influenced him in addition to punk and progressive rock.
On the finish of the 70s Luca fell right into a coma resulting from a heroin overdose, an occasion that occurred after the suicide of his sister Claudia.
In search of to get better from his dependancy, and after receiving a photograph by mail from his pal Timmy McKern within the Sierras de Córdoba, Prodan determined to maneuver to Argentina in March 1980, figuring out virtually nothing concerning the nation.
McKern acquired Luca on the Ezeiza Airport and put in him in his dwelling in Hurlingham. There he met Timmy’s household, amongst whom was his brother-in-law Germán Daffunchio, who would find yourself being a founding member of SUMO.
Prodan moved with Daffunchio and his pal Alejandro Sokol to the McKern household subject in Traslasierra, Córdoba, the place the musical jams started the musical undertaking.
Luca returned to London to purchase devices and persuade his pal Stephanie Nuttal to be the drummer for the brand new band. They each returned to the nation and in 1981 based SUMO along with Daffunchio and Sokol.
SUMO established its base in Hurlingham, carried out its first stay performances and adjusted musicians throughout its early years.
In 1985 SUMO established its definitive formation, together with Luca and Daffunchio Diego Arnero, Ricardo Mollo, Alberto Troglio and Roberto Pettinato joined.
Collectively they recorded “Divided by Happiness,” the band’s first main launch and thought of by Rolling Stone journal because the fifth finest album within the historical past of Argentine rock.
SUMO moved between the underground and mainstream scenes throughout its six years of intense exercise, establishing the foundations of a recognition that may proceed to develop over time.
In 1987 “After Chabón” was revealed, the final album earlier than Prodan’s demise, and on December 20 of that 12 months SUMO carried out stay for the final time.
Two days later, on December 22, Luca was discovered lifeless within the room he rented within the San Telmo neighborhood.
The reason for his demise was by no means revealed, some variations spoke of cardiac arrest attributed to liver cirrhosis and others of drug overdose.
His songs made him a cultural and musical icon in Argentine historical past.
The story can also be information on Radio Perfil. Script by Nicolás Ziccardi and voiceover by Pita Fortín.
by Radio Profile
