Sumo is a band that hails from a province of Córdoba called Mina Clavero, and debatably one of the coolest things that came out of the Argentine rock scene. Its front man, Luca Prodan, was born in Italy but lived most of his life in England. He decided to move to Córdoba in seek of a more relaxed life in hopes of kicking his heroin habit. After living in Córdoba for some time, Prodan moved to Buenos Aires with the intention of getting involved with the underground music scene.
Sumo was a short lived phenomenen, only being an active band from 1982-1985. During those three years they did not receive much airtime on the radio due to the Falklands war and Argentina’s consequential distaste for english lyric music. Just the same the band had great success in the underground scene and had a suprisingly large impact on Argentine rock with it’s unique-to-argentina post punk, reggae sound.
Unfortunately, Prodan died of heart failure in 1985, putting an end to Sumo’s career after their third album’s release. Unable to go on without Prodan’s charisma, the band members broke into two new bandsand carried on in the rock scene: Divididos and Las Pelotas.
Enjoy!
