Riff (Argentine band)

Riff was a heavy metal / hard rock band formed in 1980 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.[1][2]

Riff
Riff in 1986. Left to right: Oscar Moro, Vitico, JAF, Pappo
Background information
OriginBuenos Aires, Argentina
GenresHard rock, heavy metal
Years active1980–1986
(hiatus: 1984)
1990–1998
2004–2005
LabelsTonodisc, CBS Records, Halley Records, Riff Records, Main, DBN
Associated actsPappo's Blues, V8, Viticus, Boxer, JAF
Past membersPappo
Vitico
Héctor "Boff" Serafine
Michel Peyronel
Danny Peyronel
Oscar Moro
JAF
Jota Morelli

The band was formed by guitarist Norberto "Pappo" Napolitano, after dissolving his old musical project "Pappo's Blues". The group was mostly influenced by acts like AC/DC, Motörhead, Saxon, and the NWOBHM scene, introducing heavy metal music in Argentina in the early 80s.

In 2007, the Argentine edition of Rolling Stone magazine ranked their album Contenidos (1982) number 58 on its list of "The 100 Greatest Albums of National Rock".[3]

Biography

1981–1983: Early shows, success and peak

On November 14, 1980, Pappo organized a show called "Adiós Pappo's Blues, bienvenido Riff" (Goodbye Pappo's Blues, welcome Riff). This band emerged as a continuation of Pappo's former group, and would change the Argentine rock with the inception of heavy metal music, a genre that was completely new for the local scene. Riff debut album Ruedas de metal was released in 1981. A second album was released later the same year, Macadam 3...2...1...0..., which was officially launched with a show at Estadio Obras Sanitarias, in December 1981.[4]

In October 1982 was released their new album, Contenidos, which included tunes that turned out to be new classics of the band, like "Susy Cadillac", "Maquinación", and "Pantalla del mundo nuevo". In November that same year, Riff was featured at the popular BA Rock festival, along with prominent local artists, such as Spinetta-Jade, David Lebón, La Torre, and León Gieco, among others.[5] By 1983, Riff performed at La Falda Festival. In March, keyboardist-vocalist Danny Peyronel (Michel's brother) joined the band. The first performances as a quintet took place in April 1983, at Estadio Obras Sanitarias, which were recorded and released on a double live album entitled Riff En acción, the first of the band. Unfortunately, violent incidents took place during these shows, which received media coverage.

Trying to reverse this bad image, that gained certain public attention, the band organized a big concert on December 17 1983, at Ferrocarril Oeste Arena, with Los Violadores as supporting act, this gig was called "Riff ends the year without chains", nonetheless serious incidents were also reported during this show, forcing Riff to disband. Danny Peyronel returned to the US, Boff started rehearsing with his group Boxer, and Pappo resumed his solo career, same as Michel Peyronel and bassist Vitico.

1984: Momentary hiatus and solo projects

By 1984, after the band broke-up, Pappo released his first solo album, Pappo en concierto, recorded live with Enrique "Avellaneda" Díaz (ex-Vox Dei) on bass, Juan "Locomotora" Espósito (ex-El Reloj) on drums, and Boff Serafine on rhythm guitar. Drummer Michel Peyronel recorded a solo album, A toda mákina, with Stuka (guitarist from Los Violadores), Alex "Le Noir" Oucinde on bass, and his brother Danny Peyronel on keyboards, and bassist Vitico issued his first solo LP: Ha llegado la hora.

1985–1986: Comeback, period of decadence, and break-up

In 1985 Riff returned back to business with Pappo and Vitico, plus two new members: rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist JAF and veteran drummer Oscar Moro, former Pappo's bandmate during his days with Los Gatos, in the late 60s.

This line-up recorded Riff VII, an album released by CBS Records in October 1985,[6] which featured a more polished heavy metal sound, standing out the powerful JAF voice.

In 1986 Riff performed a series of shows in pubs and clubs, as Jota Morelli replaced Oscar Moro on drums, followed by a period that culminated in a new dissolution of the group in 1986. JAF and Vitico went solo, and Pappo and Boff create a new band: Hoy No Es Hoy, releasing only one album: Plan diabólico in 1987. After this, Pappo moved to the Los Angeles where he created a new musical project: Pappo & Widowmaker, though, in 1989, he returned to Argentina to resume his solo career.

1990–2005: Reunions and Pappo's death

Pappo, Vitico, Boff and Michel Peyronel reunited for some performances in Argentina in the new decade, releasing a new album entitled Zona de nadie in 1992. Through the 1990s Riff opened for Motörhead and AC/DC (at River Plate Stadium). The reunion ended in 1998, after their new album Que sea rock was released. After this, main man Pappo shared his time between his solo career, and sporadic reunions with Riff. The last show of the band took place at the Cosquín Rock Festival, on February 4 2005.

On 25 February 2005 Pappo Napolitano was killed in a motorcycle accident near Luján, Buenos Aires.[7] The rest of the band decided to call it quits after this misadventure, signalling the definitive end of the group.

Timeline

Discography
Studio albums
  • Ruedas de metal (1981)
  • Macadam 3...2...1...0... (1981)
  • Contenidos (1982)
  • Riff VII (1985)
  • Zona de nadie (1992)
  • Que sea rock (1997)
Live albums
  • En acción (1983)
  • Riff 'n Roll (1987)
  • En vivo en Obras 17/12/1985 (1995)
  • Paladium 86 (1995)
  • En vivo, grabado en noviembre de 1995, en La Plata (1996)
Compilations
  • Épico (1984)
  • Década (1990)
  • Clásico (1995)
Videos
  • Riff: La Historia vol.1 & 2 (1992) (VHS)
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References
  1. Riff's biography at Allmusic.com
  2. Riff at Rock.com.ar
  3. "Los 100 mejores discos del rock nacional". Rolling Stone Argentina (in Spanish). Publirevistas S. A. April 2007.
  4. Riff biography, sitioderiff.com.ar
  5. Article on tn.com.ar (Spanish)
  6. Album page on Discogs
  7. News about Pappo's death, "La Nación" newspaper
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