Flema
Flema was an argentinian punk rock band, one of the most important and influential of the country, that has managed to find her unique style among other punk bands.
The last configuration of the band was: Ricardo Espinosa (vocals and guitar), Fernando Rossi (Bass), Luis Garibaldo (Guitar), and Pepe Carvallo (Drums). Their songs usually talk about loneliness, alcohol and drugs, friends, women, politics, and complains about the tough things in life. Their songs have titles like "borrachos en la esquina" (drunked on the corner), "Semen de buey" (bullock semen), "Blanco cristal" (White cristal, a reference to cocaine). The band leader, Ricardo Espinosa (a.k.a 'Ricky') was a very controversial and loved figure, and the core and spirit of Flema. Always drunk, always on coke, allways in trouble. It was usual that the band could not play on a scheduled date because Ricky and other band members were detained on a local police station.
Early days and development
The band was formed in 1987, in Avellaneda (Buenos Aires) by a group of teenager students. There were a lot of changes in the formation, with Ricky as the only constant member. Allways an underground band, flema launched their first record in the year 1992 ("Pogo, mosh & Slam"), trough an independent record company. The band acquired great success in the argentinian punk scene, not reaching the masses only because of the reputation of troublemakers of their members, specially Ricky. Their shows were marked by chaos, the members usually drunked and doped on the stage, Ricky fighting with the public, sniffing cocaine on the stage, etc. Their songs often featured gutural vomit-like sounds performed by Ricky, that were one of Flema's trademarks. Happy melodies mixed with profound and touching lyrics written by the perturbed Ricky catched up the feelings of many teenagers, that saw their problems reflected in the songs of that band of the suburbs.
Ricky's death
On May 30, 2002, Ricardo Manuel Espinosa ended his life launching himself from the 5th floor of a building in Avellaneda. He was 34 years old. He was drunk playing the PlayStation when he said to his friend Luichy "I'm gonna jump through the window" and he did it. A lot of versions surrounded Ricky's death. He had been talking about putting an end to his life for years, and he even write songs with titles like "i'm Gonna Commit Suicide", "I Have To Go" and "You Will Remember Me". 3 days later, the rest of the band made a big show with other local groups in his honor. Flema was officially splitted after that. Every anniversary, hundreds of fans visit his tomb at the Avellaneda cemetery.
Discography
- Pogo, Mosh & Slam, 1992
- Nunca Nos Fuimos, 1994 (We Never Went Away)
- El Exceso de Drogas y Alcochol es Perjudicial Para tu Salud, 1995 (The Drug and Alcohol Excess is a Prejudice For Your Health)
- Si el Placer es Un Pecado, Bienvenidos Al Infierno, 1997 (If Pleasure is a Sin Welcome to Hell)
- Resaka, 1998 (Hang-Over)
- La Noche de las Narices Blancas, 2000 (The White Noses' Night)
- Caretofobia I, 2001
- Caretofobia II, 2001
- Cinco de copas, 2002