Argentina - The Steel Gauchos
Geeky older brothers into metal can go one of two ways. Some turn into passive aggressive loners who hate their mums. Others school their siblings about Sepultura, form rock bands and upload their bedroom shows on to YouTube. Emilio from Argentina is one of the latter. We spoke to him and his little bro Martin (the one with the Pikachu on his mic stand) about their band The Steel Gauchos...
VICE: What's the name of the band?
Emilio: Los Gauchos De Acero. In English we're called The Steel Gauchos
Who's in the band and how old are you?
Emilio, 14 (guitar and vocals), Martin, 10 (bass), Agustin, 11 (drums), and Carla, 4 (backing vocals).
How did you start out?
This dream began two years ago. I had been learning guitar for six months when my dad, who works shifts at the Salta Municipal Computer Repairs Shop, was offered a drum kit in exchange for a used PC. So me and my brother started jamming. A couple of weeks ago we uploaded a video of us doing Sepultura’s “Refuse, Resist” on YouTube so that we could show some friends. The video got like 800,000 hits and made us kinda famous. It’s now, like at 2,000,000 hits.
Wow. Instant fame.
Yeah, it's crazy. To give back some of the love that people show us on our messageboard we are taking the band more seriously. We’ve played local pubs and we once travelled to Buenos Aires to play on TV. Last week we headlined a gig – going on at 2 AM and finishing at 4 AM. We played 20 songs.
Do you guys ever argue?
Yes. We sometimes fight when we're rehearsing. We clash but at the end of the day we get along really well.
What other difficulties do you face?
A couple of things are working against us at the moment. My voice is breaking and Martin’s voice still sounds like a kid’s. Also, we can’t speak English, which makes it difficult to sing Iron Maiden. Also, all our equipment is borrowed apart from the drums and my guitar. My dad is helping us, but he only makes $350 a month, so it’s hard.
What do your parents think about the band
Our parents are really happy with everything we do. Our old man approves. He is super into the music we make.
Who are your influences?
Our musical heroes are Jimi Hendrix, Iron Maiden, Pappo, Sepultura, B.B. King and Dio.
What are you plans for the future?
We can play about 30 covers and we’re trying to compose our own stuff. The idea is to continue as a band, triumph as a band, record a CD, play music and perfect our skills. We know we’ve still got a lot to learn. Our goal is to play Argentina’s biggest rock festival Cosquin Rock. So we’re practising hard for that.
DOM TUNON
so there is a god?
Posted by: | 14/12/2006 at 10:19
rad that was awesome. I wish my family did this.
Posted by: worker | 14/12/2006 at 10:33
INNNNNFFUUUCCKKKKIINNCCCRRRREEEEDDDIIIBBBLLLLLEEEEEE
These guys are the new Hanson.
Posted by: john | 14/12/2006 at 10:47
Cool!
Posted by: Firk | 14/12/2006 at 14:22
i played that song in my high school's talent show with some friends of mine but we didn't kill it like these kids. holy fucking shit!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: darby | 14/12/2006 at 15:15
when that little girl gets about... 20 years older, she'll make someone an awesome wife.
Posted by: petro | 14/12/2006 at 15:42
that's a really weird thing to say about a four-year-old girl.
Posted by: jesus fever | 14/12/2006 at 16:08
if i can have a little girl who rocks as hard as that one then my life has a purpose.
Posted by: uh lay nuh | 14/12/2006 at 16:44
omg she is doing air guitar! rock out!
how very very cool!
Posted by: virtual munkee | 15/12/2006 at 04:56
Vice needs to sign these kids to a three-record deal RIGHT NOW
Posted by: I want to join their family | 15/12/2006 at 05:41
Argentina's answer to Zottawa
Posted by: D minus average | 15/12/2006 at 16:51
Fuck, these kids win at life.
Posted by: Jay | 17/12/2006 at 04:45
that kids on the guitar wails
Posted by: randy rhodes | 17/12/2006 at 21:17
good god these children are fucking awesome. i agree, you guys should sign them.
ps def a creepy thing about the little girl/wife.
Posted by: dickfart | 18/12/2006 at 10:40
i hated this larry clark movie
Posted by: bill | 18/12/2006 at 11:45
Hooray for kids (who rock)! This rules!
Posted by: John Doe | 19/12/2006 at 20:09
These kids make me want to pluck out my eyeballs and mail them to them.
Posted by: R-Train | 20/12/2006 at 04:21
If my kids started playing Maiden like this.... it is weird to hear "The Trooper" with one guitar, though.
Posted by: Eddie | 20/12/2006 at 07:59
How did those kids get Ronnie James Dio to sing with them?
Posted by: Gabe | 20/12/2006 at 14:35
Normally I would make some sort of 'me fucking you in the ass' joke. But these kids really rock. They rock like a 'fucking in the ass joke' which is rocking hard.
Posted by: Irobot | 30/12/2006 at 22:50
these little snapper ninos are sucking entirely too much yurba mate from their bombilla big gulp sized gourds.
Posted by: Bs | 07/02/2007 at 23:11
que barbaro - estos cabros son LA CONCHASUMADRE!!!!
Posted by: James Kirchmer | 19/02/2007 at 20:24
man, lookin at these kids jam.....i felt mine is a wasted life! they are awe'fuckin'some!!!
ROCK ON DUDES!!!
l..l. PEACE .l..l
Posted by: RJ | 23/02/2007 at 07:54
ohh and the 4 year old girl head banging, playing an air guitar, and back ground vocals.....WICKED!!!
i actually hate the idea of girls in a metal band......but she forced me to change that opinion!!!
Posted by: RJ | 23/02/2007 at 08:11
Hey guys, you're really good!! keep up the good work. I know it's hard when one don't have what's needed to better the skills we have. However, if you guys send me information on how we can help economically of course. Let me know sending me an email. I'll be waiting on your response. See you until then!
Posted by: Robert Martinez | 10/04/2007 at 06:59