Rock'n'Spain: Baron Rojo (english)

Baron Rojo is one of the most legendary heavy metal bands and hard rock of Spain formed in 1980 whose name is a tribute to the German aviator Manfred von Richthofen. The group was formed with the brothers Armando and Carlos de Castro, Hermes Calabria and Jose Luis Campuzano's "Sherpa". Their first album was released by Chapa / Zafiro, was titled "Long Live the Rock'n'Roll" and was dedicated to John Lennon who was recently murdered. With this album they got a gold record, thanks to the gains moved to London to record "Brutal Volume" on Kingsway Studios of Ian Gillan (Deep Purple) with two versions: one in Spanish and other one in English with the company Kamaflage. 2 million copies were sold thanks to singles like "Los rockeros van al infierno (The Rockers go to Hell)", "Resistiré (Stand Up)", "Incomunicación" and "Concerto para ellos" dedicated to Bon Scott and other dead rockers. In 1982 they performed at Reading Festival 82 with Iron Maiden, Marillion, Twisted Sister, MSG and Gary Moore.

In 1983 "Metalmorfosis" comes with "Siempre estás ahí (You're always there)", "Casi me mato (Almost killed me)", "El malo (The Bad)" and "Tierra de vándalos (Land of the Vandals)". In 1984 comes the double live album "Barón al Rojo Vivo" with five new songs. In 1985 they published "En un lugar de la marcha" in collaboration with José Barta in "Hijos de Caín (Sons of Cain)". The following year a new album is published live, "Siempre estáis ahí (You're always there)". With the production of Joaquín Torres, is published in 1987, "Tierra de nadie (No One's Land)". With this album Red Baron begins to integrate new elements to their subjects like orchestration of "Tierra de nadie".

"No va más" came out in 1988 with more experimentation with keyboards especially at "Cansado de esperar (Tired of Waiting)", "Mil años luz (Thousand Light Years)" and "Celtas cortos (Short Celtic)" (a brand of cigarettes) in which a Chinese violinx and a banjo are also incluided. A year after publishing "Obstinato" where virtually abandons experimentation. Topics include a new version of "Herencia letal (Lethal Legacy)", "Pura sangre (Thoroughbred)", "Tren fantasmas (Ghost Train)" and "Vampiros y banqueros (Vampires and Bankers)".

That same year, Sherpa and Calabria leave the group and joined Pepe Bao playing bass, José Antonio Walnut "Ramakhan" exdrummer of Triton and Maxi González exTritón's soloist.

In 1990 published "Desafío (Challenge)" where Niko del Hierro participated on bass. This album did not get the expected success. In 1995 the Sapphire label publishes a compilation called "Larga Vida al Barón (Long Live the Baron)".

In 1997 come "Arma Secreta (Secret Weapon)" produced by Carlos de Castro. With him, the band returns to the most basic and heavy sound. In 1999 a new compilation was published: "Cueste lo que cueste (Whatever It Takes)" with 4 new songs like "El Trepa (Social Climber)", "Cielo o infierno (Heaven or Hell)", "Más de tí (More of You)" and "Cueste lo que cueste (Whatever It Takes)", and a remake of "Resistiré (I will resist)"sung by Castro.

In 2001 comes out "20+" produced by V.M. Arias for Zero Records. On this record wind instruments like the saxophone, trombone and trumpet were included. In 2002 a new live album is released "Barón en Aqualung (Baron at Aqualun)". A year later he starts selling "Perversiones (Perversions)" produced by José Miguel Ros and Carlos Rufus with influences from Black Sabbath, Deep Purple and Jimi Hendrix.

In 2005 Vale ejected Rodriguez who was replaced by Jose Martos and a year later "Ultimasmentes" comes with "Nada de que hablar (Nothing to talk about)", "El Porvenir, un castigo (The Future, a punishment)" and "Hombre de las carvenas (Man of Carvenas)". Two years later, his put on sale a new live album "De Barón a Bilbao (From Baron to Bilbao)" with 2 CDs. That year Angel Arias and Jose Martos left the group, integrated into the same Tony Ferrer on bass, José Andrëa singer of Mago de Oz and Rafael Diaz on drums. Tony Ferrer was sent off shortly afterwards and replaced by Gorka Alegre. In 2009 was published his latest work "En Clave de Rock (Rock clef)".

 

Members:

Armando de Castro – guitar and voice

Carlos de Castro – guitar and voice

Gorka Alegre – bass and choirs

Rafa Díaz – drums

Exmembers:

José Luís Campuzano Sherpa

Hermes Calabria

Máximo González

Pepe Bao

José Antonio Nogal

Niko del Hierro

José Luís Aragón

Valeriano Rodríguez

Ángel Arias

José Martos

Tony Ferrer

Discography:

1981: Larga Vida al Rock’n’Roll

1982: Volumen Brutal

1983: Metalmorfosis

1984: Barón al Rojo Vivo

1985: En un Lugar de la Marcha

1986: Siempre estáis Allí

1987: Tierra de Nadie

1988: No va Más

1989: Obstinato

1992: Desafío

1995: Larga vida al Barón

1997: Arma Secreta

1999: Cueste lo que cueste

2001: 20+

2002: Barón en Aqualung

2003: Perversiones

2006: Ultimasmentes

2006: Las aventuras del Barón

2007: Desde Barón a Bilbao

2009: En clave de Rock

2012: Tommy Barón

Tour:

11/21: La Paz (Bolivia)

11/29: Barcelona (España)

15/2/6: Navarra (España)

15/2/7: Zaragoza (España)