Riff (Argentine band)


Riff was a heavy metal / hard rock band formed in 1980 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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 number 58 on its list of "The 100 Greatest Albums of National Rock".

Biography

1981–1983: Early shows, success and peak

On November 14, 1980, Pappo organized a show called "Adiós Pappo's Blues, bienvenido 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.
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.
By 1983, Riff performed at La Falda Festival. In March, keyboardist-vocalist Danny Peyronel 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 on bass, Juan "Locomotora" Espósito on drums, and Boff Serafine on rhythm guitar.
Drummer Michel Peyronel recorded a solo album, A toda mákina, with Stuka, 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, 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.
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.
The rest of the band decided to call it quits after this misadventure, signalling the definitive end of the group.

Timeline


ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:20
PlotArea = left:100 bottom:80 top:0 right:10
Alignbars = justify
DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy
Period = from:01/01/1980 till:01/01/2005
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy
Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:4
ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:1980
ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1980
Colors =
id:vocals value:red legend:Lead_vocals,_lead_guitar
id:guitar value:green legend:Rhythm_guitar
id:bass value:blue legend:Bass
id:keys value:purple legend:Keyboards
id:drums value:orange legend:Drums
id:BV value:pink legend:Backing_vocals
id:Lines value:black legend:Studio_albums
LineData =
at:01/04/1981 color:Lines layer:back
at:01/08/1981 color:Lines layer:back
at:01/06/1982 color:Lines layer:back
at:01/06/1985 color:Lines layer:back
at:01/03/1992 color:Lines layer:back
at:01/06/1997 color:Lines layer:back
BarData =
bar:Pappo text:Pappo
bar:Boff text:Boff Serafine
bar:JAF text:JAF
bar:Nico text:Nicolás Bereciartúa
bar:Vitico text:Vitico
bar:Danny text:Danny Peyronel
bar:Michel text:Michel Peyronel
bar:Moro text:Oscar Moro
bar:Jota text:Jota Morelli
PlotData=
width:10 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:
bar:Pappo from:01/01/1980 till:01/06/1983 color:vocals
bar:Pappo from:01/01/1985 till:01/06/1986 color:vocals
bar:Pappo from:01/01/1990 till:01/06/1992 color:vocals
bar:Pappo from:01/01/1995 till:01/06/1998 color:vocals
bar:Pappo from:01/01/2004 till:01/01/2005 color:vocals
bar:Boff from:01/01/1980 till:01/06/1983 color:guitar
bar:Boff from:01/01/1990 till:01/06/1992 color:guitar
bar:Boff from:01/01/1995 till:01/06/1998 color:guitar
bar:JAF from:01/01/1985 till:01/06/1986 color:guitar
bar:Nico from:01/01/2004 till:01/01/2005 color:guitar
bar:Vitico from:01/01/1980 till:01/06/1983 color:bass
bar:Vitico from:01/01/1985 till:01/06/1986 color:bass
bar:Vitico from:01/01/1990 till:01/06/1992 color:bass
bar:Vitico from:01/01/1995 till:01/06/1998 color:bass
bar:Vitico from:01/01/2004 till:01/01/2005 color:bass
bar:Danny from:01/01/2004 till:01/01/2005 color:keys
bar:Michel from:01/01/1980 till:01/06/1983 color:drums
bar:Michel from:01/01/1990 till:01/06/1992 color:drums
bar:Michel from:01/01/1995 till:01/06/1998 color:drums
bar:Michel from:01/01/2004 till:01/01/2005 color:drums
bar:Moro from:01/01/1985 till:01/01/1986 color:drums
bar:Jota from:02/01/1986 till:01/06/1986 color:drums

width:2.5 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:
bar:Vitico from:01/01/1980 till:01/06/1983 color:BV
bar:Vitico from:01/01/1985 till:01/06/1986 color:BV
bar:Vitico from:01/01/1990 till:01/06/1992 color:BV
bar:Vitico from:01/01/1995 till:01/06/1998 color:BV
bar:Vitico from:01/01/2004 till:01/01/2005 color:BV
bar:Michel from:01/01/1980 till:01/06/1983 color:BV
bar:Michel from:01/01/1990 till:01/06/1992 color:BV
bar:Michel from:01/01/1995 till:01/06/1998 color:BV
bar:Michel from:01/01/2004 till:01/01/2005 color:BV

Discography

;Studio albums
;Live albums
;Compilations
;Videos