Carajo
Argentine rock band formed in 2000, disbanded in 2020.
Carajo (pronounced ka-RAH-ho, a Spanish expletive) was an Argentine rock band that got its start in Buenos Aires in 2000. The lineup featured Marcelo "Corvata" Corvalan handling bass and vocals, Andres "Andy" Vilanova on drums, and Hernan "Tery" Langer on guitar and backing vocals. Both Corvalan and Vilanova had played together earlier in the band A.N.I.M.A.L. The group called it quits in 2020.
The band played its first gig on May 4, 2001 at a venue called La Diabla, sharing the bill with Ritual, and soon after took their show to neighboring Uruguay. Their self-titled debut album came out in 2002, with an official launch on May 8, 2002 at The Roxy in Buenos Aires. That November, they performed before 80,000 people at Colombia's Rock al parque festival, and the Argentine press named them "Breakthrough Band of 2002." In 2003, they played the major summer festival Cosquin Rock in front of 14,000 people, released the EP *Carajografia*, and earned an MTV Latin America video music award nomination for Best New Artist.
Their second full-length, *Atrapasueños*, dropped in 2004, and they debuted it to 3,000 fans at Buenos Aires' República Cromañón—just under a month before a deadly fire at the same venue killed 194 people during a Callejeros concert. That year also marked their first trip to Paraguay. In 2005, they visited Bolivia and Chile for the first time, but a broken wrist suffered by Andy forced the cancellation of major shows. The downtime led the band to experiment with new sounds, resulting in the one-off show and release *Electrorroto Acustizado 2.1*, where they reworked their own songs and played covers—Andy performed with a cast still on his arm.
In 2006, Carajo was among the Argentine rock bands to play in Cuba, though they were not the first—groups like Los Fabulosos Cadillacs had performed there earlier. They also returned to Uruguay and made their debut in Panama. Their third studio album, *Inmundo*, finally arrived in 2007 after several delays. A planned DVD, *Formando Así Cada Parte Del Todo*, featuring footage from a November 2005 show at Arena Obras Sanitarias and their Cuba trip, was postponed indefinitely due to technical issues. A first visit to Venezuela was scheduled for mid-August that year.
The band's fourth studio album, *El Mar De Las Almas*, came out on September 23, 2010, with "Ácido" as the lead single.
- Formed
- 2000
- Origin
- Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Genre
- Rock
- Years active
- 2000–2020
- Label
- Gua Gua Musica, Universal Music Argentina
- Notable members
- Marcelo 'Corvata' Corvalan, Andres 'Andy' Vilanova, Hernan 'Tery' Langer
Lore & Background
Carajo played their first show at 'La Diabla' on 4 May 2001 with the band Ritual, and also performed in neighboring Uruguay. Their debut album, Carajo, was recorded in 2002 and officially performed on 8 May 2002 at The Roxy in Buenos Aires. In November of that year, they played at Colombia's Rock al parque festival before 80,000 people and were named 'Breakthrough Band of 2002' by the Argentine press. In 2003, they played Cosquin Rock before 14,000 people, released the EP Carajografia, and were nominated for an MTV Latin America video music award for 'Best New Artist'.
In 2004, their second studio album Atrapasueños was released and presented before 3,000 people at Buenos Aires' 'Republica Cromañon' nearly a month before the tragedy at the same venue.
Reader's Guide
Carajo's significance lies in their role as a prominent Argentine rock band that achieved national and international recognition during the 2000s and 2010s. They were named 'Breakthrough Band of 2002' by the Argentine press and were nominated for an MTV Latin America video music award for 'Best New Artist' in 2003. Their music blended hard rock with punk and metal influences, and they were known for energetic live performances. The band's legacy includes being the first Argentine rock band to play in Cuba (2006) and performing at major festivals such as Rock al parque in Colombia (before 80,000 people) and Cosquin Rock in Argentina. Their discography includes six studio albums, one EP, one live album, and a documentary film. The band's breakup was announced in 2020, ending a 20-year career. Their work continues to be remembered by fans of Argentine rock, and their albums remain available through Universal Music Argentina.
Did You Know?
- Carajo's first show was at 'La Diabla' on 4 May with the band Ritual.
- In 2006, Carajo became the first Argentine rock band ever to play in Cuba.
- The band's DVD Formando Asi Cada Parte Del Todo was postponed indefinitely due to technical problems.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Carajo?
Carajo is an Argentine rock band that formed in Buenos Aires in 2000 and stayed active until 2020. They put out their self-titled debut album through Gua Gua Musica and Universal Music Argentina.
What does the name 'Carajo' actually mean?
The title is a common Spanish expletive, essentially a strong oath or curse word used in everyday speech. It gives the band a blunt, irreverent identity that matches their hard-driving rock style.
Who were the members of Carajo?
The trio was Marcelo 'Corvata' Corvalan on bass and lead vocals, Andres 'Andy' Vilanova on drums, and Hernan 'Tery' Langer on guitar and backing vocals. Notably, Corvalan and Vilanova had already been playing together in the earlier project A.N.I.M.A.L.
What was Carajo's first live show?
They stepped on stage for the first time on May 4, 2001, at a Buenos Aires venue called La Diabla, splitting the bill with the band Ritual. Shortly after that debut they crossed the border and played a show in neighboring Uruguay.
What happened to Carajo after 2020?
The group officially disbanded in 2020, bringing their roughly twenty-year run to a close. After that date the three members no longer performed or recorded together under the Carajo name.
More in Groove metal musical groups 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced