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20 Years Without Oscar Moro, Argentine Rock's Premier Drummer
🇦🇷 Argentina /Culture & Society

20 Years Without Oscar Moro, Argentine Rock's Premier Drummer

From La Nación · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Outcome reported
  • This weekend marks 20 years since the death of Oscar Moro, widely considered the best drummer in Argentine rock.
  • Moro was a key member of influential bands such as Los Gatos, Serú Girán, and Riff.
  • His career spanned approximately forty years, contributing significantly to the development of Argentine rock music.

Argentine rock music is commemorating the 20th anniversary of the passing of Oscar Moro, a drummer celebrated as the finest in the genre's history. Moro's musical legacy is deeply intertwined with three of Argentina's most foundational rock bands: Los Gatos, Serú Girán, and Riff.

If you ask me about a drummer who symbolizes that entity known as 'national rock,' I would have to name Oscar Moro, a musician with a surname so pertinent that it became his name.

— Claudio KleimanDescribing Oscar Moro's significance in Argentine rock music.

Born in Rosario on January 24, 1948, Moro began his career at the young age of 18, joining Los Gatos. Led by Litto Nebbia, the band achieved early success with Spanish-language hits like "La Balsa," becoming a pivotal force in establishing Argentine rock. Los Gatos released six albums before disbanding in 1971.

Litto Nebbia fondly remembers Moro as "a person with a big heart and a super intuitive musician, with a very personal style and sound. Fundamental for any group." Nebbia also shared a personal connection, having attended school together in Rosario since the third grade.

Besides all the musical adventures we shared, we went to school together in Rosario in 3rd grade. A person with a big heart and a super intuitive musician, with a style and sound very personal. Fundamental for any group.

— Litto NebbiaRecalling his long-standing relationship and admiration for Oscar Moro.

Moro's career continued through the 1970s with various projects, including the experimental trio Color Humano and La Máquina de Hacer Pájaros, a band where Charly García explored progressive jazz-rock. Edelmiro Molinari of Color Humano recalled Moro's immense talent, stating, "He had total shyness, but he sat down at the drums and he was a monster."

I proposed that Moro play with us when David left, and I remember when he accepted I felt in glory. In Almendra, we all admired him. With him, we wove a lot of music, and I experienced it as an impressive time. As a person, he was great. He had total shyness, but he sat down at the drums and he was a monster.

— Edelmiro MolinariDescribing his experience playing with Oscar Moro in Color Humano.

Perhaps his most celebrated role was as the drummer for Serú Girán, a supergroup formed with Charly García, David Lebón, and Pedro Aznar. This band is widely regarded as one of Argentina's most brilliant rock ensembles, releasing seminal albums like "Serú Girán" (1978), "La Grasa de las Capitales" (1979), and "No Llores Por Mí, Argentina" (1982). David Lebón described Moro as a unique drummer, highlighting his significant contribution to the band's sound.

I liked to rehearse because I was against playing nonsense, and that [what the trio played] was demanding. I learned a lot with Edelmiro.

— Oscar MoroReflecting on his time playing with Edelmiro Molinari in Color Humano.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by La Nación in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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