Los Fabulosos Cadillacs

For more than a decade the Argentine ensemble Los Fabulosos Cadillacs has captivated listeners worldwide through a fluid blend of rock, rap, ska, reggae, and indigenous South American rhythms. Formed in 1985 as a nine-piece collective, the group settled on its moniker simply because the phrase struck the members as appealing. Governance has always remained collective, with no designated frontman; instead the musicians follow whichever genre captures their interest at any given time, ensuring that each of their ten studio albums diverges sharply from its predecessor.

In 1995 the band tracked Rey Azucar for S.D.I./Sony, enlisting Debbie Harry and Mick Jones—formerly of the Clash—as guest contributors. Band members later described the sessions with Jones as the fulfillment of a long-held ambition. One of the act’s most successful South American releases, the uptempo “Matador,” fuses samba and reggae pulses and was added as a bonus cut to the 1995 compilation Vasos Vacíos.

Extensive tours across Latin America included a memorable 1995 stop in Anaheim, California, where the group delivered an electrifying set. Although the early 1990s had brought a commercial lull, Vasos Vacíos rekindled interest. Marcha del Golazo Solitario appeared in 1999, followed in early 2001 by the live documents Hola and Chau. The ensemble formally disbanded in 2002 yet reconvened after the 2008 passing of percussionist Gerardo Toto Rotblat, issuing Luz del Ritmo that same year. El Arte de la Elegancia de LFC arrived in 2009.