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Negu Gorriak is born after the ska group Kortatu was disbanded in the most popular point of its career in order to avoid creative settlement. The influences from Os Resentidos , old school rappers, Public Enemy, NWA and Shinehead are very clear in their eponymic record where the drums are sequenced and the sampler becomes very present.
In 1991 two new members will become part of the group: Mikel Anestesia and Mikel Bap, incrementing considerably the quality and depth of music of the band. In that year they also created Esan Ozenki (say it out loud, in Basque), their own record label. Published in 1991, Gure Jarrera would make Negu Gorriak both famous (as the most solid group of the Basque music rock scene) and infamous (for the song Ustelkeria, which will lead to them to court).
The band's next output ( Gora Herria ) would be an EP with covers and dub music remixA remix is an alternate mix of a song different from the original version. It may incorporate elements of dance music. It is often used to create an upbeat version of a song for playing by disc jockeys in nightclubs. Roots of the remix Remixing had its roes with the colaboration of their friend Manu ChaoManu Chao (born July 21, 1963; AKA Oscar Tramor is a French latin folk singer. From 1987 until 1998 Chao was a member of the band Mano Negra. He sings in French, Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese, English, and Wolof, often mixing them in the same song. Although. This can be consider a "bridge work" that separates Negu Gorriak early efforts and their 1993 Borreruak Baditu Milaka Aurpegi (The hangman is the man of the thousand faces, a verse from to writer Bernardo AtxagaBernardo Atxaga (b. 1951, Asteasu, Gipuzkoa) is a Basque writer. His real name is Joseba Irazu Garmendia. Writings Ziutateak ( 1976) Etiopia ( 1978) El Hombre Solo ( 1993) Obabakoak ( 1997) Atxaga, Bernardo.), perhaps the best record of their carrer. In it the guitars grow angry, and the lyrics become more poetic and somewhat less political; feelings take over and there are clears notes of frustration and pain. Musically, the record moves from hip hopHip hop is a cultural movement that began amongst urban , African American & Puerto Rican youth in New York and has since spread around the world. The four main elements of hip-hop are MCing, DJing, graffiti art, and breakdancing. Some consider beatboxing to punkPunk can have the following meanings: A follower of punk music fashion or culture. Punk is a set of social and political beliefs, morals and standards that indicate an absolute rejection of conformity. A punk is a combustible material or a piece of kindli to ska and rockRock and roll also called rock is a form of popular music, usually featuring vocals (often with vocal harmony backing), electric guitars and a strong back beat; other instruments, such as the saxophone, are common in some styles. As a cultural phenomenon, with extreme naturality.
The tour following Borreruak Baditu Milaka Aurpegi created a big expectation and received a deserved press coverage. At the end of it Hipokrisiari Stop! (Stop Hipocrisy!) their only live album would be published.
The above mentioned song Ustelkeria is about a Guardia Civil (Spain)See Guardia Civil for other meanings of the phrase Spanish Guardia Civil is a military police and civilian police force founded in 1844 by Queen Isabel II of Spain after the First Carlist War to assure the occupation within the newly created borders at th coronel, Enrique Rodríguez Galindo . The lyrics comment news accusing him of selling stolen cocaine in order to obtain money for the terrorist group GAL. In 1993 the Coronel sued the band, which was condemned to deliver Rodríguez Galindo 15 million pesetas. There would be appeals and other process in order to avoid paying the amount of money, which could lead into giving all the music rights and the record label to Rodríguez Galindo. The band then created a campaign Hitz Egin (Speak!) that consisted in the publishing a limited edition of an EP, Ustelkeria, and a tour. Several artists showed their solidarity with Negu Gorriak's cause, sharing the view that the veredict attacked the right to freedom of speech.
One year later Idea Zabaldu (Spread the Idea) was released. The influence of long visits to Latin America (and the zapatista revolution) and the birth of Fermin Muguruza's son is not small. The band has grown mature and children mortality in the third world and AIDS are very present both in the lyrics and also in the tone of the recording. Not so angry and agresive, Idea Zabaldu would be their last recording with original songs.
Salam Agur would be Negu Gorriak's last album. In it they decided to salute their friends and music influences by covering some of their favourite songs. Influential artists covered were BAP!! , Otis Redding, The Who, Macka B , Minor Threat, Bob Marley, Public Enemy, The Clash, Redskins, Poison Idea, Errobi , Dead Kennedys, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Anestesia and Niggaz With Attitude. Once again, as it happened with Kortatu they decided to disband the group in order to avoid creative settling.
The band would get together three more times for three farewell concerts. Those were also celebration shows, for the court had taken away the charges and there would not be, after all, any settlement for Rodríguez Galindo.