Los Cruzados
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Formed in 1984, the Cruzados were a rock band from Los Angeles, California. The Cruzados was formed by the former members of The Plugz; Tito Larriva, Tony Marsico, and Charlie "Chalo" Quintana. Where The Plugz were punk, the Cruzados were a bluesier and more introspective Chicano rock band. Though essentially a rock band, the Cruzados featured the blues-guitar trained Steven Hufsteter on lead guitar, and many of the songs on their first album (such as Wasted Years, Rising Sun, Hanging Out In California, Cryin' Eyes, and Just Like Roses) display Hufsteter's skill at applying blues guitar into rock music.
Although they were often picked as "the next big thing" by both their musical peers and music critics, the group would remain together for only a pair of albums. During a brief four-year span, the Cruzados opened shows for the likes of Fleetwood Mac, INXS, and Stevie Ray Vaughan, as well as appearing at Farm Aid (singing "This Land is Your Land," with such renowned artists as Neil Young and Arlo Guthrie). The two albums that the quartet issued for the Arista Records label, received praise from the likes of Bob Dylan, John Fogerty, David Byrne, Brian Setzer, and Billy Joel, but a trip to superstardom wasn't in the cards for the group, as they split in 1988 before a third album could be assembled.
After the band ended, Larriva continued to form the band Tito & Tarantula. On Tito & Tarantula's debut album, Tarantism, Quintana and Marsico made worked as session musicians on several tracks. Marsico also co-wrote one track on Tarantism with Larriva and Charlie Midnight; the song "Back To The House That Love Built", which was later featured in the film Desperado.
Hufsteter also co-wrote one track on Tarantism with Larriva; the song "After Dark", which was later featured in the film From Dusk Till Dawn. Hufsteter later contributed to Tito & Tarantula's third album, Little Bitch, as a session musician and co-songwriter. In 2002 he became one of the band's guitarists, and has been a member ever since.
In 1991, Quintana became the drummer of Izzy Stradlin's band, The JuJu Hounds.
Shortly after the Cruzados' disbandment, Rohner became a guitarist for the band T.S.O.L, but died in October 2005 of AIDS-related causes.
In 1989, the film Road House featured Larriva, Rohner, Marsico, and Quintana in minor roles, credited as the "Crusades".
Jenny Morris included a cover of the Cruzados song Rising Sun on her 1987 album, Body and Soul.
Contents |
[edit] Cruzados members
| 1984-1987 | |
|---|---|
| 1987-1988 |
[edit] Discography
[edit] See also
- Culture Clash
[edit] External links
- Biography of the Plugz
- Social Distortion: Drummer Charlie Quintana from themusicedge.com
