Vox Dei (band)

Vox Dei (Latin, 'Voice of God') is an Argentine rock band credited for recording the country's first concept album, La Biblia. Their most prolific years were the 1970s, when they recorded ten albums.

Vox Dei
L–R: Carlos Gardellini, Rubén Basoalto and Willy Quiroga performing live in 2007
Background information
OriginQuilmes, Argentina
GenresHard rock
Progressive rock
Psychedelic rock
Blues rock
Years active1967–1981
1986– Present
LabelsMandioca, Disc Jockey, CBS, Polydor, B.B. Records, DBN, La Rompe, Fonocal
Associated actsManal, La Renga, Pappo's Blues, Almendra
Websitewww.voxdei.com.ar
MembersWilly Quiroga
Carlos Gardellini
Simon Quiroga
Past membersRicardo Soulé
Rubén Basoalto †
Juan Carlos Godoy
Nacho Smilari
Beto Fortunato †
Carlos Michelini
Enrique "Avellaneda" Díaz
Raúl Fernández
Daniel Laira
Jorge León

Vox Dei have had several line-up changes and a five-year hiatus. Their third and most commercially successful line-up featured Ricardo Soulé (guitar and vocals), Willy Quiroga (bass and vocals) and Rubén Basoalto (drums). This line-up was active from 1972 to 1974 (then in 1978 to the 1981 break-up), and was revived from 1986 to 1989, and again from 1996 to 1998. The band's line-up (currently featuring Willy Quiroga, and guitarist Carlos Gardellini from 1992) has been much more stable in recent years, although drummer Rubén Basoalto's death in 2010 (being succeeded by Simon Quiroga) left Willy Quiroga as the only original member still in the band.

History

Formation and early years (1967–70)

The band's original members were Juan Carlos Godoy (guitar and vocals), Ricardo Soulé (guitar and vocals), Rubén Basoalto (drums) and Willy Quiroga (bass and vocals).

Vox Dei started playing songs from bands like The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, The Kinks and The Byrds. In 1968, they recorded a demo version of Percy Sledge's "When a Man Loves a Woman", and Spencer Davis Group's "Gimme Some Lovin'". The company Mandioca organized an audition for them in the Payró theatre. The members of Manal and Almendra were also present, and a few hours later they played together. After this show, Luis Alberto Spinetta (Almendra's leader) asked them to sing in Spanish, to which they finally agreed. Shortly, Quiroga and Soulé began to discuss their desire to take the band in a new direction.

In 1970, Jorge Álvarez (Mandioca label owner) produced their recording sessions in TNT Studios, managed by Tim Croato. Their first studio album of this period, released in mid-1970, was Caliente.

In the B.A. Rock Festival Vox Dei played the first part of the theme "Genesis", which had no lyrics yet, advancing his next LP. During the recording, Ricardo Soulé and Yodi Godoy had musical differences and Godoy felt considerable fatigue and left the group in late 1970, before the final sessions. At the time, Mandioca label went bankrupt, and Vox Dei initially are hired for Disc-Jockey Records, and get the deal to release their second LP.

The glory days (1971–74)

In February 1971, released La Biblia ("The Bible"). Being the first Argentine concept album, it became a turning point in the history of Argentine rock; even the Archdiocese, that had asked to examine the lyrics, recommended young people to buy it. Right after the recording of La Biblia, Yodi Godoy was replaced by Nacho Smilari (former La Barra de Chocolate), and the new Vox Dei line-up began a national tour, successful to attract more attention from a new audience.

After the tour, in late 1971, Disc-Jockey released "Donde has estado todo este tiempo" as a promotional single, with the Nacho Smilari only contribution, who left the band due to health problems during the same sessions, which continued with the three remaining musicians, thus giving the first LP made as "power-trio": Jeremías Pies de Plomo published in the first half of 1972. In December, was released Cuero Caliente, with eight new versions songs from Caliente, and the main single "El Momento en Que Estás (Presente)" was released with great air-playing. One alive version played at B.A. Rock '72, was included on the 1973 film Hasta que se ponga el Sol.

Meanwhile, Vox Dei undertook during the next tours in 1973 to begin to work a live album, La Nave Infernal, the last LP published by DJ label. A few months later, the group signed with Columbia Records, with their first release on the label being Es una Nube, no hay duda. In 1974, during the next album sessions, Ricardo Soulé was invited by the Heavy Metal Kids keyboardist Danny Peyronel, go to London to see his performance as Alice Cooper support act at Wembley Stadium. With Vox Dei para Vox Dei released that same year, Soulé announced would leave the band to start as a soloist at the end of year after his holidays.

Transitional years (1975–1977)

In early 1975, Carlos Michelini and Beto Fortunato were hired into the band and continued to work in new material. This line-up recorded one song: "Nada es tan dificil como estar vivo", to Rock Competition LP (shared with acts as Trio Lluvia, Invisible and Vivencia) but only Carlos Michelini remained with Vox Dei and released Estamos en la Pecera published that same year. The band continued to take a more experimental direction, and the album has, however, gained more appreciation from fans as time has passed since its initial release. In 1976, by the dictatorship, Michelini left the band and traveled to Spain, to be replaced by two guitars again: Raúl Fernandez and Enrique "Avellaneda" Díaz. With this four-piece line-up, Vox Dei recording Ciegos de Siglos, released in that same year, followed by an extended tour in Argentina.

Revival and break-up (1978–1981)

After the Ciegos de Siglos Tour, in late 1977, Fernandez and Díaz left the band due to Columbia decides not to renew their deal. In early 1978, Ricardo Soulé returned to the band, and with his bandmates, appeared at the Teatro Estrellas with several shows where received a very positive reception from the press. In October, Vox Dei signed to Polydor Records and started work on their new album Gata de Noche, which was released in December 1978 and proved to be a successful album for the group. Slowly the differences between the musicians started to grow during the making of next album: El Cid Campeador, but Polydor refuses to produce it. During 1980, Vox Dei decided to embark on a local tour titled 10 años de la Biblia performing his classic master-piece La Biblia. Finally, tensions began to appear within Ricardo Soulé and Willy Quiroga, and on 25 April 1981, Vox Dei performing a Farewell Show at the Estadio Obras Sanitarias.

After the split, Ricardo Soulé returned to his solo career, releasing in 1982 Romances de Gesta, while Willy Quiroga formed a new band: Destroyer, with Palo Penayo on guitar and vocals, Beto Topini (current JAF drummer) and Luis Valenti on keyboards. The band toured regularly through 1982, and recorded a self-titled album that same year. Rubén Basoalto formed another band with the Vox Dei former members Enrique "Avellaneda" Díaz and Raúl Fernández called Rompeaces, then Basoalto played along with Willy Quiroga in the same band.

First Reunion (1986–1989)

In 1986 Vox Dei made a reunion show with their classic line-up. Willy Quiroga, Ricardo Soulé and Rubén Basoalto decide to present La Biblia at the Teatro Opera with Luis Valenti and Juan "Pollo" Raffo as guests, with three sold-out shows, followed with a summer tour, along with some TV performances. In 1988, Vox Dei released Tengo Razones para Seguir, after having been contracted by Magnatape Musical label, in the fold for the 20th anniversary. During an otherwise successful local tour, Ricardo Soulé walked out in 1989, for the Argentina economic crisis, which was also suffered by several local artists and rock bands.

Reformations and Second reunion (1990–1998)
Carlos Gardellini, playing in 2012.

Towards the end of 1989, after a few Willy Quiroga and Rubén Basoalto solo shows in Cordoba, Vox Dei hired two new members: Jorge León (rhythm guitar and vocals) and Daniel Laira (lead guitar), performing for first time at Badía&Co TV show. By 1992, Jorge León left the band, replaced by Carlos Gardellini (a friend of drummer Rubén Basoalto) and Daniel Laira becomes the new guitars, to 1993 Laira too walked out, leaving to Gardellini as the main guitarist, releasing in 1994 Sin Darle Ya Más Vueltas. This line-up began the respective promotional tour, including an acoustic show to MuchMusic channel, through 1994 to early 1996.

Between 1996 and 1998, Ricardo Soulé returns to the band, performing a Reunion Show at the Teatro Opera, releasing the live album El Regreso de la Leyenda. Then, recorded with Ricardo Soulé a remake of La Biblia in 1998 entitled La Biblia II, with Andres Calamaro, Fito Páez and Alejandro Lerner.

Gardellini return and El Camino (1999–2009)

In 1998, Carlos Gardellini finally returned with Willy Quiroga and Rubén Basoalto. Then, Vox Dei produce independently a new studio album El Camino in 2005, published by Vox Dei own label La Rompe Records. and then, in 2007 released the live double album Vox Dei En Vivo, for the 40th anniversary. Also, they played at Teatro Coliseo as part of 40th anniversary tour. Portions of the show were telecast on Crónica Television in Argentina and other countries, exposing the band to a wider audience. During some shows, Vox Dei played the song "El Viejo", as Pappo Napolitano tribute, sang by Gardellini.

Rubén Basoalto death and recent events (2010–present)

On November 3, 2010, drummer Rubén Basoalto died of lung cancer. The multi-instrumentalist Simon Quiroga (Willy Quiroga son), now replaces Rubén Basoalto and the band continues to perform shows. Vox Dei also performed at the 2010 Metal Para Todos Festival, along with Almafuerte, Dulces 16 and El Reloj on 25 December. By 2011, with La Biblia 40th anniversary, Vox Dei performed at the Centro Cultural General San Martin, featured to The End as guests and a chorus orchestra. In June 2012, performed the Jeremías Pies de Plomo 40th anniversary gig at the Teatro SHA, also with The End as guest.

On 2 December 2016, Vox Dei played together with Javier Martinez's Manal at Teatro Gran Rex, as part of 50 años de Rock Nacional (Argentine Rock 50th anniversary).

Reunion with Soulé and Yodi Godoy (2013–2014)

On 15 October 2013, the band performed a reunion show with the original members Ricardo Soulé and Juan Carlos Godoy at the Luna Park stadium. This particular line-up consisted of ex-band members together with Iván and Vicky Soulé (both Ricardo Soulé sons), Simon Quiroga as drummer and Javier Basoalto (Rubén Basoalto son) as part of the band. The guitarist Carlos Gardellini once more time was not part of the show, as the 1996 Vox Dei reunion at the Teatro Coliseo.

50th anniversary and lawsuit (2017–present)

By early 2017, Willy Quiroga announced a new local tour to the band's 50th anniversary. In June, Ricardo Soulé sued to Quiroga due to unauthorized band name use during this year, to which he had the rights since 2005. Actually Willy Quiroga remains to play live with the actual line-up as Willy Quiroga VOX DEI.
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Members
Current members
Former members
Guests

Discography
Studio Albums
Live Albums

References
  1. "Ricardo Soulé se quedó con el nombre Vox Dei". RevistaSoyRock.
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