Phlegm It is an institution of punk in South America. With 3 decades of career behind him, the Argentines were visiting our country in days gone by and of course, we took the opportunity to talk a little with Fernando Rossi and Luis Gribaldo about the history of the band and of course, a little about soccer.
[divider] ARGENTINES GOING TO AMERICA [/ divider]
What was it like growing up in a place like Avellaneda and what gave you inspiration for the concept and ideology of the band?
F Well, Avellaneda is a city next to the federal capital of Argentina. It was a very quiet neighborhood and it still is, although like all violence it appears from time to time. It is a nice place to live, where little by little we got to know each other in the neighborhood as boys playing ball and all that. Ricardo lived 7 blocks from my house and that's how Luis entered little by little and we started the story.
L It is the only place in the world where you can find 2 soccer fields glued together [laughs].
What influence and validity does the punk movement have for you today in an increasingly globalized world?
F The question is difficult. I think that rock and metal must have a message today, it does not necessarily have to be political but it has something to say. The truth is that no revolution has been started with music. Music like painting and art in general can serve that if to narrate the revolutionary events. This is how one tries to contribute its grain of sand. Although the system has absorbed punk gangs, one continues along the same lines and is not blind to things like capitalism or the unequal distribution of wealth. For me punk will always have a rebellious air regardless of how much the system wants to absorb it. We are an independent band and we try to maintain that position by contributing what we can.
"We don't give up" It is his last official plate since 2014. Is Phlegm preparing something new?
F We already have some themes ready although I cannot reveal more yet. We are going to wait for the moment because we are still paying the recording studio for the last album, and then we need 6 months to work and get back the investment. And seriously, we want to do it well, with due production so as not to disrespect our sound. We have to take some time mainly for the economic issue because we finance ourselves, if it were for the songs they are already there. We are gathering from the shows and making the vaquita. If someone in Argentina that we haven't paid him for the previous album reads this, he will surely tell us to pay him first and then plan to release another album [laughs].
Playing with the name of his song "Addicted to you", Has any woman saved or sunk you in life?
F Well, I have been happily married for 10 years, although the truth is that the song does not speak as such of a particular woman, it is like a double meaning, with a meaning that everyone can interpret and not necessarily a woman. It sounds like a love song but it really isn't.
Almost a decade and five years after Ricky's death, how did they resist him?
F The truth, when everything happened at that time in 2002, everything was very difficult. Ricky was a great friend and shortly after he passed away my brother also passed away being an even harder blow. One has to recover little by little, stop playing would not have been the solution and for the 20th anniversary of the band we decided to meet as we felt that there were still more pages to write in the history of the group. And nothing, because we are taking it. Surely all those who read this note have at some point also lost a loved one and we must continue, although I know that there are also many people who are stagnant and cannot continue. What remains are scars that never heal completely but that with the passage of time can be overcome, you just have to be strong. I think that both Ricky and Santiago are encouraging us from above, that right now they are with us here in Mexico.
What did the return of Juan, one of the founding members of the group, represent for Phlegm?
F Well, Phlegm has gone through many changes throughout the history of the band and of all the changes that have come and gone, Juan is undoubtedly one of the most valuable. He is a very important contribution and an excellent composer, although it is true that being a founding member is also important, it would be useless if he did not contribute something to the band. We love Juan, we know that he has problems traveling because he has very young children and that is why he cannot go on tours like this, but we hope that on some visit he may also be here in Mexico.
Independent or Racing?
F Racing!
L Independent!
F The truth is that we really like soccer. In the game we want to kill each other, we don't gamble but for example if the game is on Sunday and we have a rehearsal on Wednesday if there was a tie, everything was fine. But if you won, then there is a problem [laughs]. We really like the game but not the violence, we must highlight it. A long time ago at a concert here in Mexico there was a row with fans from America, a problem with bars. Soccer is nice but not because you are a follower of America or Chivas or another team, things must be in a row.
L We are going to America when it comes to Mexico soccer teams, I just wanted to leave it said [laughs]
Finally, any message you want to leave for your fans in Mexico?
F Well, the truth is that first of all we are very grateful for being here for the fifth time. I have always said that sometimes it is difficult to get to a place but it is more difficult to return. You can come, leave nothing and people don't want to see you again, do you understand me? We are an independent band and it is not that we come to take millions of dollars from here but we are satisfied with it, we like to tour and take great satisfaction from the places we visit which is also something very important for one as a musician. There is always very good vibes not only in the DF but in all the states that we have visited on the tour in this country, except for that incident that I told you about with the fans of the bars but anyway, the truth is that outside of it the Mexicans They are always respectful and good vibes. Not only the public, people in general are very attentive, you can go to Guanajuato to buy something late at Oxxo and the guy who attends you is in a good mood. We know that neither you nor Argentines dislike you, no matter how much later there are sometimes frictions or misunderstandings.
L We love Mexico! Hold on my dear Mexico, I love you and I love you Chingale!
