Tito Larriva

Last updated
Tito Larriva
Tito and Tarantula Tito Lolita 3.jpg
Tito Larriva and his daughter Lolita Carroll Larriva in 2016
Background information
Birth nameHumberto Lorenzo Rodriquez Larriva
Born1953 [1]
Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico
Genres Rock, punk rock, alternative rock, Chicano rock
Occupation(s) Singer, guitarist, songwriter, musician, actor
Instrument(s) Vocals, guitar, keyboards, recorder
Years active1977–present
Labels JupiterXrecords, BMG
Website www.titoandtarantula.com

Humberto "Tito" Larriva (born 1953) is a Mexican-American songwriter, singer, musician, and actor. He came to prominence leading The Plugz, one of the earliest Los Angeles punk rock groups. Since the 1990s, his main musical outlet has been Tito & Tarantula.

Contents

Early life

Larriva was born in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, and grew up in Fairbanks, Alaska, and El Paso, Texas. As a child he played the violin in the school orchestra and sang in the church and school choirs where he met his wife Janet Carroll. In 1972 Larriva snuck into Yale University for a full term without being noticed. After being kicked out of the Ivy League university, he moved to Mexico City and in 1975 moved to Los Angeles, California. He now lives in Austin, Texas, with his wife and daughter and continues to work in the music and film industries.

Music career

The Plugz

Larriva was the vocalist and rhythm guitarist for punk band The Plugz. He formed The Plugz in Hollywood, California in 1978. [2] Their presence during the birth of West Coast punk has ensured their enduring influence on punk bands. Record label Rhino recognized their role in the Los Angeles music scene by including their version of "La Bamba" on "We're Desperate: The L.A. Scene (1976-79)." The Plugz released two albums, Electrify Me (1978) and Better Luck (1981). The Plugz also scored the cult classic film Repo Man and contributed three songs to the soundtrack.

Fatima Records

In 1979 Larriva formed Fatima Records, a DIY record label, with Chicano printmaker Richard Duardo and music promoter Yolanda Ferrer to release the Plugz' single "Achin'"/"La Bamba." The label would issue a few other releases, including the Plugz' second album Better Luck (1981) and "Attitudes" (1980), the debut EP by East Los Angeles punk band The Brat (produced by Larriva). Fatima Records was initially slated to release Fire of Love , the debut album by Los Angeles band The Gun Club; however, after Larriva produced six tracks, the label ran out of money, and Ruby Records completed the recordings and released the Gun Club's album. [3]

Cruzados

In 1984 The Plugz evolved into the Cruzados. In 1985, they released a self-titled album on Arista Records. The second album After Dark released in 1987 featured new guitarist Marshall Rohner. The band broke up in 1990. Larriva and the Cruzados were both briefly featured in the film Road House , starring Patrick Swayze and Sam Elliott.

Tito & Tarantula

Tito & Tarantula began in 1992 when Larriva and lead guitarist Peter Atanasoff would perform in bars and cafes with friends every week. "We've always had an unspoken rule," Larriva said to the Tucson Weekly in 1997, [4] "and the rule is that everyone plays pretty much what they want. The band rarely rehearses." Tarantula was featured on the soundtrack of Robert Rodriguez's movie Desperado which Larriva also scored. In 1996, Tito and Tarantula continue their relationship with Rodriguez, appearing in the film, soundtrack, and score, for From Dusk Till Dawn . Larriva, Atanasoff, and Johnny "Vatos" Hernandez are the band performing their song After Dark in the bar for Salma Hayek. In 1997, Tito & Tarantula released its long-awaited and highly acclaimed debut album Tarantism . They followed up with, Hungry Sally & Other Killer Lullabies in 1999, and Little Bitch in 2000. In 2002, the band was joined by Larriva's former Cruzados bandmate Steven Hufsteter. Later that year, they released Andalucia . 8 Arms To Hold You is their most recent release (2019).

Psychotic Aztecs

Tito Larriva, September 2007 Tito Larriva 2007.jpg
Tito Larriva, September 2007

Psychotic Aztecs, composed of Larriva on vocals, Oingo Boingo's rhythm section (John Avila on bass, Johnny "Vatos" Hernandez on drums) and Steven Hufsteter on guitar, began as a recording session for Grita! Records in Los Angeles and ended as the album Santa Sangre, released in 1999. [5]

Film career

Larriva's first acting role was "Hammy" on The Pee-wee Herman Show in 1981. [6] He has gone on to play notable supporting roles in big-budget films like Born in East L.A. , Road House , Boys on the Side , Desperado , From Dusk Till Dawn and Once Upon a Time in Mexico . He often works with his friend, director Robert Rodriguez. His latest appearance was a few seconds cameo in Rodríguez' Machete trailer in Grindhouse . He also appears in the actual, released movie.

He also played the character Ramon in the film True Stories (1986). [7] Larriva performed the Talking Heads song "Radio Head," and played the organ in the "Puzzling Evidence" scene. The original soundtrack album, however, only featured Talking Heads' cover of the song; Larriva's version, performed with Esteban "Steve" Jordan, was not released until sometime later.

Apart from acting, Larriva has scored films including Dream with the Fishes , Tin Cup , and Mi Vida Loca . Larriva features on the soundtrack album to the 2000 film The Million Dollar Hotel , written by Bono and directed by Wim Wenders. Larriva performs as part of the MDH band (a composite band featuring members of U2) and sings a Spanish version of "Anarchy In The UK" by The Sex Pistols.

Discography

The Plugz

Cruzados

Tito & Tarantula

Psychotic Aztecs

Other

Related Research Articles

<i>Repo Man</i> (film) 1984 film by Alex Cox

Repo Man is a 1984 American science fiction black comedy film written and directed by Alex Cox in his directorial debut. It stars Harry Dean Stanton and Emilio Estevez, with Tracey Walter, Olivia Barash, Sy Richardson, Vonetta McGee, Fox Harris, and Dick Rude among the supporting cast. Set in Los Angeles, the plot concerns a young punk rocker (Estevez) who is recruited by a car repossession agency and gets caught up in the pursuit of a mysterious Chevrolet Malibu that might be connected to extraterrestrials.

<i>Andalucia</i> (album) 2002 studio album by Tito & Tarantula

Andalucia is the fourth studio album by Los Angeles rock band Tito & Tarantula, released in 2002. The album marked several line-up changes in the band, which had previously consisted of lead singer/rhythm guitarist Tito Larriva, lead guitarist Peter Atanasoff, and drummer Johnny "Vatos" Hernandez. This album featured the debut of lead guitarist Steven Hufsteter – who had previously played with Larriva in the Cruzados, bassist Io Perry, and keyboardist Marcus Praed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oingo Boingo</span> American new wave band

Oingo Boingo was an American new wave band formed by songwriter Danny Elfman in 1979. The band emerged from a surrealist musical theatre troupe, The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo, that Elfman had led and written material for in the years previous. Their highest-charting song, "Weird Science", reached No. 45 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

The Quick were a mid-1970s power pop band based in Los Angeles. The Quick were influenced by 1960s British Invasion bands and 1970s British glam bands, as well as by fellow Angelenos Sparks.

Jay Ziskrout was the first drummer for Bad Religion, forming the group with schoolmate Brett Gurewitz in 1980. Ziskrout performed on Bad Religion's self-titled EP and half on their debut album How Could Hell Be Any Worse?. He decided to leave the band with only half of the songs recorded due to the other band members not listening to him. Bad Religion replaced him with his drum roadie, Pete Finestone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Plugz</span> American punk band

The Plugz were a Latino punk band from Los Angeles that formed in 1977 and disbanded in 1984. They and The Zeros were among the first Latino punk bands, although several garage rock bands, such as Thee Midniters and Question Mark & the Mysterians, predated them. The Plugz melded the spirit of punk and Latino music.

The Cruzados were a 1980s rock band from Los Angeles, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Flesh Eaters</span> American punk band

The Flesh Eaters are an American punk rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California, United States, in 1977. They are the most prominent of the bands which have showcased the compositions and singing of their founder, punk poet Chris Desjardins, best known as Chris D. While Desjardins is the group's only continual member, the Flesh Eaters' lineup has drawn from some of the most famous bands of the L.A. punk scene, such as the Plugz, X, the Blasters, and Los Lobos.

Gonzalo Quintana III, also known as Charlie Quintana or Chalo, was an American rock and punk drummer. He is best known as a founding member of the band The Plugz and as the drummer for the punk rock band Social Distortion from 2000 to 2009.

<i>Cruzados</i> (album) 1985 studio album by Cruzados

Cruzados is the 1985 debut album of Los Angeles rock band the Cruzados. It featured the band's "classic line-up" of Tito Larriva, Steven Hufsteter, Tony Marsico, and Chalo Quintana. It also featured the band's best known songs, such as "Motorcycle Girl" "Flor De Mal" and "Just Like Roses".

<i>Mexican Spaghetti Western</i> 2004 studio album by Chingon

Mexican Spaghetti Western is a studio album by Robert Rodriguez's band, Chingon. Originally released in 2004 exclusively on the band's website, it became available in stores on April 10, 2007. The original non-digi-pak release of the album did not include the song "Cielito Lindo".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tito & Tarantula</span> American rock band

Tito & Tarantula is an American chicano rock/blues rock band formed in Hollywood, California, in 1992 by singer/songwriter/guitarist Tito Larriva.

<i>After Dark</i> (Cruzados album) 1987 studio album by Cruzados

After Dark is the second album by the American band Cruzados, released in 1987. "Bed of Lies" reached No. 4 on Billboard's Album Rock Tracks chart; "Small Town Love" peaked at No. 39. The band supported the album with a North American tour that included a leg opening for Fleetwood Mac. They broke up the following year.

<i>Tarantism</i> (album) 1997 studio album by Tito & Tarantula

Tarantism is the debut album by Los Angeles rock band Tito & Tarantula, released in 1997.

<i>Hungry Sally & Other Killer Lullabies</i> 1999 studio album by Tito & Tarantula

Hungry Sally & Other Killer Lullabies is the second studio album by Tito & Tarantula, released in 1999. It is less known than their previous album, Tarantism, but is probably their best known work apart from that.

<i>Little Bitch</i> 2000 studio album by Tito & Tarantula

Little Bitch is the third album by Tito & Tarantula, released in 2000.

<i>Desperado: The Soundtrack</i> 1995 soundtrack album by Various artists

Desperado: The Soundtrack is the film score to Robert Rodriguez’s Desperado. It was written and performed by the Los Angeles rock bands Los Lobos and Tito & Tarantula, performing traditional Ranchera and Chicano rock music. Other artists on the soundtrack album include Dire Straits, Link Wray, Latin Playboys, and Carlos Santana. Musician Tito Larriva has a small role in the film, and his band, Tito & Tarantula, contributed to the soundtrack as well.

The Brat was a Chicano punk rock ensemble originating from the barrios of East Los Angeles, California. Its three core members were lead singer Teresa Covarrubias, lead guitarist Rudy Medina, and alternate lead and rhythm guitarist Sidney Medina. From their conception in late 1978 to their eventual break-up in 1985, The Brat contributed to the customization and intermeshing of multiple musical and cultural models that culminated in the distinct East Los Angeles, Chicano punk sound.

Tony Marsico is an American bassist/composer best known as co-founder of the rock and roll band the Cruzados formed in 1983. . Marsico has also recorded and toured with Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Marianne Faithfull, Roger Daltrey, Joe Ely, Willie Nelson, Linda Ronstadt, Dr. John, Susanna Hoffs, The Thorns, The DiVinyls, John Doe, Peter Case, Juliana Hatfield, Paul Jones, Rick Vito, Barry Goldberg, among others. Marsico has co-written songs that appear in the motion picture Desperados. In addition, Marsico was the bassist for indie pop singer Matthew Sweet for over 10 years. Marsico recorded the soundtrack to the Oscar winning film Session Man.

<i>Repo Man</i> (soundtrack) 1984 soundtrack album by Various artists

Repo Man is the soundtrack album to the eponymous 1984 film, Repo Man. The soundtrack features songs by punk rock acts such as the Plugz, Black Flag, the Circle Jerks, Suicidal Tendencies, Iggy Pop and others. The film score was created by Tito Larriva, Steven Hufsteter, Charlie Quintana and Tony Marsico of the Plugz. Iggy Pop volunteered to write the title song after his manager viewed a screening of the film.

References

  1. ↑ "Lady, don't leave ; Crime & shame ; World at my feet ; Super Vita Jane, Spider man. w & m Robert Wachtel (Waddy Wachtel) & Tito Larriva". Copyrightencyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2013-04-01.
  2. ↑ Spitz, Marc; Mullen, Brendan (2001). We got the neutron bomb : the untold story of L.A. Punk (1st ed.). New York: Three Rivers Press. ISBN   0609807749.
  3. ↑ Nevarez, Leonard (January 31, 2012). "Tito Larriva: the hombre secreto of L.A.'s culture industry". Musical Urbanism.
  4. ↑ "Music: Do-It-All Dude (Tucson Weekly . 12-15-97)". Weeklywire.com. Retrieved 2011-11-06.
  5. ↑ Latinovision.com Archived September 27, 2003, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ↑ Gaines, Caseen (2011). Inside Pee-Wee's playhouse : the untold, unauthorized, and unpredictable story of a pop phenomenon. Toronto: ECW Press. ISBN   978-1550229981.
  7. ↑ "True Stories (1986)". IMDb.com. Retrieved 2013-04-01.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.