Ñu - Biography
This band's profile is 'invisible', meaning that it's much less prominent on the site - either because it's incomplete, or maybe doesn't entirely fit MS format.
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Biography
Fresa (Strawberry) was formed in 1972 by the guitar player Rosendo Mercado. In 1974 José Carlos Molina entered the band and it changed their name to Ñu (Gnu in English), in November, 1974. Originally, Ñu was a Prog. Hard Rock band, very influenced by both Jethro Tull and Black Sabbath, with a constant use of flutes and other uncommon instruments in Rock/Metal.
The band recorded a single in 1975. It was the only recording with Rosendo Mercado. That year Rosendo Mercado was called to go to the military service. José Carlos Molina would be recluted too, but he did the medical test dressed with sinister black dresses, a skull on his hand and scary make up, so he was declared not able for being a schizoid. Molina searched for another guitar player to replace Rosendo Mercado to follow with the Ñu gigs. When Rosendo Mercado returned from the military service in Africa, he re-entered Ñu but he felt as an outsider in the band so Rosendo and other Ñu musicians left the band to form Leño (Urban Rock). Rumours say that José Carlos Molina recruited other musicians and recorded a full-length album in 1977, that never was released because the label failed and the masters disappeared or were stolen.
In 1978 and 1980 Ñu released two albums in their characteristic Prog. Hard Rock style that were relatively successful. Between 1981 and 1982 Ñu signed for Chapa Records and change its style in a more symphonic approach. They were planning to release an album called "Mil Años hacia adelante en el Pasado", but the label was more centred in their stars (Barón Rojo & Obús) and nothing was recorded between these years.
Finally in 1983, Ñu received some money to record a single. José Carlos Molina took the money and went to an amateur studio and recorded the full-length "Fuego" with this money. The band's style changed again in a more Heavy Metal oriented sound, but also with the presence of their characteristic Jethro Tull feeling. Molina didn't pretend to put out a so heavy album, but there was no money left to add the symphonic parts. Anyway, this one and "Acorralado por Ti", their most commercial sounding album, received good reviews. With this last album, Ñu was told to be one of the greatest Heavy Metal bands in Spain, along with Barón Rojo and Obús, although their music always was eclipsed by them.
In 1985 the band broke with Chapa. José Carlos Molina made a break and composed a conceptual piece base on the History of El Cid, actually unreleased. In 1986 they signed for Barrabás Records, that was initially formed to release their first live album and two full-length albums in 1987 and 1988, but finally the band broke with that label. In 1990 they signed for Avispa to record "Dos Años de Destierro", one of the hardest Ñu records.
In 1990, José Carlos Molina decides "to kill the gnu" because of several problems with their musicians and label, so he recorded a solo album called "Andando Solo" (Pop/Rock), that wasn't released until 1994. In 1992 José Carlos Molina founded a band called "José Carlos Molina y los Robagallinas" (José Carlos Molina and the Chickenrobbers) to play songs of his solo album plus Ñu, Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin covers in pubs. This is the lowest point in Ñu's history.
But Ñu was reformed in 1992 to record a double live album called "Imperio de Paletos", that was released by Barrabás Records again. In 1994 Ñu signed for Hard Vinyl and released the acclaimed "La Danza de las Mil Tierras". From 1996 to 1998 Ñu recorded some live gigs and new versions of old songs centring the band's sound in the Folk side of their music.
It's not a secret that Ñu depends exclusively of José Carlos Molina. It is their personal project. Perhaps for that reason, the line-ups are extremely variable in every album and there are lots of guest in their last albums.
The band recorded a single in 1975. It was the only recording with Rosendo Mercado. That year Rosendo Mercado was called to go to the military service. José Carlos Molina would be recluted too, but he did the medical test dressed with sinister black dresses, a skull on his hand and scary make up, so he was declared not able for being a schizoid. Molina searched for another guitar player to replace Rosendo Mercado to follow with the Ñu gigs. When Rosendo Mercado returned from the military service in Africa, he re-entered Ñu but he felt as an outsider in the band so Rosendo and other Ñu musicians left the band to form Leño (Urban Rock). Rumours say that José Carlos Molina recruited other musicians and recorded a full-length album in 1977, that never was released because the label failed and the masters disappeared or were stolen.
In 1978 and 1980 Ñu released two albums in their characteristic Prog. Hard Rock style that were relatively successful. Between 1981 and 1982 Ñu signed for Chapa Records and change its style in a more symphonic approach. They were planning to release an album called "Mil Años hacia adelante en el Pasado", but the label was more centred in their stars (Barón Rojo & Obús) and nothing was recorded between these years.
Finally in 1983, Ñu received some money to record a single. José Carlos Molina took the money and went to an amateur studio and recorded the full-length "Fuego" with this money. The band's style changed again in a more Heavy Metal oriented sound, but also with the presence of their characteristic Jethro Tull feeling. Molina didn't pretend to put out a so heavy album, but there was no money left to add the symphonic parts. Anyway, this one and "Acorralado por Ti", their most commercial sounding album, received good reviews. With this last album, Ñu was told to be one of the greatest Heavy Metal bands in Spain, along with Barón Rojo and Obús, although their music always was eclipsed by them.
In 1985 the band broke with Chapa. José Carlos Molina made a break and composed a conceptual piece base on the History of El Cid, actually unreleased. In 1986 they signed for Barrabás Records, that was initially formed to release their first live album and two full-length albums in 1987 and 1988, but finally the band broke with that label. In 1990 they signed for Avispa to record "Dos Años de Destierro", one of the hardest Ñu records.
In 1990, José Carlos Molina decides "to kill the gnu" because of several problems with their musicians and label, so he recorded a solo album called "Andando Solo" (Pop/Rock), that wasn't released until 1994. In 1992 José Carlos Molina founded a band called "José Carlos Molina y los Robagallinas" (José Carlos Molina and the Chickenrobbers) to play songs of his solo album plus Ñu, Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin covers in pubs. This is the lowest point in Ñu's history.
But Ñu was reformed in 1992 to record a double live album called "Imperio de Paletos", that was released by Barrabás Records again. In 1994 Ñu signed for Hard Vinyl and released the acclaimed "La Danza de las Mil Tierras". From 1996 to 1998 Ñu recorded some live gigs and new versions of old songs centring the band's sound in the Folk side of their music.
It's not a secret that Ñu depends exclusively of José Carlos Molina. It is their personal project. Perhaps for that reason, the line-ups are extremely variable in every album and there are lots of guest in their last albums.