Santiago García Maynar

Nicknamed Santi Rex, Spanish singer and composer, vocalist of the group "Niños Del Brasil". Santiago García Maynar, self-nicknamed Santi Rex in honor of T. Rex, one of the most representative groups of glam music of the 70s, was the vocalist of one of the most radical and experimental groups on the Zaragoza scene, John Landis Fans. This group was a bit like the Castilian Alien Sex Fiends, and more than music, they outlined an impressive aesthetic that quickly attracted Enrique Ortiz de Landazury, Enrique Bunbury, of the group Héroes Del Silencio de Zaragoza. Enrique, who by then had already taken the artistic surname Bunbury (it is said that after an old girlfriend), was a friend of Santi and a faithful aesthetic follower of hers for some time. Enrique led Héroes del Silencio, which was one of the most promising formations in Zaragoza at the time. Antonio Gimenez, who a year later would become Antonio Estación, played bass in a techno group called Boda de Rubias, in which Nacho Serrano was also on keyboards. In 1985, Boda de Rubias had managed to record two songs in a double L.P. compilation of the new and most interesting bands on the national scene, which Dro y Gasa released under the title "The only alternative"; and in which some strangers "Duncan Dhu" or "The Lady Hides" also appeared. Antonio and Enrique, who had a great friendship, decided to form together a parallel group to Boda de Rubias and Heroes del Silencio respectively, under the name of "3 Years of Pena". Also in this group were Boch and J.M. One day, in an unexpected way, Antonio and Enrique came up with the idea of ​​forming a group with Santi. In addition, Enrique was fascinated by Santi's dark, ambiguous aesthetic of long blonde hair, bracelets and rigorous mourning and thought that he would have the perfect image to lead a group. Even Enrique himself would come to trace Santi's image in the next few years with Héroes del Silencio. Without further ado, the idea was to form a fun group to make versions of Soft Cell, or at least that was what Antonio and Enrique told Santi. The three immediately thought of Nacho Serrano for keyboards, and Santi also loved the idea of ​​covering one of his favorite groups. But the versions would never be made. Thus, in mid-1987, Boda de Rubias and John Landis Fans were dissolved, and Niños del Brasil was born. Enrique, who had just signed with the multinational EMI with his group, Héroes del Silencio, had to combine activities in both groups. Santi also had to combine his history studies with the group and Antonio for his part had just opened one of the most famous bars in Zaragoza, La Estación del Silencio. The name of the group comes from the homonymous movie Los Niños del Brasil. The formation was as follows: Santi Rex, voice; Nacho Serrano, keyboards and programming; Antonio Estación, bass and Enrique Bunbury, guitar and backing vocals; using drum machines instead of drums. In a short time they began to compose highly varied songs, in a direct and fun pop line, such as "Party, Party" or "Al Oeste". In December 1987, NdB entered the Audiomarket studios in Zaragoza to record their first demo which contained the songs Al Oeste, Amor y Espinas, Tu Futuro and El Señor de tus Sueños. The consolidation of the group in 1988 - Niños del Brasil: Throughout 1988 they dedicated themselves to moving their model and giving performances in Zaragoza, consolidating in their city as a great promise. Around this time, Pedro Andreu (Héroes del Silencio's drums) joins NdB, contributing his drums on live performances. But this union was not going to last long, since Enrique and Pedro left Niños del Brasil in mid-1988 due to the impossibility of combining two groups at the same time, since Héroes del Silencio began a dizzying race towards success. With the help of the brothers Alberto and Ramón from the Gazza group, on guitar and drums, NdB managed to overcome the losses of Enrique and Pedro. At the end of 1988, the Tirana management company took an interest in them and decided to do everything possible to launch the group. Established as a trio (Santi Rex voice, Nacho Serrano keyboards and programming and Antonio Estación bass), NdB began recording their first LP in mid-1989, produced by Tirana. The album is called Del Amor y del Odio although at the beginning they wanted to have called it "Tres Hombres Solos", and it contains ten varied songs that mix a bit of all the group's influences. Techno disco, commercial and direct themes, such as "Al West "," Beyond "or" Party, Party ", guitar songs like" Volver ", influenced by heavy bands like" Poison "or" The Cult ", more acoustic pop songs like" Hex "," El tiempo "or" Your Future "; half-tenses with a sinister air such as" Amor y Espinas "or" El Fuego (que hay en mi). "The lyrics are varied and original and fun on the one hand, listen to the culinary recipe that Santi Rex proposes to us in "Party, Party", or that flight "To the West" to forget a relationship ended, and sad and desolate for another such as the lack of love and the break in "Love and Thorns" or "The Fire that is in me", and even some positivism in lyrics like "Tu Futuro" or "Mas Alla". Nacho Saldaña collaborates on the LP, who came from an afterpunk group called La Cruzada. Following the release of the album, Nacho Saldaña joins NdB along with drummer Manchu, who also came from La Cruzada. With Al Oeste as advance single; Del Amor y del Odio was published in November 1989 with the splendid reception of the Zaragoza public. To the West, which had a tremendous hook, it receives great support from regional radio stations and Aragonese nightclubs. In this way, NdB began a tour of Aragon to present their first LP. Also to promote the LP, they record a video clip of the theme Hex, in which Santi appears as the main figure, with very long hair, dressed in black and with a ribbon on his forehead (as he used to appear at this time), along with the rest of the band, performing the song, caged before a group of children. At the beginning of 1990, the multinational Sony was delighted with NdB and decided to sign them, reissuing the first LP under their label. With the production of Julián Ruiz, the second single from NdB appeared in May 90, Amor y Espinas remixed, supported by regional televisions and radio networks, making a great appearance for Valencian television, Channel 9, interpreting Amor y Espinas. In the summer of 90, the third single from the group El Tiempo, also remixed by Julián Ruiz, sees the light. It is a period of evolution of the group; the concerts and above all, having been signed by a large multinational, opens up the prospect of a great release with the next album. At the end of the tour of Aragon which had been called Terminatour, Manchu left the group, leaving NdB again without drums, in such a way that the drum machines returned to make an appearance in the group, to stay permanently.