V8 - JazzRockSoul.com

V8 was an Argentine metal band that released three albums between 1983 and 1986 on Umbral, starting with Luchando por el Metal.

Members: Ricardo Iorio (bass, vocals), Ricardo “Chofa” Moreno (guitar, 1980-82), Gerardo Osemberg (drums, 1980-81), Alejandro “Pesadilla” Colantonio (drums, 1981-82), Alberto “Beto” Zamarbide (vocals, 1982-87), Osvaldo Civile (guitar, 1982-85), Gustavo Rowek (drums, 1982-87), Miguel Roldán (guitar, 1985-87), Walter Giardino (guitar, 1985), Gustavo “Turco” Andino (drums, 1985), Adrián Cenci (drums, 1985-87)

Background

V8 formed in 1979 in Caseros, Greater Buenos Aires, when bassist and singer Ricardo Iorio left the local quartet Comunión Humana with guitarist Ricardo “Chofa” Moreno. Iorio grew up in Caseros and received a Faim bass at sixteen from his parents. Moreno bought a used Faim guitar and built an amplifier inside a television chassis. The pair met in July 1978 at Cine Ocean in Santos Lugares, where they saw the Led Zeppelin concert film The Song Remains the Same.

Iorio played in Alarma Rock with drummer Sandro Castaña and guitarists Santiago Raffo and Carlos Aragone; the group appeared in 1978 at Escuela Secundaria Media No. 8 in Caseros. The bassist formed Comunión Humana in 1979 with drummer Ricardo “Pichi” Correa and guitarists Moreno and Aragone. Comunión Humana played carnival shows at the América and El Triunfo clubs in the Tres de Febrero district.

Moreno composed music for early V8 songs “Voy a enloquecer” and “Muy cansado estoy,” with lyrics by Iorio. The pair recruited drummer Gerardo Osemberg through an advertisement in the classifieds magazine Segunda Mano; the trio rehearsed at his home. V8 adopted the engine name at the suggestion of friend Aníbal Britos.

Iorio arranged the V8 debut in 1980 through Orions bassist Ronar Bar, who added the trio to a concert with Hermes and Orions at Club Sahores in Villa del Parque. The band opened another Orions concert that spring in Villa Martelli. V8 played further shows in 1981 at Club Pinocho in Villa Urquiza and the Racing Club premises in Villa del Parque. The trio replaced Osemberg late that year with drummer Alejandro “Pesadilla” Colantonio, who introduced double bass drums.

Iorio organized a concert early in 1982 at the Chacarita Juniors premises with Alberto “Beto” Zamarbide, singer for the hard-rock group WC. V8 advertised the concert as a farewell appearance on a bill with WC and Ácido Nítrico. Zamarbide left WC over disagreements with guitarist and bandleader Julio Morano and accepted an invitation from Iorio to join V8. Moreno withdrew because of chronic asthma and recommended guitarist Osvaldo Civile from the local group Té de Brujas. V8 replaced Colantonio in May 1982 with WC drummer Gustavo Rowek at a rehearsal in La Paternal. Rowek learned drums at sixteen from schoolfriend Fernando Bossio and joined WC from his first group, Sourmenage.

Zamarbide arranged the quartet debut in August 1982 at Club Harrods Gath & Chaves through a laundry customer from the club committee. V8 opened for Dr. Rock, led by guitarist Marcelo Roascio, with amplifiers borrowed from the headline group. The quartet recruited manager Pedro Leontjew, who financed a seven-song demo at El Jardín. V8 recorded “Parcas sangrientas” and “Juicio final,” an early version of “Destrucción,” among the demo songs.

Zamarbide met Riff singer and guitarist Norberto “Pappo” Napolitano in September 1982 at Parque Sarmiento through his brother, a road crew member for the blues-rock group Dulces 16. Pappo attended a V8 rehearsal and encouraged Leontjew to seek a place at the B.A. Rock festival, where V8 appeared on November 6, 1982, at the Obras Sanitarias grounds amid boos and thrown oranges from sections of the audience.

V8 opened for Riff and the punk group Los Violadores on December 26, 1982, at Club Atlético San Miguel. The quartet secured a contract in 1983 with executive producer Ramón Villanueva at Umbral, the record label of tape manufacturer Audiomagnética. V8 entered Estudios Edipo that year to record the debut album Luchando por el metal.

Discography:

Luchando por el Metal (1983)
Un paso más en la Batalla (1985)
El fin de los Inicuos (1986)

Sources

Ana Mourín — V8, un sentimiento (1993). Member and associate testimony on the founding trio, early concerts, drummer changes, Leontjew, and the first recording agreement. (Scribd)
Infobae — Santiago Raffo interview (September 5, 2026). Early bandmate testimony, an Alarma Rock photograph, and a Comunión Humana concert flyer. (Infobae)
Gustavo Rowek — “Historia.” Autobiographical account of drum lessons, Sourmenage, WC, and the invitation to join V8. (OoCities)
Efecto Metal — Alberto Zamarbide interview (May 2018), pp. 53–55. Firsthand account of the Chacarita concert and the recruitment of Civile and Rowek. (Efecto Metal PDF)
Sebastián Chaves — “La historia detrás de la génesis de V8 y la fundación del heavy metal argentino.” Zamarbide and Rowek interviews on the lineup changes, Harrods concert, and B.A. Rock appearance. (Rolling Stone)
Juan Provéndola — Pedro Leontjew interview (November 9, 2022). Firsthand account of the Pappo introduction, rehearsal visit, and festival negotiations. (Realpolitik)
V8 — Demo (1982). Tracklist and personnel, including “Juicio final” and “Parcas sangrientas.” (Encyclopaedia Metallum)
Antología V8 — “Un paso más en la historia” (2001 booklet). Label-issued history reproduced in a press archive; supplements the WC connections and Umbral contract. (Scribd)
La Nación — “30 años de V8: no detenga su motor” (January 21, 2013). Zamarbide testimony on the Audiomagnética opportunity and the debut sessions. (La Nación)