View source for Gustavo Cerati

{{Short description|Argentine musician (1959–2014)}}
{{Redirect|Cerati|other people with this name|Cerati (surname)}}
{{multiple issues|{{more citations needed|date=October 2025}}{{copy edit|date=October 2025}}}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = Gustavo Cerati
| image             = Gustavo Cerati, Madrid, 2006.10.10 retouched.jpg
| caption           = Cerati performing in 2006
| birth_name        = Gustavo Adrián Cerati Clarke
| alias             = 
| birth_date        = {{birth date|1959|8|11|df=y}}
| birth_place       = [[Buenos Aires]], Argentina
| death_date        = {{Death date and age|2014|9|4|1959|8|11|df=y}}
| death_place       = Buenos Aires, Argentina
| occupation        = {{flatlist|
* Musician
* singer-songwriter
* record producer
}}
| genre             = {{flatlist|
* [[rock music|Rock]]
* [[electronic rock]]
* [[pop rock]]
* [[electronica]]
* [[deep house]]
}}
| instrument        = {{flatlist|
* Vocals
* guitar
* bass
* synthesizer
* sampler
* keyboards
* piano
}}
| years_active      = 1982–2010
| label             = {{flatlist|
* [[Sony Music|Sony]]
* [[CBS]]
* [[Sony BMG]]
}}
| associated_acts   = {{flatlist|
* [[Soda Stereo]]
* [[Zeta Bosio]]
* [[Charly Alberti]]
* [[Shakira]]
* [[Carlos Alomar]]
* [[Tweety González]]
* [[Luis Alberto Spinetta]]
* [[Aterciopelados]]
* [[Roger Waters]]
* [[Andy Summers]]
* [[Charly García]]
}}
| website           = {{URL|cerati.com}}
}}
'''Gustavo Adrián Cerati Clarke''' (11 August 1959 – 4 September 2014) was an Argentine musician and singer-songwriter who gained international recognition for being the leader, vocalist, composer, and guitarist of the rock band [[Soda Stereo]]. He is widely considered by critics, specialised press, and musicians as one of the most important and influential artists of [[Latin rock]]. ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' magazine ranked Cerati as the 33rd best rock singer of all time.<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/best-rock-singers-bands-lead-vocalists/gustavo-cerati-soda-stereo/ | title=The 50 Greatest Rock Lead Singers of All Time | magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]}}</ref> In 2012, ''[[Rolling Stone Argentina|Rolling Stone]]'' ranked Cerati in seventh place among the 100 best Argentine rock guitarists.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Otoala|first1=Jorge A.|title=Argentina's Grammy-winning Gustavo Cerati dead at 55|url=http://in.reuters.com/article/us-music-argentina-cerati-idINKBN0GZ28B20140904|access-date=24 September 2014|work=Reuters.com|agency=Reuters|date=5 September 2014}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref name=":552">{{cite news|title=Cerati: el estilo de vida del rockero argentino antes de su colapso – Edición Impresa|url=http://diario.latercera.com/edicionimpresa/cerati-el-estilo-de-vida-del-rockero-argentino-antes-de-su-colapso/|access-date=4 June 2018|work=Edición Impresa|language=es-ES}}</ref> Throughout his solo career, he sold more than 10 million records and won numerous awards, including the [[Latin Grammy Awards]], [[MTV Latinoamérica|MTV]] Awards, [[Konex Award]]s, and [[Gardel Awards]].

Influenced by [[the Beatles]] and [[the Police]], Cerati joined various groups during his adolescence, and in 1982, he founded the rock band Soda Stereo. As the band's leader and main composer, Cerati's songwriting matured with ''[[Signos (album)|Signos]]'' (1986) and reached consolidation in the early 1990s with ''[[Canción Animal]]'', in which he returned to the roots of 1970s Argentine rock. Parallel to his career with the group, in 1992 he published the album ''[[Colores Santos]]'' as a duet with Daniel Melero, considered one of the first in South America to include [[electronic music]], and the following year he would publish his first as a soloist, ''[[Amor Amarillo]]''. His taste for electronic music led him to incorporate it into his latest works with Soda Stereo. After the separation of the band, he released ''[[Bocanada]]'' (1999) and ''[[Siempre es hoy]]'' (2002), where he showed his interest in the genre more openly, as he had already explored in side projects such as Plan V and Ocio. He returned to the rock style with his fourth album, ''[[Ahí vamos]]'' (2006), which received acclaim from the public and critics, and which contains some of his greatest solo hits, such as "[[Crimen (song)|Crimen]]" and "Adiós". In 2007, he reunited with Soda Stereo after ten years apart on a tour that brought together more than a million viewers. A prolific session player, he was a guest guitarist on songs by [[Caifanes]], [[Babasónicos]] and [[Los Brujos]], and he collaborated on songs with [[Charly García]], [[Andrés Calamaro]], [[Fito Páez]], [[Shakira]], [[Andy Summers]], [[Roger Waters]] and [[Mercedes Sosa]], among others.

In 2010, Cerati was left in a coma after suffering a stroke, after finishing a concert in which he promoted his latest album, [[Fuerza natural|''Fuerza Natural'']] (2009). Four years later, on 4 September 2014, Cerati died of [[cardiac arrest]] in [[Buenos Aires]] aged 55.

== Early life and Soda Stereo ==
Cerati was born on 11 August 1959 in [[Barracas, Buenos Aires|Barracas]], [[Buenos Aires]], Argentina. He grew up in a middle class household; his paternal family was of Lombard descent<ref>{{cite web|title=Cómo fueron los últimos años de Gustavo Cerati|url=https://www.rollingstone.com.ar/1749756|publisher=[[RollingStone]]|access-date=4 January 2015|language=es|date=5 December 2014|quote=(...) que la llamara a la tía Dora, la hermana de Juan José, que sabía mejor la historia de cómo los Cerati habían llegado a Argentina desde [[Mozzate]] [Lombardía], un pueblito al norte de Italia.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150104215008/http://www.rollingstone.com.ar/1749756|archive-date=4 January 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> and his maternal family was of Irish origin.<ref>{{cite web|title=Gustavo Cerati y su canción más personal: la emotiva historia detrás de Té para tres|url=http://www.ciudad.com.ar/espectaculos/122563/gustavo-cerati-cancion-mas-personal-emotiva-historia-detras-tres|website=Ciudad.com.ar|access-date=4 January 2015|language=es|date=4 September 2014|quote=Se trata de Té para tres, una hermosa balada de Soda Stereo, cuya letra hace referencia a una reunión que mantuvo el rockero con sus padres, Juan José Cerati y Lillian Clarke. (...) Y continuó emocionada: "Estábamos tomando el té porque en casa nunca faltó el té, como buena heredera de irlandeses que soy. Estábamos los tres, Gustavo, mi marido y yo.}}</ref> His father was an accountant and regularly traveled abroad. From his early memories, he had an idyllic love of the sun and nature. Cerati's first passion was art, and in elementary school, he drew comics and created his own comic book characters.{{citation needed|date=January 2016}}

Cerati's parents, Juan José Cerati and Lilian Clarke, acquired a guitar for him when he was nine years old. At that point, Cerati started to take music seriously, becoming a fanatic of rock and roll:
{{quote box
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|quote = The ones who struck me at the time were [[Jimi Hendrix|Hendrix]] with "[[Purple Haze]]" and [[The Who]] with "[[Pictures of Lily]]". For weeks, I listened non-stop. The desire to play, to start a band, was awakened.
|author= {{smaller|Cerati in an interview conducted in May 1999 <ref name="Rosso">[https://web.archive.org/web/20141015184218/http://www.rollingstone.com.ar/585842-gustavo-cerati Gustavo Cerati – Bocanada Respira un Nuevo Aire y Expulsa Viejos Demonios] interview by Alfredo Rosso on ''Rolling Stone'' (Argentine edition), 2014</ref>}}
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By the age of 13, he formed a trio and started playing at house parties and in the local [[Catholic]] school, where he eventually joined the choir.<ref name="Cerati.com">{{cite web|last1=Saez|first1=German|title=Cerati.com: Biografia|url=http://cerati.com/biografia/|website=Cerati.com|access-date=25 September 2014|language=es}}</ref> Cerati was a good student until his third year of junior high school when he met a fellow student who, like himself, was into rock and roll.

{{quote box
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| quote = I had a friend that was more advanced in everything, they smoked [[cannabis (drug)|marijuana]], and had many records. At that moment I started to separate myself from my classmates. I started listening to [[progressive rock]] because this guy had everything, [[King Crimson]], [[Frank Zappa]], [[Deep Purple]], [[Led Zeppelin]], [[Yes (band)|Yes]], [[Soft Machine]], [[Roxy Music]]... My dad used to travel abroad on business trips and he started bringing me records. In 1973 it was not easy to have imports. In [[Argentina]] the records came out a long time after... they came out. My father brought me my first imported guitar, a [[Gibson Guitar Corporation|Gibson]]. I went to meet him at the airport and it was unforgettable.
| author = {{smaller|Cerati about his beginning as a musician <ref name="Rosso" />}}
| source = 
| quoted = yes
}}
After serving compulsory military service in 1979, Cerati entered the university to pursue a marketing degree, something he was not passionate about. His family supported him with his music, "Mi familia me vio tan enloquecido con la música, que pensaron que algo de éxito iba a tener" (My family saw that I was so crazy about music, that they thought I would have some success [with it]). At the [[Universidad del Salvador]], a Jesuit university in [[Buenos Aires]], he met [[Zeta Bosio|Héctor "Zeta" Bosio]], also a marketing student. The two hit it off and decided to form a band. They were fans of [[the Police]], [[the Beatles]], [[XTC]], [[Elvis Costello]], Television, and [[Talking Heads]]. In 1982, after various lineup changes that included Richard Coleman, Daniel Melero, and [[Andrés Calamaro]] as well as others, Bosio and Cerati recruited [[Charly Alberti]] as their drummer, thus forming [[Soda Stereo]].<ref name="Cerati.com" />

[[Soda Stereo]] signed to Discos CBS (the regional branch of Sony Music in Latin America) in 1984 and released their debut LP ''[[Soda Stereo (album)|Soda Stereo]]'' that same year. ''[[Nada personal (album)|Nada Personal]]'' ("Nothing Personal") followed in 1985, giving Soda Stereo their first hit with "[[Cuando pase el temblor]]" ("When The Earthquake Is Past"). Soda released ''[[Signos (album)|Signos]]'' ("Signs") in 1986, ''[[Doble Vida]]'' ("Double Life") (produced by longtime [[David Bowie]] collaborator [[Carlos Alomar]]) in 1988, and ''[[Canción Animal]]'' ("Animal Song") in 1990. During the 1990s [[Soda Stereo]] released ''[[Dynamo (Soda Stereo album)|Dynamo]]'' in 1992, ''[[Sueño Stereo]]'' ("Stereo Dream") in 1995, and their final album ''[[Comfort y música para volar]]'' ('Comfort and music to fly with') in 1996.

== Solo career ==
=== 1990s ===

In 1992, Cerati recorded ''[[Colores Santos]]'' ("Holy Colors") with electronic musician Daniel Melero, a longtime [[Soda Stereo]] collaborator. 1993 saw the release of Cerati's first solo album ''[[Amor Amarillo]]'' ("Yellow Love"), which included the participation of [[Zeta Bosio]] and Cerati's wife at the time, the Chilean singer, actress, and model [[Cecilia Amenábar]] who sang and appeared in the video for the lead single "Te llevo para que me lleves" ("I'll take you so you can take me").<ref name="Amilicar">{{cite news|last1=Amilicar|first1=Nani|title=Los grandes amores de Gustavo Cerati|url=http://www.clarin.com/extrashow/musica/gustavo-cerati-los_romances-amores-parejas_0_1205879937.html|access-date=25 September 2014|website=Clarin.com|date=4 September 2014|language=es}}</ref>

In 1995 Gustavo Cerati teamed up with three Chilean musicians, Andrés Bucci, Guillermo Ugarte, and Christian Powditch, to form ''Plan V''. Plan V released two albums: ''Plan V'' (1996) and ''Plan Black V Dog'' (1998), a collaboration with the British electronic music group [[The Black Dog (band)|the Black Dog]].<ref>{{cite web|title=¿Cuál fue el "Plan V" de Gustavo Cerati en los 90?|url=http://www.guioteca.com/los-90/cual-fue-el-%E2%80%9Cplan-v%E2%80%9D-de-gustavo-cerati-en-los-90/|website=Guioteca: Que Quieres Saber|publisher=Empresa el Mercurio|access-date=24 September 2014|language=es|year=2012}}</ref> In 1999 Cerati formed the electronic duo Ocio with longtime [[Soda Stereo]] collaborator and trumpeter Flavio Etcheto, releasing ''Medida Universal''.

Around this time Cerati participated in the album ''Outlandos d'Americas: A Rock en Español Tribute to the Police'' collaborating with [[Andy Summers]] of [[the Police]] and [[Vinnie Colaiuta]] ([[Frank Zappa]], [[Sting (musician)|Sting]]), on a cover of the Police's "[[Bring On the Night (song)|Bring on the Night]]", (Spanish: Traeme la Noche).<ref>{{cite web|last1=Van Der Gugten|first1=Rogier|title=Outlandos d'Americas: A Rock En Espanol Tribute to The Police – various artists|url=http://www.cybercomm.nl/~gugten/album67.htm|website=Rogier's The Police Page}}</ref>

''[[Bocanada]]'' ("Puff") was released in 1999 and was regarded as Gustavo Cerati's proper debut as a solo artist. It was recorded in Estudio CasaSubmarina (Cerati's home studio) in [[Buenos Aires]]. Cerati used an [[Music Production Center|MPC]] to record many of the tracks. The 48-piece orchestra in "Verbo Carne" was recorded in [[Abbey Road Studios]] in London. The album was also mixed and mastered in London at [[Townhouse Studios]]. ''Bocanada'' immediately reached gold status in [[Argentina]] and received many accolades in the Argentinian and Latin American press. The album was universally praised for its grandeur and its beauty and is still considered by critics and fans alike as Cerati's ''[[magnum opus]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Semana Ceratiana: Bocanada|url=http://escritoscirculares.blogspot.mx/2014/09/semana-ceratiana-bocanada.html|website=Escritores Circulares|date=10 September 2014|access-date=25 September 2014|language=es}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=MFH|title='Bocanada', el mejor disco de Gustavo Cerati|url=http://eleconomista.com.mx/entretenimiento/2014/09/06/bocanada-mejor-disco-gustavo-cerati|website=El Economista|access-date=24 September 2014|language=es}}</ref> The veteran [[Mexican people|Mexican]] rock critic David Cortés Arce had this to say about it, "''[[Bocanada]]'' is a fundamental album in the history of Iberoamerican Rock, in general, in all of the Spanish speaking countries."<ref>{{cite web|last1=Cortés Arce|first1=David|last2=González|first2=Yayo|last3=Galvez|first3=Demián|title='Bocanada' es considerado el mejor disco de Cerati|url=http://www.excelsior.com.mx/funcion/2014/09/07/980371|website=Excelsior|date=7 September 2014|publisher=InventMX|access-date=24 September 2014|language=es}}</ref>

=== 2000–2005 ===
In 2001, Cerati made his foray into film with the score for the movie ''[[+Bien]]'' (literally, "+Good." A better translation of the phrase as used in Argentina would be "Of course", "duh!"), in which he acted as well. The film was an independent movie directed by Eduardo Capilla, and starred [[Ruth Infarinato]], [[VJ (media personality)|VJ]] for [[MTV (Latin America)|Latin MTV]]. Cerati's wife at the time, [[Cecilia Amenábar]], also played a small role in the film.<ref>{{cite web|title=Más bien (2001)|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0301642/|website=IMDb.com|access-date=24 September 2014}}</ref> The soundtrack was nominated for an award in the category of the best instrumental pop album at the [[3rd Annual Latin Grammy Awards]].

In August 2001, Cerati held a private concert in the historic [[Avenida Theatre]] in Buenos Aires. He was accompanied by a 42-piece orchestra conducted by Alejandro Terán. The recording of the concert was released as ''[[11 Episodios Sinfónicos]]'' ("Eleven Symphonic Episodes") and consisted of seven arrangements of [[Soda Stereo]] classics and four of his solo songs played entirely by the orchestra. Cerati took ''[[11 Episodios Sinfónicos]]'' on the road, playing [[Mexico City]], Caracas, [[Santiago]], and finishing it off with three shows at [[Teatro Gran Rex|the Gran Rex theatre]] in Buenos Aires. The CD was well received by critics and fans alike, and a live DVD was eventually released.<ref name="Cerati.com" />

In November 2002, Cerati released his third studio album ''[[Siempre es Hoy]]'' ("It's Always Today"). Cerati enlisted the help of producer/ engineer Sacha Triujeque and Antonio "Toy" Hernández of the Mexican [[Hip hop]] group [[Control Machete]]. The album was a departure from the slow tempo, [[Trip hop]] of ''[[Bocanada]]'' and ''[[+Bien]]'', and the dramatic orchestration of ''[[11 Episodios Sinfónicos]]''. The songs on the album varied from pop/rock to radio-friendly electronic rock. The tour for ''[[Siempre es Hoy]]'' extended as far as New York and Chicago.

In 2003 Cerati released ''Siempre es Hoy: Reversiones'' ("It's Always Today: Re-versions") an album of remixes of ''[[Siempre es Hoy]]'' tracks from different Latin American Musicians and the German producer Wechsel Garland.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Adaime|first1=Iván|title=Reversiones/Siempre Es Hoy|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/reversiones-siempre-es-hoy-mw0000328581|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=24 September 2014}}</ref>

Simultaneously, Cerati teamed up with longtime collaborator Flavio Etcheto and Leandro Fresco to form the self-described "power laptop trio" Roken, which he played concurrently during the ''[[Siempre es Hoy]]'' tour. Roken's non-conventional approach focused on improvisation and writing songs in real time. They played in various festivals throughout Latin America as well as in underground clubs in the United States.<ref>{{cite web|title=Otros Proyectos: Roken|url=http://cerati.com/proyectos/roken/|website=Cerati.com|language=es}}</ref>

In 2004, "Canciones Elegidas 93-04" ("Selected Songs 93-04"), a double album compilation of Cerati's solo work, was released simultaneously in [[Spain]] and [[Argentina]]. The release was followed by a small tour of [[Mexico]], [[Argentina]], [[Chile]] and [[Spain]].

=== 2005–2010 ===
After working for much of 2005 on new material, Cerati released ''[[Ahí Vamos]]'' ("There We Go") in April 2006. Co-produced by longtime [[Soda Stereo]] collaborator [[Tweety González]], ''[[Ahí Vamos]]'' marked Cerati's triumphant return to guitar rock. For the recording of ''[[Ahí Vamos]]'', Cerati was accompanied by longtime collaborators, [[Richard Coleman]], Fernando Nalé, and many others. The album was mixed by Héctor Castillo, a prolific engineer whose credits include [[David Bowie]], [[Lou Reed]], and [[Aterciopelados]], to name a few.<ref>{{cite web|title=Hector Castillo: Credits|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/h%C3%A9ctor-castillo-mn0000089262/credits|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=24 September 2014}}</ref> The album was mastered by [[Howie Weinberg]] at [[Masterdisk]] in New York City. ''[[Ahí Vamos]]'' was lauded by fans and critics alike as a return to form for Cerati. The ''[[Ahí Vamos]]'' tour traveled through Latin America, the [[Caribbean]], the United States (where he played in New York's [[Central Park]]),<ref>{{cite news|title=Gustavo Cerati, Talented And Beloved Argentinian Rocker, Dies After Four Years in Coma|url=http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/entertainment/2014/09/04/argentine-rocker-gustavo-cerati-dies-after-four-years-in-coma/|access-date=24 September 2014|agency=Associated Press|publisher=Fox News Latino|date=4 September 2014}}</ref> Spain, and on 12 October 2006, Cerati played London, England, for the first time in his career.<ref name="Cerati.com" />

The album was showered with accolades and awards, receiving eight [[Premios Gardel|Gardel]] (the equivalent of a U.S. Grammy) nominations in Argentina and winning all but one of the nominations, a first for any Argentinian artist. In the [[Viña del Mar International Song Festival]], Cerati was awarded the top prizes, "''Antorcha de Oro''," (Gold Torch) and the "''Gaviota De Plata''" (Silver Seagull). It was the most nominated album during the 2006 Latin Grammy Awards and the MTV Latino Awards. Cerati won three Grammys, for Best Rock Vocal, best Rock song, and one for the best producer with his production work on [[Shakira]]'s [[Fijación Oral, Vol. 1]] (Oral Fixation, Vol. 1). ''[[Ahí Vamos]]'' also topped the "best of" lists in the Argentinian press and he was even awarded a prize by the City of [[Buenos Aires]] for his contribution to Argentinian culture.<ref name="Cerati.com" /> Cerati closed the ''[[Ahí Vamos]]'' tour with a massive open-air show in [[Buenos Aires]], held on the corner of Avenida Alcorta and Pampas. The free show was attended by 200,000 people.{{citation needed|date=January 2016}}
[[File:Gustavo cerati (1746885839).jpg|left|thumb|250x250px|Cerati performing in 2007]]
2007 also saw the reunion of [[Soda Stereo]]. The subsequent comeback tour [[Me Verás Volver]] ("You will See Me Return") consisted of 22 concerts in nine countries: [[Argentina]], [[Chile]], [[Ecuador]], [[Mexico]] the United States, [[Colombia]], [[Panama]], [[Venezuela]] and [[Peru]]. The tour was attended by more than one million fans and broke attendance records in various cities.

In July 2007, Cerati participated in the [[Live Earth (2007 concert)|Live Earth Festival]] in Hamburg, Germany, alongside [[Shakira]]. Besides working with [[Shakira]], Cerati contributed to [[Argentina|Argentinian]] producer, musician, and two-time Oscar winner, [[Gustavo Santaolalla|Gustavo Santaolla's]] album ''Mar Dulce'' ("Sweet Sea"). Cerati sang on "El Mareo" the second single on Santaolalla's ''Mar Dulce'' which was recorded at [[Electric Lady Studios]] in New York City.<ref>{{cite news|title=Las colaboraciones inolvidables de Gustavo Cerati en la música Artistas como Roger Waters, Shakira y Café Tacvba, entre muchos otros, compartieron el escenario o el estudio con el músico fallecido|url=http://mexico.cnn.com/entretenimiento/2014/09/05/las-colaboraciones-inolvidables-de-gustavo-cerati-en-la-musica|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140906011729/http://mexico.cnn.com/entretenimiento/2014/09/05/las-colaboraciones-inolvidables-de-gustavo-cerati-en-la-musica|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 September 2014|access-date=25 September 2014|agency=CNN Mexico|publisher=Cable News Network|date=5 September 2014|language=es}}</ref> In 2008, Cerati released a DVD version of ''[[Ahí Vamos]]'' and performed in various festivals throughout Latin America alongside, [[Shakira]], [[Fito Páez]], and [[Gustavo Santaolalla]].<ref name="Cerati.com" />

In late 2008, Cerati recruited many of the same musicians who worked on ''[[Ahí Vamos]]'' to begin work on his new album. In March 2009, Cerati and his band travelled to Stratosphere Sound in New York City and Looking Glass studios to record tracks for ''[[Fuerza Natural]]'' ("Natural Force"). Notable contributors included Héctor Castillo, Session drummer [[Sterling Campbell]] whose resume includes [[David Bowie]], [[Cyndi Lauper]], and [[Duran Duran]], Didi Gutman of [[Brazilian Girls]], bassist and lap steel guitarists Byron Isaacs, and keyboardist Glenn Patscha.<ref name="Cerati.com" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Gustavo Cerati: Fuerza Natural: Credits|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/fuerza-natural-mw0000826658/credits|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=25 September 2014|ref=All Music}}</ref>

''[[Fuerza Natural]]'' was a marked change from the riffing of [[Ahí Vamos]] and the electronics of ''[[Bocanada]]'' and ''[[Siempre es Hoy]]''. The collections of songs focused on a cleaner, more [[Acoustic guitar|acoustic]] pop sound, as well as [[Folk music|folk]] and [[Neo-psychedelia]]. [[Rolling Stone]] [[Argentina]] took notice of this, "pero es más folkie, más espacial y más acústico, con una legión de guitarras, mandolinas y dobros que levantan polvo sobre las programaciones" (English: but it is more folkie, more spatial and acoustic, with a legion of guitars, mandolins, and dobros that sprinkle dust on the sequencers).<ref>{{cite web|last1=Plotkin|first1=Pablo|title=Gustavo Cerati – Fuerza Natural|url=https://www.rollingstone.com.ar/1168101|website=Rolling Stone Argentina|access-date=25 September 2014|ref=Rolling Stone|language=es|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141017184623/http://www.rollingstone.com.ar/1168101|archive-date=17 October 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> Similar observations were made by Mariano Prunes writing in [[AllMusic]], "[[Fuerza Natural]] has a curious sequencing structure, as it seems to be organized in stylistic batches. It begins with a trio of [[Good faith|bona fide]] Cerati hits in that suave, effortless manner that always suited him so well; it then switches to a surprising but rather unsuccessful bluesy/folksy diptych."<ref>{{cite web|last1=Prunes|first1=Mariano|title=Gustavo Cerati: Fuerza Natural|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/fuerza-natural-mw0000826658|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=25 September 2014|ref=All Music}}</ref>

Regardless of the mixed reviews, ''[[Fuerza Natural]]'' entered the charts in [[Argentina]], [[Mexico]], and [[Chile]] at No. 1. It is the first Cerati album to be sold in digital format in [[Argentina]] through [[MusicPass]] as well as was [[iTunes]]. The album sold 40,000 copies in Argentina in its first week of release and 500,000 albums worldwide. In 2010, Cerati was awarded a Latin Grammy for "Best Rock Song."

The ''[[Fuerza Natural]]'' tour kicked off on 19 November in [[Monterrey]], Mexico. Cerati played Stadiums and large venues in [[Mexico]], [[Argentina]], [[Peru]], [[Chile]], The United States, [[Uruguay]], [[Colombia]] and [[Venezuela]], 21 shows in total. Cerati's final show was held in [[Caracas]], [[Venezuela]] on 15 May 2010. Cerati suffered a stroke immediately after the show.

== Personal life ==
Gustavo Cerati maintained a very low public profile, and not much is known about his private life. Cerati's first wife was [[Belén Edwards]], an Argentine designer whom he married in 1987 and divorced in 1989. In 1992, he married the Chilean model, actress, and singer [[Cecilia Amenábar]]. Their marriage lasted for ten years, and they had two children: [[Benito Cerati Amenábar]], also a singer and musician, and [[Lisa Cerati Amenábar]].

After his divorce from Cecilia Amenábar, Cerati dated the [[Argentina|Argentine]] model [[Deborah del Corral]],<ref name="Los grandes amores de Cerati">{{cite news|last1=Almicar|first1=Nani|title=Los grandes amores de Cerati|url=http://www.clarin.com/extrashow/musica/gustavo-cerati-los_romances-amores-parejas_0_1205879937.html|access-date=25 September 2014|website=Clarin.com|date=4 September 2014|language=es}}</ref> ex-girlfriend of [[Soda Stereo]] drummer [[Charly Alberti]] in the 1990s. She also sang in Alberti's side project Plum.<ref>{{cite web|title=Soda Stereo: en la historia de la música|url=http://www.eldia.com.ar/edis/20140905/Soda-Stereo-historia-musica-espectaculos5.htm|website=El Dia|publisher=El Dia.com|access-date=30 September 2014|language=es}}</ref>

In 2008, Cerati started dating the [[Argentina|Argentine]] actress [[Leonora Balcarce]]. While they broke up in late 2009, she remained friendly with him and his family, visiting his bedside throughout his coma.<ref name="Los grandes amores de Cerati" />

Cerati maintained from 2004 until his last days a close acquaintance with the Uruguayan artist [[Jill Mulleady]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Redacción LA NACION|date=3 May 2005|title=Con nombre y apellido|language=es-AR|work=La Nación|url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/espectaculos/con-nombre-y-apellido-nid700902/|access-date=30 November 2021|issn=0325-0946}}</ref>

Cerati met Argentine model [[Chloe Bello]] during the summer of 2009, when she was 22 years old. Despite the age difference, the two of them became involved. Cerati invited Bello to attend the launch of [[Fuerza Natural]] in [[Mendoza, Argentina|Mendoza]] and subsequently joined him on an international tour. Due to work obligations, Bello left his side before Cerati travelled to [[Caracas]], where he suffered a stroke that led to a coma, complications from which eventually cost him his life four years later.<ref name="Los grandes amores de Cerati" />

== Failing health and death ==
[[File:Gustavo Cerati - Cementerio de La Chacarita 2025 06.jpg|thumb|Cerati's crypt in the Nuestra Señora de la Merced Pantheon at La Chacarita Cemetery.]]
After performing two shows in [[Medellín]] and [[Bogotá]], [[Colombia]], Cerati headed to Venezuela and performed one last show in Caracas on 15 May 2010. Cerati suffered a stroke just after finishing this performance.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Johnson|first=Reed|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/blogs/pop-hiss/story/2010-05-19/argentine-rocker-gustavo-cerati-in-intensive-care-after-suffering-a-stroke|title=Argentine rocker Gustavo Cerati in intensive care after suffering a stroke|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=May 19, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyle/argentine-singer-cerati-suffers-stroke-in-caracas-idUSTRE64H0EI/|title=Argentine singer Cerati "suffers stroke" in Caracas|website=Reuters|date=May 18, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://noticias.cerati.com/2010/estado_de_salud_de_gustavo.php |title=Estado de salud de Gustavo – Cerati.com |publisher=Noticias.cerati.com |date=18 May 2010 |access-date=2 March 2012}}</ref> He developed the first symptoms of an unknown condition backstage. He was hospitalised in Centro Médico La Trinidad in Caracas under medical surveillance. Three days later, Cerati underwent surgery to relieve pressure on his brain due to the stroke he suffered.

On 7 June 2010, Cerati was transferred to the FLENI Neurological Institute in Buenos Aires.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.clarin.com/sociedad/cerati-pais-fleni-aseguran-estable_0_B1xQZV-CPml.html |title=Cerati ya está en el país y aseguran que sigue estable |date=8 June 2010|website=Clarin.com|access-date=2 March 2012}}</ref> Doctors immediately treated Cerati for a respiratory tract infection.<ref>{{cite news|title=Gustavo Cerati tiene "extenso" daño cerebral e infección respiratoria|url=http://www.semana.com/mundo/articulo/gustavo-cerati-tiene-extenso-dano-cerebral-infeccion-respiratoria/117736-3|access-date=3 September 2023}}</ref>

On 14 May 2014, the family released a statement to commemorate the fourth anniversary of the stroke. It included a medical report by Gustavo Barbalace M.D., stating: "Mr. Gustavo Cerati remains hospitalised (...) without any serious complications, in good nutritional shape, and without lesions due to immobility. Neurologically, there are no significant changes and remains under mechanical respiratory aid."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://noticias.cerati.com/2014/cuatro_anos.php |title=CERATI.COM – Noticias oficiales – Cuatro Años 02/12 |publisher=Noticias.cerati.com |access-date=14 May 2014}}</ref>

After four years in a coma, Gustavo Cerati died from [[cardiac arrest]] on the morning of 4 September 2014 while on life support.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://au.news.yahoo.com/entertainment/a/24902514/argentinas-grammy-winning-gustavo-cerati-dead-at-55-local-tv/ |title=Argentina's Grammy-winning Gustavo Cerati dead at 55: local TV |date=4 September 2014 |publisher=au.news.yahoo.com |access-date=4 September 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140905014814/https://au.news.yahoo.com/entertainment/a/24902514/argentinas-grammy-winning-gustavo-cerati-dead-at-55-local-tv/ |archive-date=5 September 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-gustavo-cerati-20140905-story.html|title=Gustavo Cerati, beloved Argentine rock star, dies at 55|last1=Kraul|first1=Chris|date=8 September 2014|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=24 September 2014|agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Immediately after his death, Cerati's doctor stated to the media "Gustavo died with dignity without any pain, without any wounds."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mexico.cnn.com/entretenimiento/2014/09/04/muere-gustavo-cerati-cantante-soda-stereo-argentina|title=¡Gracias totales Gustavo Cerati! Muere el mítico líder de Soda Stereo|publisher=mexico.cnn.com|date=4 September 2014|access-date=4 September 2014|language=es|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140904170634/http://mexico.cnn.com/entretenimiento/2014/09/04/muere-gustavo-cerati-cantante-soda-stereo-argentina|archive-date=4 September 2014}}</ref> His body was buried at [[La Chacarita Cemetery]] in Buenos Aires.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.montereyherald.com/ci_26476912/argentina-says-good-bye-rock-star-cerati|title=Argentina says good bye rock star Cerati|access-date=6 September 2014|work=[[The Monterey Herald]]|publisher=[[Digital First Media]]|date=5 September 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140906180445/http://www.montereyherald.com/ci_26476912/argentina-says-good-bye-rock-star-cerati|archive-date=6 September 2014}}</ref>

== Tributes and remembrances ==
{{multiple image
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|image1 = 2005-11-21 U2 @ MSG by ZG.JPG
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|image2 = Coldplay 2017, cropped 01.jpg
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|footer = [[U2 (band)|U2]] (left) and [[Coldplay]] have been some of the international artists that paid tribute to Gustavo Cerati, covering ''Soda Stereo'' songs in their live performances
}}
While performing at [[Rock in Rio]] Madrid on 5 June 2010, Colombian singer [[Shakira]] dedicated her song "[[Sale el Sol (song)|Sale el Sol]]" to Cerati. It was her first live performance of the song, which became the title track of her [[Sale el Sol|ninth studio album]].<ref name=livegustavotributebillboard>{{cite magazine|last=Navas|first=Judy Cantor|title=Tributes To Gustavo Cerati: 10 Cover Songs To Watch|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/tributes-to-gustavo-cerati-10-cover-songs-to-watch-5838202/|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|access-date=18 January 2014|date=13 December 2013}}</ref>

During their [[U2 360° Tour]], Irish rock band [[U2]] paid tribute to Cerati during a concert in [[La Plata]], Argentina, in March 2011. The tribute came during the intro to "[[Moment of Surrender]]". [[Bono]] said, "We would like you to think about Gustavo Cerati. We send him our love and respect, and he will hear our voices tonight." The 60,000 fans attending the show at the Único Stadium gave him a standing ovation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elcomercio.pe/espectaculos/735679/noticia-bono-argentina-no-olviden-gustavo-cerati |title=Bono en Argentina: No olviden a Gustavo Cerati |publisher=Elcomercio.pe |access-date=2 March 2012}}</ref>

Swedish rockers [[Roxette]] performed the intro of "[[De Música Ligera]]" before their song "[[Joyride (Roxette song)|Joyride]]" in one of their [[The Neverending World Tour|Travelling the World Tour]] shows in May 2012. The crowd sang the first verse of the song.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://teleshow.infobae.com/notas/644152-El-homenaje-de-Roxette-a-Gustavo-Cerati.html |publisher=TNShow |title=El homenaje de Roxette a Gustavo Cerati |access-date=14 December 2012}}</ref>

On 11 August 2015, [[Google]] celebrated his 56th birthday with a [[Google Doodle]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://doodles.google/doodle/gustavo-ceratis-56th-birthday/|title=Gustavo Cerati's 56th Birthday|website=Google|date=11 August 2015}}</ref>

British rock band [[Coldplay]] paid tribute to Cerati by performing "De Música Ligera" on the final concerts of their [[A Head Full of Dreams Tour]] in La Plata, Argentina, on 14 November 2017. One year before, singer [[Chris Martin]] had revealed that his favourite Latin American songs were "De Música Ligera" and "[[Água de Beber]]" by [[Vinicius de Moraes]] and [[Tom Jobim]].<ref>[https://www.lanacion.com.ar/espectaculos/musica/coldplay-la-historia-detras-de-como-llegaron-a-tocar-de-musica-ligera-de-soda-stereo-nid2082555/ Coldplay: la historia detrás de cómo llegaron a tocar "De música ligera", de Soda Stereo] by Sebastián Espósito on ''La Nación'', 15 November 2017</ref>

In 2015, Cerati was featured in various Argentine stamps.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.infobae.com/2015/10/09/1761264-la-estampilla-gustavo-cerati/|title=La estampilla de Gustavo Cerati|website=Infobae.com|date=30 November 2017 |access-date=12 January 2022}}</ref> Also, a street in [[Paraná, Entre Ríos|Paraná]] was renamed in his honor.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.clarin.com/musica/gustavo_cerati-ya-tiene-calle-con-su-nombre-parana-homenaje_0_S1qceSYPme.html|title = Gustavo Cerati ya tiene una calle con su nombre|website=Clarin.com|date = 5 August 2015}}</ref>

In 2018, National Geographic Latin America created a two-part documentary series on Gustavo Cerati <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nationalgeographicla.com/video/tv/bios-vidas-que-marcaron-la-tuya-gustavo-cerati|title = Bios: Vidas que Marcaron la Tuya: Gustavo Cerati|date = 29 October 2018}}</ref> Also, several murals of Cerati were painted in Buenos Aires.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.emol.com/|title=Emol Fotos|website=Emol.com|access-date=12 January 2022}}</ref>

== Discography ==
{{Main|Gustavo Cerati discography}}

=== With Soda Stereo ===
* ''[[Soda Stereo (album)|Soda Stereo]]'' (1984)
* ''[[Nada Personal (album)|Nada Personal]]'' (1985)
* ''[[Signos (album)|Signos]]'' (1986)
* ''[[Doble Vida]]'' (1988)
* ''[[Canción Animal]]'' (1990)
* ''[[Dynamo (Soda Stereo album)|Dynamo]]'' (1992)
* ''[[Sueño Stereo]]'' (1995)

=== Solo ===
* ''[[Amor Amarillo]]'' (1993)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cerati.com/amor_amarillo/ |title=Amor Amarillo |publisher=Cerati.com |access-date=2 March 2012}}</ref>
* ''[[Bocanada]]'' (1999)
* ''[[Siempre es hoy]]'' (2002)
* ''[[Ahí Vamos]]'' (2006)
* ''[[Fuerza Natural]]'' (2009)

=== Concept ===
* ''[[+Bien]]'' (Movie Soundtrack) (2001)
* ''[[11 Episodios Sinfónicos]]'' (Live with Symphonic Orchestra) (2001)
* 14 Episodios Sinfónicos/En Vivo/Auditorio Nacional de México/Febrero 2022 (Live with Symphonic Orchestra) (2022)

=== Collaboration albums ===
* ''[[Colores Santos]]'' with Daniel Melero (1992)
* ''Colores Santos, the Remixes'' with Daniel Melero (1995)
* ''Plan V'' (1996) with Plan V
* ''Plan Black V Dog'' (1998) with Plan V
* ''Medida Universal'' (1999) with Ocio
* ''Insular [EP]'' (2000) with Ocio
* Roken (with Flavius E., Leandro Fresco) (only live presentations, no recordings exist) (2004)
* ''Satélite Cerati'' [[:es:Satélite Cerati|(es)]] (2018) (posthumous compilation album)

=== Producer ===
*  (1986) – Fricción
* ''[[Sueños en tránsito]]'' (1997) – [[Nicole (Chilean singer)|Nicole]]
* ''Outlandos D'Americas: A Rock en Español Tribute to the Police'' (1998) ([[Ark 21 Records|Ark 21]])
* ''Mar'' (2001) – [[Leo García (singer)]]
* ''Héroes Antologia: 1986/1988'' (2004) – Fricción
* ''[[Fijación Oral, Vol. 1]]'' (2005) – [[Shakira]]
* ''[[Oral Fixation, Vol. 2]]'' (2006) – Shakira
* ''[[Sale el Sol]]'' (2010) – Shakira<ref>{{cite web|last1=Birchmeier|first1=Jason|title=Gustavo Cerati: Credits|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/gustavo-cerati-mn0000543169/credits|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=30 September 2014|ref=All Music}}</ref>

=== Guest musician ===
* ''[[Caifanes (album)|Caifanes]]'' (1988) – [[Caifanes]]
* ''La Gota Cava La Piedra (Vidala La Rioja)'' (1991) – Virginia Vilte
* ''Tango 4'' (1991) – Charly García / Pedro Aznar
* ''De Vicio Me Has de Aborrecer (Baguala, Tucuman)'' (1991) – Virginia Vilte
* ''Travesia'' (1992) – Los Siete Delfines
* ''[[Pasto (album)|Pasto]]'' (1992) – [[Babasónicos]]
* ''Fin de Semana Salvaje'' (1995) – Los Brujos
* ''Pinamar'' (2000) – Francisco Bochaton
* ''Andrea Álvarez'' (2001) – [[Andrea Álvarez (musician)|Andrea Álvarez]]
* ''Plastico'' (2001) – Los Calzones
* ''Curvas'' (2002) – Antonio Birabent
* ''Pr3ssion'' (2003) – Pr3ssion
* ''Vida Real'' (2004) – Acida
* ''Fan'' (2004) – Fernando Samalea
* ''19'' (2004) – Emmanuel Horvilleur
* ''Mama Killer Night'' (2004) – CAPRI
* ''El Mago'' (2004) – Cerati – Samalea
* ''Cassette'' (2005) – Telefunka
* ''[[No (Shakira song)|No]]'' (2005) – Shakira
* ''[[Día Especial|The Day and the Time]]'' (2005) – Shakira
* ''Inconsciente Colectivo'' (2005)	– [[Fabiana Cantilo]]
* ''Cuarto Creciente'' (2005) – [[Leo García (singer)|Leo García]]
* ''Easy'' (2006) – Wechsel Garland
* ''[[Mar dulce]]'' (2007) – [[Bajofondo]]
* ''Avion'' (2008) – No lo Soporto
* ''Sueño en Gotas'' (2008) – D-Mente
* ''Primicia'' (2009) – Fernando Samalea
* ''Discotape'' (2010) – CAPRI
* ''Espuma de Sol'' (2010) – Sebastian Escofet
* ''[[The Child Will Fly]]'' (2008) – With [[Roger Waters]], [[Shakira]], [[Eric Clapton]], [[Pedro Aznar]]<ref>{{cite news|title=El tema inédito de Cerati junto a Roger Waters, Shakira, Pedro Aznar y Eric Clapton|url=http://www.lagaceta.com.ar/nota/606401/espectaculos/tema-inedito-cerati-junto-roger-waters-shakira-pedro-aznar-eric-clapton.html|access-date=30 September 2014|work=La Gaceta|date=30 September 2014|language=es}}</ref>
* ''Normal'' (2011) – Richard Coleman
* ''Estrategias Fatales'' (2012) – Daniel Melero
* ''Desde el papel'' (2012) – 202
* ''Viento'' (2012) – Christian Basso
* ''Sol de Medianoche'' (2015) – Leandro Fresco

== Filmography ==
* ''{{ill|+bien|es}}'' (2001) – Cerati played the character named Jorge<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cinenacional.com/pelicula/bien|title=+bien (2001) – Ficha técnica, Sinopsis, Imágenes, Trailer, Actores, Cast &#124; cinenacional.com|access-date=12 January 2022|website=Cinenacional.com}}</ref>

'''[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0148455/ IMDB profile]'''

== Clothing line ==
* GC Basement<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.blocdemoda.com/2009/08/gustavo-cerati-lanza-su-linea-de-ropa.html|title = La colección de moda de Gustavo Cerati para Basement|website=Blocdemoda.com}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website}}
* {{allMusic}}
* {{discogs artist}}
* {{IMDb name}}
* [http://www.sodastereo.com/ Soda Stereo official website]
* [http://www.themorningnews.org/archives/profiles/ah_vamos_the_rock_of_gustavo_cerati.php 2006 Interview with Cerati by Patrick Ambrose] at [[The Morning News (online magazine)|The Morning News]]

{{Gustavo Cerati}}
{{Soda Stereo}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cerati, Gustavo}}
[[Category:1959 births]]
[[Category:2014 deaths]]
[[Category:Musicians from Buenos Aires]]
[[Category:Singers from Buenos Aires]]
[[Category:Lead guitarists]]
[[Category:Argentine male guitarists]]
[[Category:20th-century Argentine male singers]]
[[Category:Latin Grammy Award winners]]
[[Category:Latin music record producers]]
[[Category:Argentine people of Irish descent]]
[[Category:Argentine people of Italian descent]]
[[Category:People of Lombard descent]]
[[Category:Rock en español musicians]]
[[Category:Argentine multi-instrumentalists]]
[[Category:Argentine male singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:Argentine singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:Soda Stereo members]]
[[Category:Alternative rock singers]]
[[Category:Alternative rock guitarists]]
[[Category:Burials at La Chacarita Cemetery]]
[[Category:Sony Music Latin artists]]
[[Category:Argentine expatriates in Chile]]
[[Category:Argentine rock singers]]
[[Category:People with disorders of consciousness]]
[[Category:20th-century Argentine guitarists]]
[[Category:21st-century Argentine guitarists]]
[[Category:21st-century Argentine male singers]]
[[Category:Latin music songwriters]]