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Non stop legendary Chris Castro’s band SQUAD Chilean old School Thrash Punk still roaring at it’s best!

Among the few Chilean bands that have survived the changing times in my native South America’s own Chilean turbulent political times is Punk Thrash-Metal group; Squad, leaded by former story board Artist and Musician sole survivor member Christian “Chris” Castro.

While celebrating 25 years active and ready to initiate their self proclaimed “From the Deep” 2012-2013 tour across Chile, another close friend of mine, Chris agreed on answering a few questions exclusively for Música en Progreso.

Música en Progreso: Hello Chris, I thank you in advance for have taken the time to talk to me, how are you and what are the latest news on Squad?

Chris: we are celebrating 25 years of nonstop Squad performances and we finally have the reissue of our eponymous Gallinazeous Death Album under a Chinese label. Area Death Records.

MEP: Could you tell when did Squad started and why?

Chris: Well SQUAD Started around 1987, when I met my now long and lasting friend Rodrigo “Pera” Cuadra from another famous and re known band “Dorso” we basically sat down and said to each other…"hey listen, last night at this particular 80’s venue called Manuel Plaza (A place in the heart of Santiago’s Nuñoa area which doesn’t exists anymore and in which most of the Metal bands from that era were formed), I saw the crowd going nuts because of “Caos”, another Punkish act from those times while they were performing , so why don’t we start something like that, in a heavier vein?

  

Fortunately, Rodrigo agreed to start the band I even had the SQUAD name in mind before meeting with him and asking for his collaboration, the reason for me to wanting in doing that is because I felt I was the only one at that point helping into what it was a new born Musical movement by doing the sketches on the Billboards and flyers so it seemed logical to me that the next step was forming my own band.

MEP: Help me here cause if I’m not mistaking Rodrigo (Pera) Cuadra and his Brother Alvaro, both played in Squad right?

Chris: Let me tell you that Alvaro was never a member of the band he had only served as an aid type of session guitarist, he was more of a Rock and Roll Heavy Metal Van Halen kinda guy! yet he did make a fantastic job in doing the solos for the GALLINAZEOUS DEATH TAPE, later Alvaro joined his brother’s Dorso for some time to move on then, forming his own Heavy Rock band called Cria Salvaje with it’s own different members (they recorded their somophore and only classic tape Rock Addict)

MEP: Wow man, thanks that’s a lot of information I didn’t know, going back to Squad, the band has been always active with the same people in it I believe?

Chris: Not really, I'm the only original member and founder, I have played with more than 10 people along the years, let's put it this way. SQUAD as made a name because it's songs not its members!

MEP: How do you feel about the revival of Thrash and Punk and the new breed of Bands?

Chris: Well there’s a new breed of thrash bands nowadays in Chile and it’s good for them and for the scene in general but, you know...we are been playing for so many years so the competition it doesn't affect us...it feels that we  still kick ass! same as the other Bands from those days that are still around; Massacre, Necrosis and Dorso…to name a few.

MEP: How would you define SQUAD’s Style In the early days?

Chris: The basic blueprint to follow was Crossover , then in the years to come, was speedy and Thrashy , now it's more back to basics , good old school fashioned punk thrash metal!!

MEP: How many Records does Squad have?

Chris: Squad has like 10 unpublished songs and next year its time for a new CD.

-GALLINAZEOUS DEATH 1989 / REISSUE 2012
-BACK 1997
-THRASHBACK TEMA PROMOCIONAL (Promotional Song)2000
-BACK FROM THE GRAVE 2003
-DEMOS 2010

Technical File:

Microphones used:

I revolved around SHURE Microphones, solid piece of action!

Five Favorite Punk albums of all time:

1 DEATH BEFORE DISHONOUR, THE EXPLOITED

2 PLASTIC SURGERY DISASTERS, DEAD KENNEDYS

3 NEVER MIND THE BOLLOCKS, SEX PISTOLS

4 ROAD TO RUIN, THE RAMONES

5 CITY BABY ATTACKED BY RATS, GBH

Five Favorite Metal Albums of all time (Power Death Thrash...etc)

1 PLEASURE TO KILL, KREATOR

2 REIGN IN BLOOD, SLAYER

3 METALLICA, KILL'EM ALL

4 TEMPO OF THE DAMNED, EXODUS

5 DARKNESS DESCENDS, DARK ANGEL

Five Favorite no Metal albums of all time (Rock, Blues, Pop etc)

1 MACHINA /THE MACHINES OF GOD, THE SMASHING PUMPKINS

2 REGATTA DE BLANC, THE POLICE

3 DURAN DURAN, GREATEST HITS

4 CECIL, BOMBARDIDLAH

5 HALL AND OATES, GREATEST HITS

FAVORITE SPORT: NOT REALLY!

FAVORITE FOOD: MAINLY, NOT MEAT INVOLVED

FAVORITE DRINK: PISCO AND COKE

MEP: my friend thanks a lot for answering everything in English, you saved me sometime and good luck in the near future, thanks for the Interview!

Chris: No problem Bro!
-photos courtesy of Christian Castro
Interview: Rodrigo Trupp exclusively for Müsica en Progreso October 2012