Santiago Durango
Encyclopedia
Santiago Durango is an American guitarist remembered for his work with the 1980s punk rock groups Naked Raygun
and Big Black
. Mostly retired from music as of the early 2000s, he works as an attorney
.
n doctor. His family moved to Chicago, Illinois in the US when he was ten years old.
A graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago
, Durango was an original member of Naked Raygun
, one of Chicago's first punk rock
bands. Raygun fan Steve Albini
was forming a band called Big Black
and asked both Durango and Raygun lead singer Jeff Pezzati
to join. Durango remained a member until the group broke up in 1987. Critic Mark Deming describes Santiago as an ideal guitar foil for Albini; "his muscular guitar sound was the ideal match of Albini's jagged, metallic tone."
After Big Black ended, Durango attended law school. During that time he formed a new band called Arsenal with bassist Malachi Ritscher
. Together they released the Manipulator EP
on Touch and Go Records in 1988. In 1990, Durango teamed up with Pierre Kedzy of Naked Raygun on bass to record and release a second Arsenal EP entitled Factory Smog Is A Sign Of Progress
.
After law school, in his first case he helped recover Cynthia Plastercaster's bronze casts of the genitalia of various rock and roll artists, including that of Jimi Hendrix
. He handled some litigation for Chicago's Touch and Go Records
. As of 2003, Durango was an appellate
defender
in Ottawa, Illinois
, USA
.
Durango's first wife was singer Cath Carroll
. His second wife is children's book author Julia Durango; they have two sons, Kyle and Ryan.
Naked Raygun
Naked Raygun is a Chicago-based punk rock group. Initially active from 1980 to about 1992, Naked Raygun had several short-lived reunions afterwards and a full-time reformation in 2006....
and Big Black
Big Black
Big Black was an American punk rock band from Evanston, Illinois, active from 1981 to 1987. Founded by singer and guitarist Steve Albini, the band's initial lineup also included guitarist Santiago Durango and bassist Jeff Pezzati, both of Naked Raygun...
. Mostly retired from music as of the early 2000s, he works as an attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
.
Biography
Durango was the son of a ColombiaColombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
n doctor. His family moved to Chicago, Illinois in the US when he was ten years old.
A graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago
University of Illinois at Chicago
The University of Illinois at Chicago, or UIC, is a state-funded public research university located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Its campus is in the Near West Side community area, near the Chicago Loop...
, Durango was an original member of Naked Raygun
Naked Raygun
Naked Raygun is a Chicago-based punk rock group. Initially active from 1980 to about 1992, Naked Raygun had several short-lived reunions afterwards and a full-time reformation in 2006....
, one of Chicago's first punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
bands. Raygun fan Steve Albini
Steve Albini
Steven Frank Albini is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, audio engineer and music journalist. He was a member of Big Black, Rapeman, and Flour, and is currently a member of Shellac...
was forming a band called Big Black
Big Black
Big Black was an American punk rock band from Evanston, Illinois, active from 1981 to 1987. Founded by singer and guitarist Steve Albini, the band's initial lineup also included guitarist Santiago Durango and bassist Jeff Pezzati, both of Naked Raygun...
and asked both Durango and Raygun lead singer Jeff Pezzati
Jeff Pezzati
Jeff Pezzati is the lead singer for a popular Chicago punk band, Naked Raygun. From 1983 to 1985, he was also the bass player for the internationally known band Big Black. In 1980, Jeff Pezzati was a member of a suburban cover band, Condor, when he was asked to audition for Naked Raygun by the...
to join. Durango remained a member until the group broke up in 1987. Critic Mark Deming describes Santiago as an ideal guitar foil for Albini; "his muscular guitar sound was the ideal match of Albini's jagged, metallic tone."
After Big Black ended, Durango attended law school. During that time he formed a new band called Arsenal with bassist Malachi Ritscher
Malachi Ritscher
Malachi Ritscher was a musician, recording engineer, human rights activist, and anti-war protester. He came into the national spotlight through his self-immolation, an act of protest against the 2003 invasion of Iraq.-Biography:Mark David Ritscher was born in Dickinson, North Dakota on January 13,...
. Together they released the Manipulator EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
on Touch and Go Records in 1988. In 1990, Durango teamed up with Pierre Kedzy of Naked Raygun on bass to record and release a second Arsenal EP entitled Factory Smog Is A Sign Of Progress
Factory Smog Is A Sign Of Progress
Factory Smog is a Sign of Progress is a 45rpm 12" released by Arsenal on Touch and Go Records in 1990.Track Listing1. When Heads Collide2. The Enemy3. Lenin's Will4. Michelangelo's Penis5. Big Sky...
.
After law school, in his first case he helped recover Cynthia Plastercaster's bronze casts of the genitalia of various rock and roll artists, including that of Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
. He handled some litigation for Chicago's Touch and Go Records
Touch and Go Records
Touch and Go Records is an independent record label based in Chicago, Illinois, USA.After its genesis as a hand-made fanzine in 1979, it grew into one of the key record labels in the American 1980s alternative and underground rock scenes, Touch & Go carved out a reputation for releasing adventurous...
. As of 2003, Durango was an appellate
United States court of appeals
The United States courts of appeals are the intermediate appellate courts of the United States federal court system...
defender
Public defender
The term public defender is primarily used to refer to a criminal defense lawyer appointed to represent people charged with a crime but who cannot afford to hire an attorney in the United States and Brazil. The term is also applied to some ombudsman offices, for example in Jamaica, and is one way...
in Ottawa, Illinois
Ottawa, Illinois
Ottawa is a city located at the confluence of the Illinois River and Fox River in LaSalle County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 18,786...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Durango's first wife was singer Cath Carroll
Cath Carroll
Cath Carroll is a British musician and music journalist.-Career:Carroll was raised in Swansea, then Manchester. She played guitar in post-punk band Property of... in 1978, which also included former Warsaw drummer Tony Tabac. In 1979 she formed the band Glass Animals with her friend Liz Naylor...
. His second wife is children's book author Julia Durango; they have two sons, Kyle and Ryan.