Iñaki Fernández, Icon of the 'Movida' Movement, Dies at 63

Iñaki Fernández's image, with his distinctive moustache and a chicken leg as a tie while leading Glutamato Ye-Yé, has become part of the iconic imagery of the 'Movida' movement. The moustache symbolised the provocative nature of the musician born in Barakaldo, who sometimes justified it as a nod to Chaplin and other times, as in a self-interview on 'La bola de cristal', "because all my friends have moustaches: Dalí, Stalin, Vicente Calderón...". The group's Facebook page announced the death of their leader and singer this Saturday.

Cancer claimed the life of Iñaki Glutamato at the age of 63. He was known for appearing on stage in military coats, with a beret and kaiku, or throwing loaves of bread at the audience, which were violently thrown back, as in a memorable performance on TVE's 'La Edad de Oro', where he was called a 'clown'. "Your father!" he retorted after singing his biggest hit, 'Todos los negritos tienen hambre y frío', the title of their 1984 LP. A year later, the Live Aid concert would take place, but Glutamato had already mocked solidarity songs with this satirical tune that sold 40,000 copies. Other hits included 'El suicida', 'Hay un hombre en mi nevera', 'Soy un socio del Atleti', and 'El rey del Aftersun'.

Glutamato Ye-Yé began in 1979 with the union of Iñaki Fernández and Ramón Recio, whom he met in Madrid's Retiro Park. Without money to attend concerts, they decided to form a band, joined by Fernández's brother, Manuel Recio, alias Patacho, and Eugenio Haro Ibars. They launched a manifesto of "irritating batches" alongside Derribos Arias, Pelvis Turmix, and Sindicato Malone against the 'babosos', referring to syrupy pop groups like Mamá, Nacha Pop, and Los Secretos.

They debuted at Sala El Sol in the early 80s alongside Aviador Dro, performing 'Sabes bien' and 'Madison', a version of Dúo Dinámico. They played regularly in Madrid's bar circuit and released their first album, 'Corazón loco', in 1982. Drafted for military service, Iñaki was declared a deserter until he eventually served in the army. Upon his return, 'Comamos cereales' became a hit. They were featured on Los 40 Principales and frequently appeared on shows like 'Tocata' and 'Caja de ritmos'.

The album 'Guapamente', released in 1985, included the track 'Alicia', a unique take on Lewis Carroll's tale, which led to them being considered for Eurovision. A year later, after the LP 'Vive subida', Iñaki Fernández left the band, although they would reunite for concerts, tributes, and compilations in later years. In 1988, he formed the band Beatos with Ricardo Castillo. The album cover was censored for featuring the singer with his trademark moustache and a crown of thorns like Jesus Christ. In the 90s, the Basque musician ran an ethnic art shop in Malasaña, sourcing pieces from African countries. He worked as a forest ranger in the Madrid mountains and was always willing to discuss the mythologised 'Movida madrileña', which, according to one of its main figures, lasted only from 1980 to 1982.

Mario Gil, musician from La Mode, remembered him on social media: "Riding the metro with Iñaki was a social experience. We met on line 1, heading to Tetuán for rehearsals. There he was, standing, unintentionally creating an empty perimeter around him. People were wary of being near him, with his coat, boots, and especially that moustache! We greeted each other warmly (he was a lovely person) and chatted about our things for a few more stops. A friend, a great person, a great bon vivant has left us. Don't move from where you are, Iñaki, I have a few more things to tell you."