{{short description|Spanish rock band}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Ñu | image = | caption = | image_size = | origin = Madrid, Spain | genre = {{Flatlist| *Hard rock *{{nowrap|progressive rock}} *{{nowrap|celtic rock}} *{{nowrap|folk rock}} *{{nowrap|heavy metal}} }} | years_active = 1974–present | associated_acts = Leño | label = ''Chapa/Zafiro'' | website = | current_members = José Carlos Molina<br />Ramón Álvarez<br />Nacho de Carlos<br />Peter Mayer<br />Javi Arnaiz "Bumper" }} '''Ñu''', also known as '''José Carlos Molina-Ñu''',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rafabasa.com/2013/08/02/entrevista-con-jose-carlos-molina-nu-antes-del-leyendas-del-rock/|title=Entrevista con José Carlos Molina, ÑU, antes del LEYENDAS DEL ROCK|work=rafabasa.com|date=2 August 2013|accessdate=4 October 2014|language=Spanish}}</ref> are a Spanish hard rock band formed in 1974 in Madrid. Their music style, often described as medieval rock,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://elpais.com/diario/1994/07/15/madrid/774271473_850215.html|title=El legendario rock duro de Ñu resucita en Villaverde|author=Íñiguez, Fernando|work=El País|date=15 July 1994|accessdate=4 October 2014|language=Spanish}}</ref> has medieval music, celtic rock and heavy metal influences. The band have experienced multiple line-up changes, with vocalist José Carlos Molina being the only constant presence in the band through the years. The flute predominance in their sound has been compared with Jethro Tull's style,<ref name="alcanda">{{cite news|url=http://elpais.com/diario/1987/05/14/cultura/547941613_850215.html|title=Un juglar y sus calcetines|author=Alcanda, Santiago|work=El País|date=14 May 1987|accessdate=4 October 2014|language=Spanish}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NofoA20gzBY4|title=Ñu on Popgrama TV Show|language=Spanish|year=1977|work=TVE Canal Nostalgia|accessdate=4 October 2014}}</ref> but playing a way heavier sound they are in fact a predecessor of folk metal. As time went by, their style tended to be less folk and more heavy. Their lyrics usually are about medieval castles, riders, villains and heroes.<ref name="alcanda"/>
== History == Initially formed in 1972 as Fresa, they decided to change the band's name in 1974, so the new band would be called Ñu. Their first record was the single "Que nadie escape de la evolución / Volando en sociedad" released with band's no permission two years later.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://elpais.com/diario/2001/01/22/madrid/980166273_850215.html|title=Un cuarto de siglo con la Ñ por delante|author=Serrano, Rodolfo|work=El País|date=22 January 2001|accessdate=4 October 2014|language=Spanish}}</ref> The discrepancies between Rosendo Mercado and Molina caused that Rosendo leave the band in order to form a new one, Leño.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rollingstone.es/reportajes/asi-fue-el-primer-concierto-de-su-vida-de-los-grupos-espanoles/|title=Así fue el primer concierto de su vida de los grupos españoles|work=rollingstone.es|date= 6 November 2010|language=Spanish}}</ref> Continuous line-up changes (up to sixty different musicians have participated throughout his discography) have been related to the character of the leader,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lne.es/sociedad-cultura/2012/02/14/echo-viejos-tiempos-han-cargado-musica-dividir-estilos/1198834.html|title="Echo de menos los viejos tiempos; se han cargado la música al dividir los estilos"|accessdate=4 October 2014|work=La Nueva España News|date=14 February 2012|language=Spanish}}</ref> described by a critic as "irascible, self-sufficient and undiplomatic".<ref>{{cite book|title=La movida: una crónica de los 80|author=Lechado, José Manuel|year=2005|page=92|isbn=978-84-96107-46-5|language=Spanish}}</ref>
== Members == *José Carlos Molina (vocals, flute, guitar, violin) *Rosendo Mercado (guitar, 1974–77) *Juan Almarza (bass, 1974–76) *Felipe Salinas (drums, 1974–76) *Chiqui Mariscal (bass, 1976–77, 1981–84) *Ramiro Penas (drums, 1976–77) *José María García [aka Sini] (guitar, 1978–79) *Jean François André (violin, 1978–80) *Jorge Calvo (bass, 1978–80) *Enrique Ballesteros (drums, 1978–79, 1985–91) *Raúl Garrido (drums, 1979–80) *Eduardo Pinilla (guitar, 1979–80, 1984–85, 1988) *Jerónimo Ramiro (guitar, 1981–84, 1988–91) *Miguel Ángel Collado (keyboards, 1981–85, 1988) *Bernardo Ballester (drums, 1981–83, 1994–97) *Bob Thackway (drums, 1983) *Alejandro Colantonio (drums, 1984–85) *José Luis Ajenjo (bass, 1984–85) *José Luis Rodríguez (bass, 1985–88) *Enrique Bertrán de Lis (guitar, 1985–88) *Toni [aka El mago] (keyboards, 1985–86) *Enrique Valiño (violin, 1987–88) *Nicolás del Hierro [aka Niko] (bass, 1988–91) *Carlos Kakutani (guitar, viola, 1992–94) *Javier Rocaberti (bass, 1992–97) *Luis García (drums, 1992–94) *José Antonio Casal (guitar, 1994–97) *Willie Sagone (drums, 1995) *Miguel Lozano (bass, guitar, 1997–98) *Juan Miguel Rodríguez (bass, keyboards, 1997–2002) *Tony de Juan (guitar, 1997) *Pedro Vela (guitar, 1997–2002) *Jesús Sánchez (drums, 1997–99) *Jorge Calvo (keyboards, flute, 1999–2002) *Álvaro Tenorio (bass, 1995–97) *Vesko Kountchev (viola, 1995–1999–Present) *José Carlos Molina Jr. (drums, 1999–2000) *Joaquín Arellano (drums, 2000) *Gorka Jon Alegre (bass, 2002–) *Francisco Javier Arnaiz [aka Bumper] (drums, 2002–) *Manuel Arias (guitar, 2002–present)
== Discography == ;Studio albums * ''Cuentos de ayer y de hoy'' (1978) * ''A golpe de látigo'' (1979) * ''Fuego'' (1983) * ''Acorralado por ti'' (1984) * ''El mensaje del mago'' (1987) * ''Vamos al lío!!'' (1988) * ''Dos años de destierro'' (1990) * ''La danza de las mil tierras'' (1994) * ''La taberna encantada'' (1997) * ''Cuatro gatos'' (2000) * ''Réquiem'' (2002) * ''Títeres'' (2003) * ''Viejos himnos para nuevos guerreros'' (2011) * ''... Y nadie escapó de la evolución'' (2011) * ''Yo Estoy Vivo'' (2023)
;Live albums * ''No hay ningún loco'' (1986) * ''Imperio de paletos'' (1992) * ''La noche del juglar'' (1999)
;Singles * ''Que nadie escape de la evolución / Volando en sociedad'' (1976) * ''Aquellos músicos fueron nosotros / La explosión del universo'' (1978) * ''El flautista / Velocidad'' (1980) * ''La bailarina / El hombre de fuego'' (1983) * ''Más duro que nunca / Flor de metal'' (1983) * ''Más, quiero más / Romance fantasma'' (1984) * ''No hay ningún loco / El flautista'' (1986) * ''Sé quien / La bailarina'' (1986) * ''Amor en el cielo / Ella'' (1987) * ''La saeta / Los ojos de la zíngara'' (1987) * ''Manicomio / Robin Hood'' (1987) * ''Una copa por un viejo amigo / Más, quiero más'' (1987) * ''La granja del loco / El tren azul'' (1988) * ''No te dejes ganar / Trovador de ciudad'' (1988) * ''Tuboescape / Conjuros'' (1990) * ''Imperio de paletos / Que nadie escape de la evolución'' (1992) * ''La danza de las mil tierras / Ella / El teatro de la suerte'' (1994)
;Compilation albums * ''1975-1995: Veinte años y un día'' (1995) * ''Colección'' (2001) * ''Esperando'' (2003)
== Bibliography == * Giner, Pedro (1995): ''Ñu: no te dejes ganar. Veinte años de resistencia'', Vosa, {{ISBN|978-84-8218-013-7}}.
== References == {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20191201005127/http://www.josecarlosmolina.es/ Jose Carlos Molina's Official website (12-2019)] *[http://www.allmusic.com/artist/nu-mn0001941556 Profile on Allmusic] *[https://rateyourmusic.com/artist/nu Profile on Rateyourmusic] *[http://www.metal-archives.com/bands/%C3%91u/26362 Profile on metal-archives]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Nu}} Category:Spanish hard rock musical groups Category:Spanish heavy metal musical groups Category:Spanish progressive rock groups Category:Medieval folk rock groups Category:Rock en español music groups Category:Musical groups established in 1974