Guapo (band)

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}} {{Use British English|date=August 2014}} {{More citations needed|date=January 2024}} {{Infobox musical artist | background = group_or_band | name = Guapo | image = | image_size = | image_upright = | landscape =  | alt = | caption = | alias = | origin = | genre = [[Avant-prog]]<ref name="AllMusic"/> | discography = | years_active = {{Start date|1994}}–present | label = | spinoffs = | spinoff_of = | current_members = * David J. Smith * [[Kavus Torabi]] * Emmett Elvin * Sam Warren | past_members = * Matt Thompson * Rojer Macoustra * Pid * [[Caroline Kraabel]] * [[Daniel O'Sullivan (musician)|Daniel O'Sullivan]] * [[James Sedwards]] | website =  | module = | module2 = | module3 = }} '''Guapo''' are a British [[experimental rock]]/[[art rock]] band formed in 1994 by drummer/percussionist Dave Smith and guitarist/vocalist Matt Thompson, though the band gained a wider audience with the contribution of multi-instrumentalist [[Daniel O'Sullivan (musician)|Daniel O'Sullivan]]. The lineup as of 2015 consists of Smith, guitarist [[Kavus Torabi]], bassist Sam Warren and keyboardist Emmett Elvin of [[Chrome Hoof]].

==Music== Guapo have affiliations with the [[Rock in Opposition]] movement, after performing with bands such as [[Magma (band)|Magma]] and [[Present (band)|Present]] at the [[Rock in Opposition]] Festival at [[Carmaux]], [[France]] in 2007.

==The Trilogy== The Guapo album ''Elixirs'' concludes a recondite trilogy of recordings initiated by ''[[Five Suns (album)|Five Suns]]'' (2003) and ''Black Oni'' (2004), which has been referred to as the "Empire Strikes Back" record. Every record takes on new musical hues and offers disparate ideas and perspectives. However, an upheaval in the line-up, which of recent years had been anchored by the trio of Daniel O'Sullivan, Matthew Thompson, and David Smith, triggered a change in course when Thompson left the band in 2005.

==Other projects== Both Smith and O'Sullivan perform in the antique-prog band [[Daniel O'Sullivan (musician)|Miasma & the Carousel of Headless Horses]]. Smith created a large scale, multi media installation entitled "The Other Side of the Island" for which he made a soundtrack with O’Sullivan and Antti Uusimaki under The Stargazers Assistant moniker (the recordings of which were released on Aurora Borealis last year). Smith also plays with members of [[Coil (band)|Coil]], [[Cyclobe]] and [[Shock Headed Peters]] in the Amal Gamal Ensemble. Despite these distractions, Guapo has been maintained as a primary focus and "Elixirs" has been three years in the making.

==Line-up== Following the departure of Thompson, O’Sullivan and Smith added two London musicians to the fold, [[James Sedwards]] (of avant-rock band Nought) and [[Kavus Torabi]] (of [[Cardiacs]], [[Knifeworld]] and formerly [[The Monsoon Bassoon]]). The line-up toured the US in 2006 with synth-prog band, [[Zombi (band)|Zombi]]. O'Sullivan recently left the band to concentrate on other projects ([[Deep in Ocean Sunk the Lamp of Light|Æthenor]] (Vhf Records), Mothlite ([[Southern Records]]), Grumbling Fur as well as moonlighting in the live line-up of [[Sunn O)))]]) and keyboardist Emmett Elvin recently joined. More recently Sam Warren (Tunguska Butterfly, Thumpermonkey) has joined on bass.

Adapted from [[AllMusic]].<ref name="AllMusic">{{Cite web |last=York |first=William |title=Guapo Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/guapo-mn0000544591 |access-date=29 March 2025 |publisher=[[AllMusic]]}}</ref>

'''Current members''' * David J. Smith – drums (1994–present) * [[Kavus Torabi]] – guitar (2006–present) * Emmett Elvin – keyboards (?–present) * Sam Warren – bass (2015–present)

'''Former members''' * Matt Thompson – bass, guitar (left 2005) * Rojer Macoustra – bass (1994–1996) * Pid – bass (1996–1997) * [[Caroline Kraabel]] – saxophone (1999–2000) * [[Daniel O'Sullivan (musician)|Daniel O'Sullivan]] – keyboard (2003–?) * [[James Sedwards]] – bass (2006–2015)

'''Live members''' * David Ledden – bass (2005–2006)

==Discography==

===Albums===

*1997 ''Towers Open Fire'' CD (Power Tool Records) *1998 ''Hirohito'' CD (Pandemonium Records) *2001 ''Great Sage, Equal of Heaven'' CD (Pandemonium/Tumult) *2004 ''[[Five Suns (album)|Five Suns]]'' CD ([[Cuneiform Records]]) *2005 ''[[Black Oni]]'' CD ([[Ipecac Recordings]]) – produced by [[Jaime Gomez Arellano]] (limited-edition LP version released 2007 on Hlava Records) *2008 ''Elixirs'' CD ([[Neurot Recordings]]) *2013 ''History of the Visitation'' CD + DVD ([[Cuneiform Records]]) *2015 ''Obscure Knowledge'' ([[Cuneiform Records]])

===EPs and singles===

*1995 ''Hell is Other People'' EP (Power Tool Records) *1996 ''Guapo is No More'' EP (Power Tool Records) *1997 ''Horse Walks Into a Bar'' EP (Power Tool Records) *1998 ''Guapo vs. Magma'' EP (Pandemonium Records) *2006 ''Twisted Stems'' limited edition 7" single (Dot Dot Dot Music) *2006 ''Twisted Stems'' CDEP (Aurora Borealis)

==Discography (collaborations)==

===with [[Ruins (Japanese band)|Ruins]] and The Shock Exchange===

*2000 ''Death Seed'' CD (Freeland Records)

===with [[Cerberus Shoal]]===

*2003 ''The Ducks and Drakes of Guapo and Cerberus Shoal'' CD ([[North East Indie Records]])

==See also== *[[Romantic Warriors II: A Progressive Music Saga About Rock in Opposition]]

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.guapo.co.uk/ Official website of GUAPO] *[{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p512603/biography|pure_url=yes}} Allmusic.com entry] *[http://www.headlesshorses.co.uk/ The Official website of MIASMA & THE CAROUSEL OF HEADLESS HORSES]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Guapo (band)}} [[Category:Musical groups established in the 1990s]] [[Category:British experimental rock groups]] [[Category:British art rock groups]] [[Category:Rock in Opposition]] [[Category:Tumult Records artists]]