1982
Formed
in Zaragoza (Spain). The group comprising of Mariano Chueca (vocals
and guitar), Alberto Moliner (Bass), Tito Gracia (vocals and guitar)
and Javier Paricio (Drums) enter the city of Zaragoza’s 1st
Rock Contest; although not winning they made a favourable public and
media impression.
1983
Numerous performances and an offer from a local promoter to record
their first record in Germany.
1984 Their
first recording in the “Record Way Tom Studios” (Frankfurt,
Germany) is produced by Günter “Hubby” Huppert; they
also make a video clip with film director Javad Barazany.
1985 Artistic
differences impede the final editing of the record. Changes in the
group leave as members Mariano, Tito and newly recruited Iñaki
Fernández (on drums). They create a parallel group named Pecora
Jarris with other Collaborating musicians.
1986 It was
a time for composing and exhaustive rehearsals with the new group’s
line up.
1987 Recording
2 songs for the “Monegros” compilation album.
Mariano, Tito and Iñaki decide to break up the Pecora Jarris
project and continue the threesome as Distrito 14.
1988 Back to
composing and rehearsals.
1989 The single
“Volver a caer” (“Fall Again”) was released
on the independent record label “Interferencias”. They
appear on the same bill as Johnny Thunders.
1990 Alberto
Moliner (Bass) of the original line up returns to the group. Work
then begins on new songs incorporating guitarist Ollie Halsall (Soft
Machine, Kevin Ayers, Radio Futura...).
1991 Together
with Ollie they record a first cut that contains the song “Dias
de Gloria” (“Glory Days”) bringing the immediate
attention of recording companies. Enrique Mavilla piano, organ and
acoustic guitar player joins the group.
1992 Signing
up with EMI they record their new record “El cielo sabe”
(“Heaven Knows”), and appear on the same bill as Peter
Hammill on 12 October in Zaragoza.
1993 “Dias
de Gloria” (“Glory Days”) a special edition mini
LP is released with the album “El cielo lo sabe” (“Heaven
knows”) reaching widespread acclaim in The Peninsula.
1994 Francisco
Jaraba substitutes Tito’s guitar playing. Work then starts on
new songs. Locked away in an old farmhouse near Zaragoza, which they
call “Milagro” (“The Miracle”). The farmhouse
is owned by, John Evans, a North American with a great love for music,
who later becomes executive producer of the new record “La Calle
Del Sol” (“Sun Street”).
1995 Recording
in “Sonoland” (Madrid) the group direct and edit on their
own label “Grabaciones El Milagro” (Miracle Recordings)
their new disc “La Calle del Sol” (Sun Street”).
After favourable reviews from the Spanish music critics the record
is played and reviewed within media and institutions of Santiago in
Cuba; creating an intense interest in the group.
1996 The cultural
organisation in Santiago (Cuba), organizes a tour in the eastern side
of the island where an enthusiastic recognition of the group’s
work is achieved. To date they are the only known non Cuban pop/rock
group to have been allowed to perform in this area.
A diploma from the Town of Santiaguero for artistic and human merit
was awarded. On their return to Zaragoza they record their first live
record “Noches con sol” (“Nights with Sun”).
1997 With
the general release of “Noches con sol” it gets the attention
of a North American producer who organizes an intense tour of California
and Nevada, in June. By now a big recognition of their work was acclaimed
by the Latin-American pop and rock media critics. On their return
to Spain they get a shared billing -with Placebo- in the Spanish David
Bowie tour.
1998 With Juan
Millan taking on drums another tour of the East side of Cuba is undertaken.
There, live from Santiago “A mitad del camino”(Halfway)
was recorded, incorporating the Santiago String Chorus, produced by
Carlos Martos and mixed later at Sonoland (Madrid). This is still
the only live record to be recorded in Cuba by a Non-Cuban band. They
also perform in the spectacular Teatro Heredia in Santiago.
1999 “A
mitad del Camino” goes on general sale. This disc-book contains
a diary of the recording of “Diario de un Sueño”
(Diary of a Dream) written and composed by Mariano Chueca (vocals,
guitar).During the 3 months of Tour of America “Noches con Sol”
was released having a tremendous impact on the Latin and American
Media with reviews in the newspaper Newsday (New York).
They perform at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago, on two occasions on
the same bill as The Jaguares, Fabulosos Cadillacs and Rabanes. Having
an audience of over 12000 people. Towards the end of the Tour they
record a new live record at Martyr’s (Chicago) with the infamous
Jack Letourneau (Yardbirds, Animals, Andy Summers) as producer.
2000 “Live
in Chicago” is released in Spain, even thought the group spend
the whole year performing around The US. They are invited to do a
concert at the Independent Music Festival SXSW in Austin (Texas).
The Tour is interrupted to open the venues of the Sting Spanish tour.
They participate in the first edition of very important alterlatino
festival -The LAMC- in New York. Towards the end of the year the record
“Live in Chicago” reaches the shops on the Miami DLN label.
In November at the Paragon Studios in Chicago, two new songs are recorded
as part of a new album with Jack Letourneau producing and the collaboration
of Tomas Ford of Candle Box and get Christie Love Fame. This was the
inspiration for their current album “El sueño de la tortuga”
(“The Dream of the Turtle”).
2001 Continuing
with the tour of the U.S. Alberto decided to leave the group once
again, with Enrique covering for the absence of a Bass player. Once
again they perform at The LAMC in New York. Armid rave reviews in
the Anglo-Hispanic Media CMJ. Also acclaims from important Latin media
“La Banda Elastica” of Los Angeles RPDT of Chicago, Boom
of Miami and +Vertigo and Clandestino in New York City. In appreciation
of the group’s talent and hand work they were invited to record
7 songs live on the satellite radio station “Sirius Satellite
Radio”, in New York City.
In June it was decided to return to Spain to start recording The Album
“El Sueño de la Tortuga”.
2002 The group
reverts back to a Trio Consisting of Mariano (vocals and guitar),
Enrique (Bass and keyboard) and Juan (Drums). That winter they spend
3 months isolated away from the world in a XII century Monastery in
Veruela (Zaragoza), where the new songs start taking shape.
In the spring, at Sonoland, recording commenced with Carlos Martos
producing. Mané Larregla joins the group as official guitarist,
and Antonio Vega collaborates in the choral recordings of the song
“Valium & Champagne”.
2003 As recording
continues Mariano performs solo in 2 Christmas guitar concerts in
New York, invited by the magazine +Vertigo.
2004 On the
17th May Dro East West a subsidiary label of Warner Spain, the new
album “El Sueño de la Tortuga” is released. It
was also decided by the group to change the numerals 14 into written
word form. Hence Distrito 14 becomes Distritocatorce (14th District).
Even before being issued in the U.S., their first single of the album
“Valium & Champagne” stays in the Nš1 spot of the
listings of Radio Arte in Chicago. At the “Luna Lunera”
festival on the 12th August they perform again alongside Peter Hammill
with guest musician Gustavo Siibert on keyboard and Jaime Lapeña
on violin and viola.
On October the 1st they receive awards for best album for “El
Sueño De La Tortuga” and best single “Valium &
Champagne” at the “Aragon’s Music Awards”.
On October the 3rd they play to a full capacity house in the church
of the monastery in Veruela, being filmed and recorded for use in
future projects.
2005 To date
3 singles have been issued and 3 video clips taken from the album
"El Sueño De La Tortuga" have been videoed. The 3rd
single "Lo Mejor Del Mundo" ("The best in the world")
is released complemented by a video clip filmed between the U.S. and
the region of Maestrozgo in Teruel (Spain).
Since the beginning of this year the group is being intensively promoted
throughout the Spanish peninsula, with important concerts being arranged
throughout the region of Aragon.
September is scheduled for a long overdue Spanish
In November singer, guitarist, composer and founder member of the
group Mariano Chueca will be doing a Solo Tour in the U.S. presenting
songs from the album "El Sueño de la Tortuga", in
preparation for a full tour of the group.
In December a documental DVD will be released covering the history
of the group and it's origins in 1982, until today; with unedited
footage from the concert celebrated in the Monastery at Veruela in
October of 2004, this remains of great significance to Distritocatorce.
Tour which will continue with a winter US tour. Plans are now being
made for several European Venues in the early part of 2006.
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