Armed with a retro-rock aesthetic and an old-school work ethic, Argentinean band Villanos climbed their way from local acclaim to international success. Comprised of Niko Villano (lead vocals and guitar), Mini Villano (guitar and backing vocals), René Villano (bass), Santi Villano (drums), and Vare Villano (keys, guitar, and backing vocals), the band is a native son of the Villa Celina neighborhood of Buenos Aires. Villanos made their performance debut in April of 1995, quickly becoming regulars in the city's numerous rock clubs. By 1996 the band was touring nationally, earning coverage in nationally recognized rock magazines like Clarín. The band's debut disc, Sacate Todo!, was released in 1999 and distributed by Universal. In addition to garnering radio support throughout Argentina, the disc brought Villanos major performance opportunities, like opening for Kiss at the River Plate Stadium that year. Their sophomore release, No Disparen!, emerged a year later, earning Villanos an invitation to tour nationally alongside Attaque 77 and Babasónicos. In 2004 bandleader Niko Villano made his production debut with the band's third record, Villanos al Poder. The album was released independently. Although not as successful as previous projects, the album paved the way for a major deal with Warner Music Argentina. With the support of the industry superpower, Villanos recorded and released their fourth original album, Superpoderosos, featuring the single "Sin Me." Based on the record's widespread popularity, Warner decided to remaster and re-release the band's entire catalog in 2005. The re-release project introduced Villanos to an entirely new audience throughout South America. Thanks to their newfound recognition, Villanos were invited to perform at a number of important venues and festivals, including Pepsi Rock, Gesell Rock 2006, and Cosquín Rock 2006. Villanos' 2007 release, Contacto, enjoyed a lasting chart presence and their strongest sales to date. ~ Evan C. Gutierrez