Eduardo Federico "Skay" Beilinson is an Argentinean musician born on the city of La Plata on January 15, 1952. He's known as one of Argentina's most popular and well-known rock guitaristsnote , with a quite recognizable style based on a "less is more" approach, as well as being one half of the creative duo behind Patricio Rey y sus Redonditos de Ricota. He got his Stage Name "Skay" from his friend, plastic artist Marta Minujin.
He started playing guitar at 12 years old and formed his first band, Taxi Rural, at 16; the band name being inspired by Skay's then job as a taxi driver. He traveled in 1968 to Great Britain and France, being a witness for 1968's May unrest
as well as witnessing Jimi Hendrix himself live. Upon returning to his home country, he did so with a Marshall amplifier, a Gretsch guitar, a wah-was device, a distort system, and countless of albums from The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Cream, Vanilla Fudge and Pink Floyd. He then formed the band Diplodocum Red & Brown in 1969.
After a stint both in bands (such as La Cofradía de la Flor Solar, where he met the love of his life, future Redondos manager Carmen "La Negra Poli" Policastro) and as a guest guitarist, he formed Patricio Rey y sus Redonditos de Ricota in 1978 with Carlos "Indio" Solari and a troupe of musicians and performers that included a who's-who of the Argentinean musical and artistic scene in the early stages of their careers such as Fabiana Cantilo and future Los Abuelos De La Nada saxophonist Guillermo "Willy" Crook. After the release of Oktubre, the band muted to a more classic rock band format and exploded in popularity. A popularity that surpassed whatever the band had to offer and lasted for over a decade until its dissolution in 2001.
Following the disbandment of Los Redondos, Skay began his solo career with 2002's A Través del Mar de los Sargazos, a career that continued onto our days. In spite of not inheriting Los Redondos's masses, he was able to do what he likes to do: play music, with a more frequent schedule, and with a backing band that allowed his guitar work to shine. Over time, his lyrical prowess also improved, though not on the level of Indio's songs.
With Diplodocum Red & Brown
- 1969 - Diplodocum Red & Brown
With Edelmiro Molinari y La Galletita
- 1983 - Edelmiro y La Galletita
With Patricio Rey y sus Redonditos de Ricota
- 1984 - Gulp!
- 1986 - Oktubre
- 1988 - Un Baión Para El Ojo Idiota
- 1991 - La Mosca y La Sopa
- 1992 - En Directo (Live album)
- 1993 - Lobo Suelto/Cordero Atado
- 1996 - Luzbelito
- 1998 - Último Bondi a Finisterre
- 2000 - Momo Sampler
Solo discography
- 2002 - A Través del Mar de los Sargazos
- 2004 - Talismán
- 2007 - La Marca de Caín
- 2010 - ¿Dónde vas?
- 2013 - La Luna Hueca
- 2016 - El Engranaje de Cristal
- 2019 - En el Corazón del Laberinto
Current members
- Eduardo "Skay" Beilinson - lead vocals, lead guitars (2002-...)
- Richard Coleman - rhythm guitar (2019-...)
- Claudio Quartero - bass guitar (2004-...)
- Leandro Sánchez - drums (2018-...)
- Javier Lecumberry - keyboards (2004-...)
Former members:
- Oscar Reyna - rhythm guitar (2004-2019)
- Daniel Castro - bass guitar (2002-2004)
- Daniel Colombres - drums (2002-2005)
- Mauricio "Topo" Espíndola (2005-2018)
Skay's music shows examples of:
- Cover Version: Beilinson plays a lot of covers from his prior band, especially the early albums, such as "Criminal Mambo", "La Bestia Pop", "Ñam Fi Frufi Fali Fru", "Masacre en el Puticlub", "El Pibe de los Astilleros" and, of course, his previous band's ending song "Ji ji ji". As Beilinson kept racking up hits and memorable songs to replace his old band's catalog, these were played less until only a few songs remained on the set.
- Darker and Edgier: Than Los Redondos, though not to the extent of Solari. The lyrics touch darker themes much like Indio's solo work, but this time with a darker take on Los Redondos's early music rather than Solari's even darker take on the later works.
- Early-Bird Cameo: The riff that ambients "El Pozo de la Serpiente", from A Través del Mar de los Sargazos is based on a riff Skay used during the sound checks of some Redondos's gigs.
- Echoing Acoustics: "Genghis Khan" has Skay singing through something resembling a megaphone.
- I Have Many Names: His solo band went through different names:
- Skay Beilinson until prior to La Marca de Caín.
- Skay y Los Seguidores de la Diosa Kali, between La Marca de Caín and prior to La Luna Hueca.
- Skay y Los Fakires, from La Luna Hueca onwards.
- He's Back!: "Genghis Khan" talks about a man who inflicts terror with his sole presence, rampaged across the city once and is back to reap the rewards once more.
- Sampling: The beat that ambients "Genghis Khan", from A Través del Mar de los Sargazos comes straight from The Prodigy's "Break and Enter". Skay just adds a powerful guitar riff on top of it. And a powerful distorted chord opening the song.
- Shout-Out: In a cover for the argentinean version of the Rolling Stone magazine, he was dressed like The Riddler.
- Take That!:
- "Soldadito de Plomo", from La Marca de Caín is a List Song about a person with many negative qualities, rumored to be aimed at his former Redondos bandmate Indio.
- During the aftershock of the bad blood between Skay and Poli and the bald-headed Indio over material concerning some recorded Redondos's gigs, Skay changed the lyrics of "Kermesse" (from 2002's A Través del Mar de los Sargazos) from "¡Guita! ¡Guita! ¡Guita! Decía el señor engominado"note to "¡Guita! ¡Guita! ¡Guita! Decía el señor de la pelada"note , the reference needing no explanation at all.
- Title Drop: Much like Los Redondos, Skay avoids the Title Track. However, the lyrics actually hide the album title if one pays enough attention, such as "La Doble Marca", which ends most of its verses with La Marca de Caín.
