Spanish progressive rock keyboardist Marcos Mantero passed away on December 7, 2014. He was 63 years old.
Marcos Mantero de Aspe was a musician and medical doctor. He was best known for his labor during the 1970s with various progressive rock acts. Marcos worked with the iconic multi-instrumentalist Gualberto in his Vericuetos album and also with Eduardo Bort. Marcos later joined Iman, an essential Andalusian progressive rock band with whom he recorded two masterful works, “Imán Califato Independiente” (1978) and “Camino del águila” (1980).
After Iman disbanded, Marcos recorded a single together with his former Iman bandmate, guitarist Manuel Rodríguez under the name Mantero y Rodríguez S. L.
Marcos moved to Madrid in the 1980s where he worked with several new wave bands during the famed ‘movida’ era, including Alaska y los Pegamoides and Dinarama. He also played live with singer-songwriter Joaquín Sabina, with whom he recorded the “Joaquín Sabina y Viceversa en directo” live album in 1986.
He eventually retired from making music and worked at a medical practice during the last two decades. Iman reunited in 2006 to celebrate its 30th anniversary and released 30 Aniversario (Aristillus, 2006). Marcos’ last progressive rock appearance was on the Senogul III (Musea, 2011) album.