It’s Thursday at dusk. I had a lot I wanted to write this evening, the usual scattered notes and outline to flesh out, the blanks to fill in for a Friday news page update from a pretty eventful week. But… it will wait. Marciano Cantero has passed a few hours ago in Argentina.
We are heartbroken for our brothers in the band and crew of Los Enanitos Verdes, and his family. Our deepest condolences are with all of you, and all of his fans worldwide. Some of you may or may not know who he was, but many millions of Spanish-speaking rock fans all over the world do, and it was to them he and the band gave about four decades of hope and music and love to... and some of us too! Because to him there was no them or us, we just had different words. You felt this around him. It was SO much fun to have our Birdsong basses in his hands for some of those more recent years and tours. The best memory was a late phone call I got when Marciano said "Ehh-Scott, we justaplay for… eighta zero, zero zero zero (80,000) - they singeh my words back to me - I felt like Bono!" and laughed.
We spoke the same language in bass guitar feel and tone, and he knew his biggest service was to make the people feel good; to fill this world with as much music as he could. Well done, amigo. Carry our love with you into the great mystery. ~Scott and the Birdsong Guitars circle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmOP-YkekUk
https://www.rollingstone.com/.../marciano-cantero.../
https://www.billboard.com/.../los-enanitos-verdes-singer.../
Marciano tinkered up crude basses as part of his quest, and they felt right at home to me because, with no prior collaboration, what I did just happened to be far more refined versions of what he wanted. We were SO on the same page, communicating with broken English, poquito Espanol, and lots of quickly drawn sketches on backstage napkins. There's a band name for you - "Hey, we're Backstage Napkins, from Seattle - thanks for coming out tonight!" Anyhow, we took this picture - him with his then latest Birdsong bass, and me, the Birdsong guy, with one of his.
I want everyone to know this guy paid for everything he got from our little shop, and I repeatedly told him I wanted to trade for one of his creations and he laughed at me every time. I was serious. It would have been hilarious, but so cool. I've been super lucky to meet really cool people through my work as a bass builder, but let me tell you - the business is full of jagoffs and full of people who nut-swing about what great guys they are. I don't do that. So when I tell you that Marciano Cantero was a deep good man with a heart of gold, very humble and grateful and kind, that is the truth. He brought the music to the people with genuine care and love. He knew it helped; he knew it healed. Our tapestries of life are woven with thin threads, and I'm ever grateful one of mine led to Marciano and Los Enanitos Verdes - ALL great guys. Peace be with all of you.