Key facts
- Hundreds of thousands of fans attended the wake for Argentine rock star Carlos "Indio" Solari.
- Solari, 77, died on Friday from a stroke.
- He was known for his cryptic lyrics and a devoted following across generations.
- His music's distinctively Argentine style limited its international reach.
- Fans gathered in Avellaneda, outer Buenos Aires, to pay their respects.
Hundreds of thousands of fans queued for miles in Avellaneda, outer Buenos Aires, on Sunday to pay tribute to the late rock star Carlos "Indio" Solari.
Solari, who died on Friday at the age of 77 from a stroke, was widely considered Argentina's most popular musician. His final concert in 2017 drew an estimated 400,000 people.
His popularity, however, was largely confined to Argentina and Uruguay, a phenomenon attributed by experts to the unique poetic and musical language of his lyrics. Sociologist Pablo Alabarces noted that Solari's cryptic, yet working-class style was "distinctly Argentine" and difficult for audiences outside the region to fully comprehend.
Journalist Pablo Perantuono described Solari's music as a cosmopolitan synthesis of influences including tango and Anglo-American rock, creating a sound that was hard to trace but deeply appreciated by Argentine audiences for its principled stance. Solari's refusal to sign with major labels and his cultivation of a working-class image were seen as strong statements of principle.
Solari, who openly identified as a Peronist, had his wake ceremony held in Avellaneda, a Peronist-governed district, after the far-right government of Javier Milei rejected a request to hold it in the congress building.
Mourners, including Uruguayan pharmaceutical worker Lorena Núñez, expressed deep personal connections to Solari, viewing him as "like family." They sang his songs, waved banners, and shared memories, highlighting the profound impact his music had on their lives and political consciousness.