Lavrentis Machairitsas

Lavrentis Machairitsas (Greek: Λαυρέντης Μαχαιρίτσας, born 5 November 1956) is a Greek rock musician from Nea Ionia, Volos, Thessaly, Greece.

Biography
Early years

Machairitsas was born in Nea Ionia, Volos and began taking piano lessons at the age of six. These lessons lasted a year. At the age of nine he bought his first record, Help! by the Beatles. Three years later, he discovered Revolver by the Beatles.

His first job was at a record store, but because of his lack of punctuality he was fired. He disliked school, and after he started a fight with one of his teachers, he was expelled and excluded from all high schools. He went through countless jobs and served in the army for 14 months.

Termites

When he left the army, he started singing with Panos Tzabelas in Syntrofia. At the age of 20 he (as Larry), Pavlos Kirkilis (Paul), Takis Bassalakis (Jimmy), and Antonis Mitzelos formed a band called P.L.J. They moved to Paris, hoping for a musical career outside Greece. In 1982, their first album, Armageddon, produced by Giannis Doulamis, was released by PolyGram. At the time, the style of rock employed in Armageddon was not very popular, but it is now well thought of.

For their second album, they changed their name to Termites and started singing in Greek. In 1984, their third record had a positive reception, and they began gaining in popularity. Giorgos Dalaras is also featured in this album. In 1986 they released their fourth album. The last studio record from Termites was "Perimenontas Tin Vrochi" (Waiting For the Rain), released in 1988.

Solo career

Machairitsas began his solo career in 1989 as a writer and performer. His first album was O Magapas Kai I Sagapo, released by Minos-EMI. In 1991 he released Didymoteicho Blues, which was certified Gold.

Rixe Kokkino Stin Nichta was released in 1993 and featured many other artists. Since then he has been working closely with Dionysis Tsaknis, another well known Greek musician. Almost all their live appearances are made together. Their live performances have also been made into records.

In 1995, he released Parathyra Pou Kourase I Thea, considered by many[who?] to be his best album yet. In 1996, he released Pafsilypon with many other artists. Three years later, he released Etsi Drapetevo Ap' Tis Parees, again with many well-known musicians, especially in the song "Kai Ti Zitao". He then composed the music for the movie Enas Kai Enas. In 2001 he released To Dialeimma Krataei Dyo Zoes, which included songs such as "Matia Dihos Logiki", "Ela Psihoula Mou" and "O Egokentrikos". In 2002 he wrote the music for Giannis Kotsiras' album Xylino Alogaki. His next release was the two-disk album Tosa Chronia Mia Anasa (2007). It included a new song (the title song) and 34 of his career's greatest hits, being his first "best of" album.

Besides the many albums, Machairitsas and Tsaknis hold many concerts all over Greece during the summer. He has also held concerts with Eleftheria Arvanitaki, Haris Alexiou, Vasilis Papakonstantinou, Pyx Lax, Christos Thivaios and many more[1]

Machairitsas continues to work in Greek rock music and to compose.

In 2016, Machairitsas performed at the Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College in New York during AKTINA's Greek Music Journey concert series.[2]

Discography

Year	Title	Certification
1989	O Magapas kai i Sagapo	-
1991	Dydimoteicho Blues	Gold [3]
1993	Rixe Kokkino Sti Nyhta	-
1994	H Nyhta Tha To Pei (Live) with Dionysis Tsaknis	-
1995	Parathyra Pou Kourase i Thea	-
1997	Pafsilipon	Platinum
1999	Etsi Drapetevo Apo Tis Parees	-
2000	Ena ki Enas (OST)	-
2001	To Dialeimma Krataei Dyo Zoes	Platinum
2001	Efapax (cd-single) with Yannis Kotsiras	Gold
2003	Sto Afierono	-
2004	Hreiazetai Ena Thavma Edo (cd-single) with D. Tsaknis & Filippos Pliatsikas	-
2005	Alkyonides Meres (Live)	-
2006	Iroes Me Carbon	-
2007	Tosa Hronia Mia Anasa (Best of)	Gold [4]
2009	Pethaino Yia Sena (OST)	-
2010	H Enohi ton Amnon	Platinum [5]
2012	Oi Aggeloi Zoun Akomi Sti Mesogeio	-
2014	Mia Trypa Ston Kairo... Kyrie Mano	-
2017	Allaxan Polla	-

References

"Lavrentis Machairitsas at the garden of Megaro Mousikis 2013".
"Lavrentis Machairitsas Captures The Hearts of All during Aktina's Greek Music Journey". Neomagazine.com. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
"Λαυρέντης Μαχαιρίτσας, Μηνιαίο Περιοδικό Πολιτισμού". Os3.gr. Retrieved 2012-02-27.
"Λαυρέντης Μαχαιρίτσας: Απονομή και παρουσίαση soundtrack". Musicheaven.gr. Retrieved 2012-02-27.

"Απονομη Πλατινενιου Δισκου Στον Λαυρεντη Μαχαιριτσα! | Μουσικά Νέα". Entechnanews.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2012-02-27.

Sources

https://web.archive.org/web/20110106045532/http://www.machairitsas.gr/
http://portal.kithara.gr/modules.php?name=kiSongdb&file=index&func=bio&who=maxairitsas+laurentgs
http://vidq.gr/maxairitsas/viografiko.htm (Greek)

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