Latin American rock legend Gustavo Cerati passes away at 55

PanARMENIAN.Net - Gustavo Cerati passed away on Thursday, September 4 at the ALCLA medical center in Buenos Aires. The Grammy-winning singer died of respiratory arrest due to brain damage after being in a coma for four years. Gustavo had been in a coma since he suffered a stroke at the end of a concert in Caracas, Venezuela in 2010.

A spokesman for the clinic confirmed the sad news, saying, "Sadly, Gustavo passed away this morning as a consequence of a cardio-respiratory failure we weren't able to revert. He had kept stable all throughout this time." Gustavo's family said that a public wake for the rock legend would be held at the Buenos Aires Legislature.

Gustavo's friend, Shakira, paid tribute to him on Twitter. "Gustavo, our most important song is yet to be written. I love you, my friend. And I know you love me," wrote the "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)" singer. Meanwhile, Ricky Martin tweeted, "RIP Gustavo Cerati."

Influenced by British rock band The Police, Gustavo formed band Soda Stereo with bassist Zeta Bosio and drummer Charly Alberti in the early 1980s. The band's biggest hits, including "Cuando Pase el Temblor", "Musica Ligera" and "La Ciudad de la Furia", were popular all across Latin America and Spain in the 1980s and 1990s. The band split up in 1997 but reunited in 2007 for a farewell tour.

Gustavo is survived by two children, Lisa and Benedict.