Under the radar, on top of your world: people you should know about.

Our little, early-morning, metal break today brought in more than few inquiries as to the origins of that band of young hellions. Turns out they are the Jorge family of Argentina who, musically, call themselves Los Gauchos de Acero, or the Steel Gauchos if you prefer. The three brothers, Emilio, 15, Agustín, 11, and Martín, 10 are the actual band. Their niece Carlita, only 4 when that Iron Maiden cover song was shot last year, just sat in for the video. But we definitely see a budding performer in anyone who can master a Cher hair toss that young.

A trip around the internets shows that these boys are well on their way to stardom. Their first video was recorded as an audition for a televised, Argentinean talent show. When it was rejected, their dad decided to put it up on YouTube. Within a couple of weeks, millions of people had viewed it and were demanding more.

“YouTube, in the United States, called us up to post more videos on the Internet, because they’re a success,” Víctor Jorge, the father of the young heavy metal rock stars, told IPS [last year].

Since then, the boys have reached over ten million viewers (according to their blog) with their collection of uploaded videos and traveled from their town of Salta in Northern Argentina to perform in Buenos Aires. Including a gig at the very grown up Cosquin Rock Festival early this year. Here’s a video they shot this summer. Looks like Martin has let the metal go to his head, or hair, anyway. But dig him keeping it real with the Spongebob tee.

With their dad Victor being a municipal employee in the provincial capital, the boys were mostly working with borrowed or second hand equipment, but now the Argentine government has even caught Gaucho fever and is supplying them with some financial help. In an interview with Esquire magazine in February of this year, Agustín had this to say about their recent endeavors:

Many [record labels] have called us to record an album, so now we’re composing songs—we want to record our own songs. Also, it’s complicated because we live 1,600 kilometers (994 miles) from Buenos Aires and if we record an album, we’d have to go and promote it and we have school.

Yes, we suppose it’s hard juggling life as a kid and an internet metal god. But the boys seem to be keeping it in check. When asked which he liked better, Pokeman or metal, 10 year-old bassist Martin said:

I like them both equally. And I like them both very much.

Um, we totes agree.

Los Gauchos de Acero [Official Blog]
MUSIC-ARGENTINA: Three Boys Ride the Web to Overnight Rock Fame [IPS]
Viva Los Gauchos! [Esquire]