Charly García took the band under his wing after dissolving Serú Girán, and the Abuelos played in García's 1982 Christmas concert. García also drafted López, Melingo and Calamaro for his band, in parallel with their work for the "Abuelos". The 1983 debut album included many compositions by Abuelo-López, and a reggae hit by Calamaro's former partner Gringui Herrera, "Tristezas de la ciudad" (City blues). For their 1983 album, "Vasos y Besos" (Glasses and Kisses), Melingo wrote his own reggae hit: "Chala-man", Bazterrica contributed "No se desesperen" (Don't despair), and Calamaro chimed in with "Mil horas" (A thousand hours). The band became popular with rockers and more pop-oriented audiences. Especially, Calamaro was favored by teenage girls looking for an "edgier" idol than balladeer Alejandro Lerner. The album sold a solid 160,000 records, and was presented in a six-month country-wide tour. Record executives arranged to send the band to Ibiza for the recording of their 1984 album, "Himno de mi Corazón" (Hymn of my heart). Buoyed by reviving some of his good Ibiza memories and by a new love interest, Abuelo was in unusually good spirits throughout the sessions. The album became a sales hit as expected. Later that year, Melingo, who was also working with García and another band (Los Twist), called it quits and was replaced by Alfredo Desiata. By early 1985, the band's spirits were damaged due to Bazterrica's antics (he had become addicted to cocaine, and was separated from the band after missing several dates), and to the rivalry between Abuelo and Calamaro for top billing. About that time, Calamaro wrote what would be his last mega-hit with the band: "Costumbres argentinas" (Argentine habits). Sensing that the band was on the verge of dissolution, Calamaro and López persuaded Abuelo to record a live album in their last major concert, in the Opera theater in Buenos Aires on May 1985. For the occasion, Gringui Herrera replaced Bazterrica, Juan del Barrio reinforced Calamaro in keyboards, and Melingo played some songs as a guest musician.