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Titãs

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For the band's self-titled debut album, see Titãs (album).

Titãs
Titãs live in 2012. From left to right: Paulo Miklos (former member), Sergio Britto, Mário Fabre (session member), Branco Mello, and Tony Bellotto
Titãs live in 2012. From left to right: Paulo Miklos (former member), Sergio Britto, Mário Fabre (session member), Branco Mello, and Tony Bellotto
Background information
OriginSão Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
GenresAlternative rock, post-punk, pop rock, new wave
Years active1981–present
Labels
MembersTony Bellotto
Branco Mello
Sérgio Britto
Past membersAndré Jung
Arnaldo Antunes
Nando Reis
Ciro Pessoa
Marcelo Fromer
Charles Gavin
Paulo Miklos
Websitetitas.net

Titãs (Portuguese pronunciation: [tʃiˈtɐ̃s]) are a rock band from São Paulo, Brazil. Though they basically play pop/alternative rock, their music has touched a number of other styles throughout their 30-year career, such as new wave, punk rock, grunge, MPB and electronic music.

They are one of the most successful rock bands in Brazil, having sold more than 6.3 million albums[1] and having been covered by several well-known Brazilian artists and a couple of international singers.[2] They were awarded a Latin Grammy in 2009 and have won the Imprensa Trophy for Best Band a record four times.

Titãs started with a rather unusual line-up of nine members (including six lead vocalists): Nando Reis (bass guitar, vocals), Branco Mello (vocals), Marcelo Fromer (Rhythm guitar), Arnaldo Antunes (vocals), Tony Bellotto (Lead guitar), Paulo Miklos (sax, mandolin, harmonica, vocals), André Jung (drums), Sérgio Britto (keyboards, vocals) and Ciro Pessoa (vocals). Pessoa quickly left the band even before their debut album, Titãs, was released. André Jung was the initial drummer, but just after Titãs he also quit and was replaced by Charles Gavin, establishing their classic line-up.

Since then, the band lost five members who were never officially replaced: in 1992, Antunes left to pursue a solo career. In 2002, Fromer died after being hit by a motorcycle in São Paulo. Six months later, Reis also left the group to focus on his solo albums. In 2010, Gavin left due to personal reasons. The most recent change was the departure of Miklos, who wanted to focus on personal projects. After Fromer's death and Reis' departure, the band performed with some session guitarists and bassists, but ended up having Mello and Britto as full-time bassists (with Britto performing only when Mello sings) and Miklos as the rhythm guitarist. After Gavin left, the band has been working with Mario Fabre, a session drummer. For Miklos' position, they hired Rita Lee's son Beto Lee.

The band has released their latest studio album in May 2014, titled Nheengatu.

History

Beginnings and first works

Most of the band members met at Colégio Equipe in São Paulo at the end of the seventies and, after their first live performance at the school itself in 1981, the band began to perform live in several night clubs around the city. The first formation was: Arnaldo Antunes (vocals), Branco Mello (vocals), Marcelo Fromer (Rhythm guitar), Nando Reis (bass guitar), Paulo Miklos (sax and vocals), Sérgio Britto (keyboards and vocals), Tony Bellotto (Lead guitar), Ciro Pessoa (vocals) and André Jung (drums). It was a pop/new wave-styled band, with a rather conventional sound and odd looks, with tender and little ball neckties. In 1984, without Ciro Pessoa, who left over a disagreement about André Jung's drumming skills, the band signed with the WEA label to record their first album, Titãs, produced by Pena Schimdt, and featuring songs previously recorded with Pessoas's vocals. Although poorly promoted and hardly a success, the band spawned their first hit: "Sonífera Ilha", later recorded by singer Moraes Moreira.

In 1985, with Charles Gavin replacing André Jung on drums (the latter going on to Ira!), their second album, Televisão, produced by Lulu Santos, was released with tighter arrangements than their debut album. Not only was the title track a great hit, the album was more heavily promoted than the first one and brought more opportunities to the group.

Into the spotlight

In November 1985, Tony Bellotto and Arnaldo Antunes were arrested for heroin traffic and transportation.[3] The episode made so much of an impact in the band, the next album, Cabeça Dinossauro, released in June 1986, contained a lot of tracks criticizing the public institutions ("Estado Violência" and "Polícia"), as well as other "pillars" of the Brazilian society and indeed society in general ("Igreja" and "Família"). The heavy and punk-influenced rhythms and the forceful lyrics, characteristic of the band in this phase, are fully represented in this album which is considered by the critics one of the best works of the group and one of the landmarks of the Brazilian rock.

Jesus Não Tem Dentes No País Dos Banguelas, released at the end of 1987, continued in the same vein as the previous album in tracks like "Nome aos Bois", "Lugar Nenhum" and "Desordem", however adding samplers in tracks like "Corações e Mentes", "Todo Mundo quer Amor", "Comida" and "Diversão". After some international performances, the band recorded some of their hits in live Montreux Festival and released Go Back in 1988. The biggest hit to come out of Go Back was a live version of the song "Marvin" which is a re-invented version of "Patches" by Clarence Carter made famous by Elvis.

The producer Liminha (a former adjunct member of Os Mutantes) was always an important associate of the band since Cabeça Dinossauro, and this association arrived to its climax in Õ Blésq Blom, one of the most popular productions of the band by that time. Some of the prominence tracks: "Miséria", "Flores", "O Pulso" and "32 Dentes". One of the prominent features of this work was the special guest appearance of a couple of improvisors, called Mauro and Quitéria, discovered by the band in a beach in Recife.

First changes

The band had arrived to a decisive point in its history and the next album, Tudo Ao Mesmo Tempo Agora mark a strong yaw at the musicians' style, searching for heavier, alternative and authorial sound, along with scatological lyrics. The members themselves produced the album and the work was possibly the final reason for Arnaldo Antunes to leave for a solo career. The following album, Titanomaquia, in 1993, continued the previous work in a way, with heavy instrumentation and aggressive lyrics, only now produced by Jack Endino, producer of important bands like Nirvana, which contributioned for the grunge-influenced sound.

The MTV Unplugged era

Titãs, as depicted in their MTV Unplugged album. Standing, from left to right: Marcello Fromer, Paulo Miklos, Branco Mello and Nando Reis. Sitting, from left to right: Sergio Britto, Charles Gavin and Tony Bellotto.

In 1995 the band decided to take a break for one year during which many of its members decided to work solo or work with other bands (most notably Nando Reis), or to do different activities. Tony Bellotto, for example, wrote his first book.

The band released Domingo in the end of 1995, but its popularity only reached a second climax on the commemorative work, Acústico MTV (MTV Unplugged), their most successful album, released in 1997, which sold 1,7 million copies. Recorded Live, Acústico MTV not only revisited their career up to that point but it also had a song which became an immediate hit named "Pra dizer Adeus".

This record was followed by Volume Dois, modeled in the same way of their unplugged album, only recorded in studio. The cover album As Dez Mais wasn't very successful (despite Aluga-se's and Pelados em Santos' charting) and the band decided to make another interval in 2000.

On June 11, 2001 Marcelo Fromer was rammed by a motorcycle[4] in São Paulo and died two days later of Brain death.[5] It was a hard stroke to the band, which started recording their new album the day after. A Melhor Banda de Todos os Tempos da Última Semana was released at the end of 2001 and brought "Epitáfio" as the prominence song and "the title track as the first single.

Regarding the death of Marcelo, this statement was published on June 20, 2001 at Titãs official site:[6]

Despite the pain that Marcelo's absence has caused, we have decided to enter the studio to record this record that we created and arranged together with him, about which we were - and still are - enthusiastic. We feel that the best way to overcome this difficult moment is to continue with what always held us together: the music. Once again, thanks for all the support and kindness from fans and friends.

The band later saw the departure of Nando Reis, who has since lead a successful solo career (including songs penned for other artists) fronting his own band Nando Reis e os Infernais. He announced his parting on September 9, 2002, giving "thought incompatibility" as a reason and also saying Fromer's and his close friend Cássia Eller's deaths left him very upset:[7]

My decision of leaving the group is uniquely and exclusively due to a thought incompatibility regarding the future of the preparation of what would be our next album. For believing that such work requires the total dedication that for personal reasons I cannot offer, we agreed it would be best for me to leave at the start of the preparation and the sessions. I do it with deep regrets in my heart since in no moment I ever thought this would happen.

After Nando's departure

Titãs performing live in Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná, in 2006

The band hired the bass guitarist Lee Marcucci (from Radio Taxi) to play in their album Como Estão Vocês? (How Are You?). As this album was released, the five remaining members continued to write the history of more than 20 years of the band. With self-help hits as "Enquanto Houver Sol", questions on relevance remain on Titãs' side, which faced declining sales and the ageing of their fanbase.

In 2005, they released another MTV-branded album, only this time in a non-acoustic live performance. This album generated a new hit for the group, called "Vossa Excelência", that basically criticizes the hypocrisy and lack of care from politicians, thus bringing the band back to its roots. It was seen as another opportunistic stunt by Brazilian critics, as the song was released exactly when Lula's government was facing manifold accusations of corruption.

On February 18, 2006, Titãs opened the Rolling Stones free concert at Copacabana beach, Rio de Janeiro for an audience of some 1.5 million people.[8]

In 2007, the band started a tour, entitled 25 Anos de Rock (25 Years of Rock), joining Os Paralamas do Sucesso to celebrate the 25th anniversary of both bands, as well as the 25th anniversary of the rising of 1980s Brazilian rock bands. The two line-ups played together most of the time on the shows, presenting also some invited musicians, like Arnaldo Antunes, Andreas Kisser and Dado Villa-Lobos. The concert in Rio de Janeiro, which took place at January 26, 2008, was recorded and filmed. The resulting CD and DVD from the show were released five months after.

Documentary and Sacos Plásticos

The band released a documentary of the 25 years of their career. The documentary features 90 minutes of images collected since the beginning of the band, including recording of albums, live performances, and more. It is titled "Titãs - A Vida Até Parece Uma Festa".[9]

For most of 2008 and early 2009, the band recorded their 13th studio album, the Latin Grammy-winner[10] Sacos Plásticos. The album was released on June 3, 2009, through Arsenal Music. The producer, Rick Bonadio, had already worked with artists such as Fresno and NX Zero.[11]

The first single from the album was "Antes de Você" ("Before You"),[12] and it received radio airplay on May 7.[13] It was featured at the Caras & Bocas (current 19pm Rede Globo telenovela) soundtrack.[12] The second single was "Porque Eu Sei que É Amor" (Because I Know It's Love) which was featured in Cama de Gato (a Brazilian telenovela that also features the song "Pelo Avesso" as opening theme, from their 2003 album Como Estão Vocês?) and reached #16 at Brasil Hot 100 Airplay [14]

In an interview to Jornal da Tarde, and regarding the music of the new album, Bonadio stated:[15]

They have an endless talent. I don't want to make just another album of Titãs, don't want it to be similar to the others. I ended up proposing some electronic stuff, and they accepted it immedeatly. There are songs with no drums, songs with various electronic elements. That's an example of how to become mature and keep this professional conscience. They are ethic with their sound, but are not dumb.

Gavin's departure, tour and 30th birthday

On February 12, 2010, Titãs announced in their official website that drummer Charles Gavin would leave the band for personal reasons.[16] Gavin later stated that he was physically and mentally exhausted because of the tours and album releases.[17] The quartet continued their performances of the Sacos Plásticos tour with drummer Mario Fabre,[16] which is still with the band as of 2014, though not as an official member. Fabre was suggested by Gavin himself.[18] When asked about the status of Fabre in the band, Bellotto explained that "he is the official drummer! He's the drummer of Titãs! But he isn't one of Titãs, because our history began long ago, at Greek mythology... "[19]

During an interview, keyboardist Sérgio Britto said the band was planning to start recording a new album in 2011.[20] Nothing else was said since then, until March 2013, when they revealed they were starting to work on a new album, to be released in the second half of 2013.[21] The album will be self-produced, and, according to Britto, it will be "a mixture between Cabeça Dinossauro and Õ Blésq Blom.[21]

In January 2012, the band announced a live performance in company of ex-members Arnaldo Antunes, Nando Reis and Charles Gavin.[22] The show would celebrate the 30-year career of the band, and would include guest performances of other friends of the band, and may be released as a DVD.[22] According to vocalist, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Paulo Miklos:[22]

We are going to call ex-Titãs and other great friends and contemporaries to a great party. Everyone who was part of our history will be invited. We cannot give more details, because we need to concatenate schedules to turn this dream of ours into reality.

The reunion took place on October 6, 2012, in São Paulo. For the first time since 1997's Acústico MTV, the seven original members of the band reunited for a one-night performance.[23] According to guitarist Tony Bellotto:[23]

We could savor their presence, since the backstage, during the sessions, until the show. It was very nice to remember of all that and to see that, even if they have their solo careers, they are with us.

Titãs Inédito and Nheengatu

Titãs as of 2013. From left to right: Tony Bellotto, Paulo Miklos, Branco Mello, and Sergio Britto.

As of 2013, Titãs has been performing new songs live, part of their Titãs Inédito (Titãs Unseen) tour.[24][25] They are planning to begin work on a new album on April or May 2014.[25] Miklos says the album is likely to be "heavy, dirty and mean".[25] Later, Britto confirmed that the album would be released in early May and that the band was already recording songs for it, but it was yet to be titled.[26] In March, radio Globo FM announced that the album would be actually released in April and would feature 14 tracks.[27] On April 16, the band announced that the album was ready and would be really released in May, via Som Livre records.[28] On April 28, they announced the title, cover and release date for the album, which is called Nheengatu and was released on 12 May.[29] On August 2015, they released Nheengatu ao Vivo, a live album and DVD with songs from their Nheengatu Tour.[30]

On February 2016, they opened a Rolling Stones Brazilian show for a second and third time, this time at the Morumbi Stadium in São Paulo, on two different dates.[31]

Miklos departure

In July 11, 2016, vocalist, guitarist and founding member Paulo Miklos announced he would leave the band to focus on his personal projects. He was then replaced by session member Beto Lee, son of Brazilian notorious rock singer Rita Lee.[32]

Members

Current
Past
Session musicians
Timeline

Discography

Main article: Titãs discography

Awards

References

  1. ^ "Vendagem". País dos Banguelas (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on February 19, 2012. Retrieved June 2, 2015.
  2. ^ Titãs' covers by other artists at País dos Banguelas
  3. ^ Titãs history at the official website
  4. ^ Rondon, José Eduardo (June 12, 2001). "Marcelo Fromer, do Titãs, é atropelado em SP e está em estado grave" (in Portuguese). Folha Online. Retrieved April 19, 2008.
  5. ^ "Exames clínicos comprovam morte cerebral do músico Marcelo Fromer" (in Portuguese). Folha Online. June 13, 2001. Retrieved April 19, 2008.
  6. ^ MARCELO FROMER (03 Dec 1961 - 13 June 2001) - A True Titan - Jack Endino's official website
  7. ^ Barbosa, Marco Antonio (September 9, 2002). "Nando Reis abandona os Titãs". Cliquemusic. UOL. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  8. ^ "Titãs ! Live in Concert ! Brazilian Rock !". SF Station. Retrieved January 29, 2009.
  9. ^ Alencar, Juliana (May 15, 2008). "Documentário sobre os 25 anos dos Titãs resgata história da banda em imagens inéditas" (in Portuguese). O Globo. Retrieved July 9, 2008.
  10. ^ Los ganadores del Latin GRAMMY
  11. ^ Camargo, Raquel (October 17, 2008). "Com gravadora nova, Titãs trabalha em seu próximo lançamento" (in Portuguese). Cifraclub.com. Retrieved October 23, 2008.
  12. ^ a b "Com novo álbum quase pronto, Titãs anuncia primeiro 'single'" (in Portuguese). Canal Pop. January 29, 2009. Archived from the original on July 24, 2009. Retrieved January 29, 2009.
  13. ^ Correa, Paola (May 6, 2009). ""Antes de você" lança nova fase do Titãs" (in Portuguese). O Diário de S. Paulo. Retrieved May 8, 2009.
  14. ^ Brasil Hot 100 Airplay
  15. ^ Bezzi, Marco (February 16, 2009). "'Los Hermanos é a banda mais chata que eu já escutei'" (in Portuguese). Jornal da Tarde. Retrieved February 19, 2009.
  16. ^ a b "Comunicado Titãs". Titãs' official site. February 12, 2010. Retrieved February 12, 2010. {{cite web}}: |first= missing |last= (help)
  17. ^ Nascimento, André (February 14, 2010). "Titãs: Charles Gavin revela motivos de saída da banda" (in Portuguese). Whiplash.net. Retrieved February 16, 2010.
  18. ^ Del Ré, Adriana (May 21, 2014). "Titãs criam crônicas da sociedade atual conduzidas pelo rock pesado". O Estado de S. Paulo (in Portuguese). Grupo Estado. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
  19. ^ Eduardo, Bruno. "Titãs fala ao Rock On Board sobre novo disco e show no Circo Voador". Rock on Board. Retrieved December 28, 2014.
  20. ^ Campanharo, Carol; Marmo, Hérica (May 25, 2010). "Titãs: Sérgio Britto fala sobre a saída de Charles Gavin" (in Portuguese). Extra.com. Retrieved July 12, 2010.
  21. ^ a b Bergamo, Mônica (March 24, 2013). "Com 30 anos de estrada, Titãs se unem à nova geração do humor em filme e preparam disco". Folha de S.Paulo (in Portuguese). São Paulo: Grupo Folha. Retrieved March 26, 2013.
  22. ^ a b c Matos, Carlos Eduardo (January 21, 2012). "21/01/2012 22h29 - Atualizado em 21/01/2012 22h37 Titãs anunciam show de 30 anos com ex-integrantes no palco" (in Portuguese). Manaus: G1. Retrieved January 22, 2012.
  23. ^ a b Antunes, Pedro (October 19, 2012). ""Seria uma estupidez completar 30 anos e não comemorar", diz Branco Mello, do Titãs" (in Portuguese). Rolling Stone Brasil. Retrieved October 21, 2012.
  24. ^ "Voltar Titãs - Inédito - Metrópolis 15/10/2013". Metrópolis (in Portuguese). TV Cultura. October 16, 2013. Retrieved November 13, 2013.
  25. ^ a b c Bernardo, Kaluan; Amado, Miguel; Luz, Camila. "Perdidos entrevista: Paulo Miklos (Titãs)" (in Portuguese).
  26. ^ "O rock dos Titãs". Tribuna do Norte (in Portuguese). February 14, 2014. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  27. ^ "Titãs vai lançar novo álbum em abril". Globo FM (in Portuguese). Organizações Globo. March 10, 2014. Retrieved March 11, 2014.
  28. ^ "Announcement". Titãs' official Facebook page (in Portuguese). Facebook. April 16, 2014. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  29. ^ "Novo disco dos Titãs se chama 'Nheengatu' e tem pintura de Bruegel na capa". Vírgula (in Portuguese). Universo Online. April 28, 2014. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
  30. ^ "Exclusivo: Tony Bellotto fala sobre as gravações do novo DVD dos Titãs e reforça o papel político da música". Rolling Stone Brasil. Retrieved September 12, 2015.
  31. ^ "Titãs, Ultraje a Rigor e Cachorro Grande vão abrir shows dos Stones". G1 (in Portuguese). São Paulo: Grupo Globo. February 5, 2016. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
  32. ^ "Paulo Miklos deixa o Titãs, e Beto Lee entra para a banda". G1 (in Portuguese). São Paulo: Grupo Globo. July 11, 2016. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  33. ^ Troféu Imprensa 1987
  34. ^ Troféu Imprensa 1988
  35. ^ a b "Troféu Imprensa 1997" (in Portuguese). Retrieved January 1, 2009.
  36. ^ Troféu Imprensa 1998
  37. ^ a b c d e f g h "Prêmio Multishow 2008" (in Portuguese). Retrieved January 1, 2009.
  38. ^ Filme / Doc. Musical do Ano
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