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by Marcel Melo Queiroz
Greetings, lovers of good old "Heavy Rock". This time I bring some good recommendations about guitar legends in Brazil. The intention is not to place any of them in a privileged position to the detriment of others, but to provide a retrospective of some of the most important guitarists in the country.
It's important to clarify that some of them don't exactly fit into the "Rock" genre, but they were essential influences on the great guitar heroes within Rock/Hard/Heavy Metal. I also tried to place them chronologically, so we can see a bit of the evolution the guitar has undergone over the years. So without further ado, let's go:
Renato Barros
What can be said about the leader of a band with no less than 55 years on the road? That's right. If you think the Rolling Stones are the oldest active band, you should start giving more credit to these gentlemen, who have absolutely never taken a single break from their career. Renato Barros was probably the first musician in Brazil to influence many young people to pick up a guitar, thanks to his performances on the "Jovem Guarda" program. The vast majority of his hits were Portuguese versions of songs by bands from the 60s, and they were always very good. Seeing a gentleman who is over 80 wielding a guitar for anyone who wants to see and hear Rock and Roll in its purest form is, at the very least, something to be respected.
Paulo Rafael
Paulo Rafael, a longtime collaborator of Alceu Valença, the most rock-oriented singer in Brazilian Popular Music (MPB), became known not only in Brazil starting in the 1970s. The partnership was so successful that Alceu's band performed several times at the prestigious Montreux Jazz Festival. Paulo's style is a great mix of Northeastern rhythms, with plenty of Blues and some touches of Progressive Rock. Essential listening for anyone who enjoys the blends presented by bands like Angra and Sepultura.
Armandinho
In the 1970s, Trio Elétrico wasn't a carnival float that revelers chased after, but rather the name of a dazzling band from Bahia, formed by Armandinho, Dodô, and Osmar. Genius is the only word that fits to define this musician's musicality. He invented the Guitarra Baiana, an electric and metallic version of the mandolin, with a unique sound. Indispensable for those who enjoy lightning-fast yet melodic solos.
Pepeu Gomes
For many, the greatest Brazilian guitarist of all time. There's not much more to say about Pepeu, a man of unparalleled virtuosity and melody. One of the pioneers in fusing heavy rock with Brazilian rhythms. Rumors say he was even invited to play with Megadeth and Living Colour. Whether that's true or not, we may never know, but what truly matters is the unparalleled work of this genius.
Robertinho from Recife
One of the pioneers of Metal in Brazil. He recorded the album "MetalMania," a huge success in the 80s, which led the group to open for the band Quiet Riot. He also founded the Hard Rock band "Yahoo," where he stood out with the song "Mordida de Amor," a version of "Love Bites" by Def Leppard. You might even find the lyrics cheesy, which doesn't mean it's bad, but it's undeniable that Robertinho's solo was much better than the original version by the English band.
Claudio Venturini
One of the founders of the band 14 Bis, a pioneer of Brazilian Progressive Rock. Possessing a technique that perfectly combines virtuosity and melody. After his brother Flávio left the band, he proved that he was also a great vocalist, while simultaneously playing the complex riffs and solos of the songs. Due to the poor productions in Brazil during the 1980s, the songs lacked any weight, which became evident with the 1987 live album "Ao Vivo," where the songs were performed with much more speed and power compared to the studio versions. Another great musician, unfortunately underestimated by the general public.
Andreas Kisser
Even though he joined as a replacement for Jairo Guedz, Andreas will forever be remembered as THE GUITARIST OF SEPULTURA. He showed that in Brazil, too, it was possible to make high-quality Extreme Metal like it was being made abroad. He took the guitar in Brazil to an aggressiveness rarely seen before, all without sacrificing technique and melody, which ultimately set him apart from most guitarists of the same genre at the time. He became so well-known in the music scene that he has recorded with musicians from a wide variety of styles, from Pop to Sertanejo (Brazilian country music). A great musician, without a doubt.
Wander Taffo
Rita Lee; Made in Brazil; Secos & Molhados; Joelho de Porco; Rádio Táxi; Banda Taffo; Guilherme Arantes… With a resume like that, does anyone still doubt that Wander was the greatest guitarist in Brazil, and also one of the best in the world, of all time? A guy who is still greatly missed today, who proved that it was possible to make Hard Rock with quality equal to, if not superior to, most bands from abroad. He founded one of the largest music schools in the country, EM&T. A master, a genius, simply irreplaceable.
Eduardo Ardanuy
A guy who defines what it means to be a "Guitar Hero." It's no exaggeration to call him the Brazilian Van Halen. Edu truly deserves all the recognition he has earned. Speed, melody, complexity, virtuosity—in short, everything that the vast majority of "normal" human beings will never achieve. For anyone who likes guitar, it's mandatory to see a Dr. Sin show at least once in a lifetime to get an idea of what it's like to really play guitar and see the almost impossible done in a way that even seems "easy.".
Kiko Loureiro
Who would have thought that the former guitarist of the band Dominó would one day become one of the most respected musicians and guitar teachers not only in Brazil, but also in the world? Besides his work with Angra, proving himself to be perhaps the best guitarist in the history of melodic metal, Kiko also has a solid solo career, where he showcases his virtuosity by mixing rock with world rhythms. I'm sure many people have played a lot of "air guitar" to the sound of this guy's solos.
Juninho Afram
Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Pop Rock, Soul, Funk, Progressive Rock, Prog Metal. One of the most versatile guitarists in the country. He's played practically everything within Rock and Roll. Leader of Oficina G3, a band that has been active since the 80s and has been breaking down many prejudices against Metal, both within and outside the Christian community. The album "Depois da Guerra" (After the War), produced by Marcello Pompeu and Heros Trench of Korzus, is a landmark in the history of Brazilian Metal, showcasing a highly technical and aggressive Prog Metal. Live, Juninho also steals the show, whether displaying his incredible riffs and solos, singing, or showing great charisma with the audience. Another must-see show.
Ozielzinho
Finally, one of the newest phenomena in Brazilian guitar. A representative of the internet generation, he achieved great success with his version of the game "Top Gear," as well as great metal classics like "Mr. Crowley" by Ozzy Osbourne and "Far Beyond The Sun" by Yngwie Malmsteen. He's been performing in workshops all over Brazil and is one of the most promising musical talents in our country. You can be sure that everyone will hear a lot more about this guy, because talent is something he has in abundance.
Obviously, it's impossible to mention all the great guitarists from Brazil. Big names like Sergio Hinds, Moyses Kolesne, Heros Trench, Antônio Araújo, Felipe Machado, Rafael Bittencourt, Kiko Pereira, Hugo Mariutti, Hudson Cadorini, among many others, ended up being left out; unfortunately, injustices sometimes occur. The intention was to show how the guitar and its techniques have evolved over time.
The language wasn't very technical because it was written by someone who appreciates good music but has no skill whatsoever with the instrument. Music, whether instrumental or not, doesn't need words, and every Heavy Metal lover learned that before most other people!
*This text was written by a Wikimate and does not necessarily represent the opinions of the site's authors.
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