Derrick Green , vocalist of Sepultura , faced great challenges when he accepted the difficult mission of replacing Max Cavalera in the band. When he accepted the position and moved to Brazil, the singer knew nothing about the country – and had no idea of the group's fame here.
The year was 1998, and internet access didn't exist like it does today. “I didn't know Brazil, I didn't know anything about the culture or the language. I didn't have any Brazilian friends. I knew nothing, I was completely ignorant about Brazil,” he recounted in an interview with V13.net (via Blabbermouth) . “But I went to the library, I borrowed some books, because there was no real internet back then. I had my library card. I was like, 'Okay, let me see what this place is all about.' And it didn't do the country justice.”
Currently residing in Los Angeles, Green moved to São Paulo and lived in the city for 20 years. The adaptation had some cultural difficulties, but also the challenges of the band's fame: the group was constantly stopped for autographs and photos, to the point that, in the newcomer's view, "the whole country seemed" to be inhabited by "super fans."
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“I didn’t know [about this success], because there was no internet or anything. After I moved there, it started happening to me because people started thinking, ‘Okay, this is the new face of Sepultura’ after a few years,” he continued. “So I had to adjust my life [to] being recognized and kind of analyzed every time I left the house. And that takes some getting used to. I never imagined this; I never thought this would be my life. So it was difficult. I must say I got a little depressed because I’m not that kind of person. I kind of like to keep to myself and observe.”
Despite disliking drawing attention to himself, Derrick Green's career and appearance didn't help. "I'm a huge guy, 6'3" tall, with dreadlocks and tattoos," he acknowledged. "So that drew attention too – just my appearance, and not just being in the band."
Fortunately, the daily attention was positive "99% of the time." "Brazil is a place that has always believed in Sepultura, despite all the changes that have happened. They always wanted the best for the band because it's a very strong representation of Brazil outside the country," Green concluded.
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