Text and interview by Matheus Jacques
From hardcore and alternative rock to doom, experimenting with diverse sounds, Flávio Cavichioli has made his mark in representative bands of the Brazilian underground scene.
The drummer, who has played in bands like Pin-Ups and Forgotten Boys , and is currently in Weedevil , spoke with Wikimetal about his career and his new band. Check out the full interview!
Wikimetal: Hey Flávio! It's a pleasure to be exchanging ideas with you about your work. I'd like you to give a short presentation to the group, if possible.
Flávio Cavichioli : Hey Matheus. I'm the one who should be thanking you for the opportunity. Well, here goes: for those who don't know me, I'm the drummer and founder of Weedevil, husband of Lua, father of Andrews and Iggy, Gemini, cannabis enthusiast, Black Sabbath fan, and so on [laughs].
WM: At what point and with what perspectives did you start playing drums? Where did your love for the instrument come from? Did you have a family inspiration, or were the factors more external and less close to you?
FC: My relationship with the drums started early. My father was a drummer and since I was a child he always supported and encouraged me, but I only got my first drum set around the mid-80s, a taiko drum exactly like the one Iggor Cavalera is using in the photos on the back cover of Sepultura , Morbid Visions . It was crude, but it was with that first drum set that I learned to play.
WM: In a more "official" segment, and already with a band, what was your first experience as a drummer, and what was the background involved?
FC: My first band was Evil Doer (thrash metal, 1987), but my first official recording came much later, in 1993, on the compilation Fun Milk & Destroy . On it, I recorded 4 songs with IML ( Intense Manner of Living ), which was produced by João Gordo and released on vinyl at the time by the defunct Devil Discos label. Before that, I had only recorded some demos.
WM: You've been directly involved with bands ranging from punk and alternative rock (Forgotten Boys) to doom metal (Weedevil). Speaking of the former, in which you were for about ten years, how did you join the band?
FC: I was invited to join Forgotten Boys after the late Arthur Franquini decided he would no longer be the drummer and would pursue his solo career. I remember I was at Matrix (a famous underground bar here in São Paulo in the 90s and early 2000s), and Gustavo [ Riviera ] and Chuck [ Hipolitho ] arrived and invited me to join the band. Since I was without a band at the time ( Pin Ups had broken up for the first time), I decided to accept; I already liked the band and stayed there for 10 years.
WM: From this experience, in terms of shows or even just the experience of being on the road, do you have any particularly striking memories, any specific impression that stands out? And how many studio recordings of yours with the band exist? Any favorites?
WM: With Forgotten, we opened for three shows that really stuck with me: MC5 , New York Dolls , and Guns N' Roses . Actually, I remember very little from that time; it was crazy, lots of drugs, groupies… everything was excessive. One memory I cherish is when I met and worked with Roy Cicala (the producer who worked with John Lennon in the 70s); it was an honor to have recorded "Louva a Deus" with him. With Forgotten, I recorded four full albums and a split. My favorite of theirs, without a doubt, is Gimme More , which this year is finally getting a vinyl edition from 13 Records.
WM: Before joining Forgotten, what other projects were you involved in that you'd like to highlight or talk about? And could you recommend some material from each for those who want to learn more?
WM: Before playing with Forgotten, I was already part of Pin Ups, with whom I recorded two albums and an EP. For those who don't know my work with them, I recommend the 2019 album Long Time no See . I was with Pin Ups from 1996 to 2019, but before that the band had broken up in early 2000 and returned to the stage in 2015 after a show we did at Sesc Pompéia.
WM: Speaking a little about your influences and tastes, now. What were the first, and main, bands that led you to like rock, to consolidate your musical taste?
FC: My contact with rock music began in childhood. I remember having some of my older brother's records at home, like Alice Cooper's "Killer, Slade album , a Rolling Stones , Focus Beatles single … I remember always putting those records on to listen to. Later I discovered Kiss in 1983, the first time they came to Brazil, and I haven't stopped listening since. The first two albums I owned were Creatures of the Night and the first Black Sabbath album . Besides Kiss and Sabbath, I listened to bands from that era, a lot of Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Motörhead, AC/DC …
WM: And about drummers, of course: who are your main influences when it comes to playing and composing?
FC: My main influences, besides my father, were Peter Criss, Eric Carr (I was a huge Kiss ), Bill Ward , and John Bonham.
WM: Punk and hardcore are genres that have always been very present in the influences of the projects you've participated in, and then comes Weedevil, venturing into stoner and doom. Have these last two genres always been present in your musical taste, or was it something that came later?
FC: As I said above, I got my first Sabbath record in 1983. In the 90s, I listened a lot to Kyuss, Fu Manchu, COC, I also knew Monster Magnet, Melvins, Clutch, Down, Crowbar, Cathedral … bands that were always played on MTV's specific programming, on shows like Fúria Metal and Lado B. Besides that, I also always really liked Soundgarden and Alice in Chains, who had a slower sound with Sabbath influences.
WM: Weedevil, formed in 2019, is a band that, despite its relatively short existence, has become increasingly well-known, achieving some great successes, playing significant shows, and even releasing music in three physical formats: CD, LP, and cassette. When did your desire to start a project like this arise?
FC: I'd actually had this idea of making a heavier sound for a while, but I'd never put it into practice. In 2018, when The Science Sleep 's comeback album ) came out, I dove headfirst into the stoner/doom genre, and that's when I discovered the band Pesta . When I heard them, I thought they were awesome and it rekindled my desire to start a band to make a heavier, more dragging sound. That's how the idea of forming my own band, Weedevil, came about.
WM: The debut EP came out in 2020 and features a very different lineup from the current one. How was the connection with the members of that lineup at the time, where did the contact come from?
FC: So, the process was as follows: when I had the idea to put the band together, it was just me and the idea [laughs]. So much so that I had already signed with Abraxas Records even before the band was formed. All contact with the members of this lineup was through Facebook; I didn't know any of them personally. One of them, the bassist, I met in one of those "Musician Wanted" groups. With this lineup, we only did 3 shows and recorded this EP and the 2021 EP, *The Death is Coming *. Then the pandemic hit, and for logistical reasons, the vocalist and guitarist left.
WM: The most noteworthy material in the band's history to date is certainly The Return , released in 2022. The album, as mentioned, has three physical versions and maintains the identity of always having a woman on vocals, in this case Lo Scar. How did the contact with her to join the album come about, and also the rest of the band? And what were the main musical influences for the composition of the release?
FC: The process for The Return was as follows: after the good reception of Death is Coming, the Dutch label DHU Records showed interest in releasing our full album on vinyl. However, vocalist Fabrina and guitarist Caio left the band for reasons I mentioned above, and everything was already set for the vinyl release by DHU. Lorraine (Lo Scar) joined through a friend's recommendation, also via a Facebook group. She came, auditioned, and recorded the album. Of the other members, I already knew Bodão, he was a friend from the neighborhood, and Paulo was recommended by Lo Scar itself. Regarding influences, there wasn't anything directly. I personally remember listening a lot to the last album by the Swedish band "Your Time to Shine" and the last Mastodon , Hushed and Grim , but that didn't influence the composition of The Return at all. I personally think Weedevil is an influence, but nothing so direct. It would be cliché, but obviously Black Sabbath is an influence.
WM: Currently, we have some new members compared to the band's previous lineup, now including two new guitarists. What can you tell us about these new additions to the band, and what's the current situation with the group?
FC: Yes, from the original lineup of The Return , only I remain. Dark Jordão ( Fuzzly , an old and important stoner rock band) and Renan Casarin ( Mudness , a stoner/doom band from Santa Catarina) joined on guitars. Lo left, and there was a stint with Verena May ( Venus in Aries) , who is no longer in the band. Currently, we are in a testing and consolidation period with a new vocalist, who should record new tracks with the band and will be announced soon. The bassist will also be announced in the future.
WM: I believe Weedevil already has some new plans and future projects to present. Can you give us any spoilers about these new developments?
FC: What I can say in advance is that we're going into the studio this February to record two new songs, which will be part of a split with the Mexican doom metal band Electric Cult , and should probably be released around April.
WM: I'll leave this space here for you to leave your final message, and thank you very much for your time and attention!
FC: I'm the one who should be thanking you, Matheus. Thank you to everyone who supports us, comes to our shows, follows us on social media, and enjoys our music. Thank you very much.
