Secos & Molhados

Known for their theatrical stage presence and socially conscious message, Brazilian rock band Secos & Molhados was founded in São Paulo in 1971. Originally a trio started by multi-instrumentalist João Ricardo, the group consolidated its lineup a few months later with the addition of vocalist Ney Matogrosso, guitarist Gérson Conrad, and several other backing musicians. Released in 1973, their eponymous studio debut paired the work of authors like Vinícius de Moraes, Manuel Bandeira, and João Apolinário with Brazilian folklore, glam rock, and psychedelic pop. The album was both a critical and commercial blockbuster, selling over 30,000 copies in just a few months and establishing Secos & Molhados as one of the most promising talents of the post-tropicália era. A large part of that success was due to the popularity of the single "Sangue Latino," a breezy folk/MPB hybrid that quickly became one of their signature songs. The group disbanded shortly after releasing their sophomore album Secos & Molhados II in 1974, after which lead singer Ney Matogrosso officially launched his solo career with 1975's Água do Céu - Pássaro. In the following decades, João Ricardo would revive the Secos & Molhados moniker several times with different lineups, releasing LPs such as Secos & Molhados III (1978), Secos e Molhados IV (1980), A Volta do Gato Preto (1988), Teatro? (1999), Memória Velha (2000), and Chato-Boy (2011). Barulho de Rock & Gesta, their ninth overall album, appeared in 2019.