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São Paulo Brazil
The wild kids of the Tropicalia movement. Os Mutantes look back on a singular career of sonic adventures and cultural rebellion.
Formed in São Paolo, Brazil in 1966 by teenagers Sérgio Dias Baptista and Rita Lee, along with Sérgio’s brother Arnaldo, _(artist-name)Os Mutantes_’ uniquely psychedelic sound was created at a time when Brazil was under siege from its military. Along with other forward-thinking musicians and artists, Os Mutantes (‘The Mutants’) were leading forces in the Brazilian cultural movement known as Tropicália, and it was during this period that the band recorded their self-titled debut album, inspired by _(artist-name)The Beatles_ and _(artist-name)The Beach Boys_. The Brazilian authorities soon regarded Mutantes as outlaws and the group’s performances began to get raided. By 1969, the Brazilian government had begun persecuting intellectuals, artists and activists, and _(artist-name)Gilberto Gil_ and _(artist-name)Caetano Veloso_, close friends of the Mutantes and two of the leading forces of Tropicália, were arrested and exiled. Rita Lee later left the Mutantes to pursue a solo career and eventually it was only Sérgio Dias leading the band until they finally disbanded in 1978. However, in their absence the band’s reputation only intensified and in 2006 the band reunited (minus Rita) with a triumphant performance at The Barbican in London. In 2009 Mutantes released their first new album in over three decades, _(album-title)Haih... Or Amortecedor_, featuring collaborations between Sérgio Dias and two of the founders of Tropicália, renowned songwriter and multi instrumentalist _(artist-name)Tom Zé_ and _(artist-name)Jorge Ben_ who wrote the band’s very first hit _(song-title)A Minha Menina_. Hugely influential to this day, the legacy of Os Mutantes has left a remarkable and singular impact on the music scene.
