Mamonas Assassinas
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1989 |
| Headquarters | São Paulo , Brazil |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
Mamonas Assassinas was a Brazilian band known for its comedic rock style, initially formed under the name Utopia. Their musical approach blended rock with a variety of other genres, integrating influences such as Portuguese Vira (notably in "Vira-Vira"), forró from Brazil's Northeast ("Jumento Celestino"), Mexican rhythms ("Pelados em Santos"), heavy metal ("Débil Metal"), sertanejo ("Boi Noite Cry"), and pagode ("Lá Vem o Alemão"). During the 1990s, they emerged as one of Brazil's most celebrated musical groups.
The band's name carries a double meaning: in Portuguese, mamonas refers to the castor oil plant, known for its toxic ricin (which appears in their emblem), and it also serves as an augmentative form of mamas (breasts), prominently illustrated on their album art. They credited model Mari Alexandre as inspiration for the name, interpreting it as "Killer Big Breasts."
On March 2, 1996, tragedy struck when their aircraft crashed into the Cantareira mountain range near São Paulo, resulting in the deaths of all five band members. Although their career was brief, their rapid rise left a profound and enduring influence on Brazilian music and culture.
Formation and Rise to Prominence
The group originated in 1989 as a trio, initially performing covers from Legião Urbana and Rush. Soon after, Dinho joined the lineup, and Júlio—who started as a percussionist—replaced Marcio Araujo on keyboards. At that time called Utopia, they played gigs throughout São Paulo’s suburban areas. Their debut album sold fewer than 100 copies. Realizing that their comedic flair connected more deeply with audiences than their serious performances, they fully embraced humor and adopted a suggestive band name. Their initial demo tape reached João Augusto Soares, the artistic director at EMI-Odeon; although he was initially unimpressed, his son Rafael persuaded him to sign the group.
Tragic Plane Accident
The band’s journey came to an abrupt end on March 2, 1996, when their Learjet 25 crashed near Serra da Cantareira, approximately 20 miles from São Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport. They were returning from a concert in Brasília with plans to rest before embarking on a tour in Portugal. The crash claimed the lives of all five band members along with four others: pilot Jorge Germano; co-pilot Alberto Takeda; roadie Isac Souto (Dinho’s cousin); and bodyguard Sérgio Saturnino.
A day before the accident, Júlio Rasec recorded a video expressing apprehension about a potential plane crash; this footage was widely circulated across Brazilian media.
At that moment, Mamonas Assassinas stood as Brazil’s most prominent musical act, making their sudden demise a national tragedy—especially poignant as the country was still grieving Ayrton Senna. Their impact continues to resonate within Brazil’s music scene.
Prior to departure, the Learjet experienced multiple radar malfunctions. During the final approach to runway 09R at 23:16 BRT, the pilot aborted landing and attempted to go around but ultimately crashed into the wooded Cantareira mountains.
Videography
- 1996: MTV na Estrada (MTV on the Road) (reissued on DVD in 2004)
- 2002: Show Ao Vivo em Valinhos 1996 (Live in Valinhos)
- 2008: Por Toda Minha Vida - Mamonas Assassinas (broadcast on TV Globo)
- 2011: Mamonas para sempre (Documentary)
Core members
- Alecsander Alves Leite (Dinho) – primary vocalist, occasional acoustic guitarist (1989–1996; deceased)
- Bento Hinoto – guitarist, backing vocals, occasional bassist (1989–1996; deceased)
- Samuel Reoli – bassist, backing vocals (1989–1996; deceased)
- Sérgio Reoli – drummer, percussionist (1989–1996; deceased)
- Júlio Rasec – keyboardist, percussionist, backing and occasional co-lead vocalist (1989–1996; deceased)
Initial members
- Marcio Araujo – keyboard player (1989–1992)
Studio albums
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 1992 | A Fórmula do Fenômeno, under the name Utopia
|
| 1995 | Mamonas Assassinas
|
Compilation albums
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 1998 | Atenção, Creuzebek: A Baixaria Continua (posthumous release)
|
Live albums
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 2006 | Mamonas Ao Vivo (posthumous release)
|
Singles
| Year | Single | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | "Pelados em Santos" | Mamonas Assassinas |
| "Robocop Gay" | Mamonas Assassinas | |
| "Vira-Vira" | Mamonas Assassinas | |
| "1406" | Mamonas Assassinas |