Utopia (Brazilian band)
| 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 called Utopia. Their music blended rock with a variety of genres, featuring influences from Portuguese folk ("Vira-Vira"), Northeastern Brazilian rhythms such as forró ("Jumento Celestino"), Mexican tunes ("Pelados em Santos"), heavy metal ("Débil Metal"), sertanejo ("Boi Noite Cry"), and pagode ("Lá Vem o Alemão"). Achieving widespread acclaim across Brazil, they are regarded as one of the most impactful groups in the country's 1990s music landscape.
The band's name carries a dual significance in Portuguese: mamonas denotes the castor oil plant, which contains the poisonous ricin (depicted in their emblem), and it also serves as the augmentative form of mamas (breasts), prominently displayed on their album artwork. They acknowledged model Mari Alexandre as an inspiration for the name, even interpreting it as "Killer Big Breasts."
On 2 March 1996, tragedy struck when their aircraft crashed into the Cantareira mountain range near São Paulo, resulting in the death of all five band members. Although their career was short-lived, their rapid rise to fame continues to be honored, and they hold a lasting influence within Brazil’s music industry.
Formation and breakthrough
The group originated in 1989 as a trio playing covers of Legião Urbana and Rush. Shortly thereafter, Dinho joined, and Júlio took over keyboard duties from original member Marcio Araujo. At this stage, they were known as Utopia and performed in suburban areas around São Paulo. Their debut album sold fewer than 100 copies. Realizing that their humorous approach resonated more than their serious efforts, they fully embraced comedy, including adopting a suggestive band name. Their first demo tape reached João Augusto Soares, EMI-Odeon's artistic director, who initially disapproved but was persuaded by his son Rafael to offer them a contract.
Fatal plane accident
The band's promising trajectory was abruptly halted on 2 March 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 en route to their home city before commencing a tour in Portugal. The crash claimed the lives of all five musicians along with four others: pilot Jorge Germano, co-pilot Alberto Takeda, roadie Isac Souto (Dinho's cousin), and bodyguard Sérgio Saturnino.
A day prior to the accident, Júlio Rasec had voiced concerns about a potential plane crash in footage later widely circulated. The incident profoundly affected Brazil; at that time, they were the nation’s most popular musical act. Their influence endures strongly within Brazil’s cultural sphere.
The Learjet experienced radar malfunctions before departure. During its final approach to runway 09R, the pilot aborted the landing attempt and initiated a go-around but ultimately collided with the Cantareira mountain range at 23:16 BRT.
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) – lead vocals, occasional acoustic guitar (1989–1996; deceased)
- Bento Hinoto – guitar, backing vocals, occasional bass guitar (1989–1996; deceased)
- Samuel Reoli – bass guitar, backing vocals (1989–1996; deceased)
- Sérgio Reoli – drums, percussion (1989–1996; deceased)
- Júlio Rasec – keyboards, percussion, backing vocals and occasional co-lead vocals (1989–1996; deceased)
Initial members
- Marcio Araujo – keyboards (1989–1992)
Studio albums
| Year | Album |
|---|---|
| 1992 | A Fórmula do Fenômeno, under the name Utopia
|
| 1995 | Mamonas Assassinas
|
Compilation albums
| Year | Album |
|---|---|
| 1998 | Atenção, Creuzebek: A Baixaria Continua (released posthumously)
|
Live albums
| Year | Album |
|---|---|
| 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 |