Zero (Brazilian band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1983 in São Paulo, Brazil |
| Headquarters | Rio de Janeiro , Brazil |
| Products | Albums, singles, EPs |
Zero (), presented as ZERØ, is a rock ensemble from Brazil, established in 1983 in São Paulo and operating out of Rio de Janeiro since 1998. They are widely acknowledged as pivotal pioneers in Brazil's New Romantic music scene.
Formation and "Heróis" period (1983–1985)
The band Zero evolved from Ultimato (previously known as Lux), an instrumental group blending punk jazz and no wave styles, founded in São Paulo in 1978 by Fabio Golfetti, Alberto "Beto" Birger, Cláudio Souza, Gilles Eduar, and Nelson Coelho. After vocalist Guilherme Isnard left Voluntários da Pátria and joined, the group’s sound shifted towards "art rock with a hardcore edge," prompting a name change to Zero in 1983. Their first single, "Heróis", was released under CBS in 1985.
Member transitions, Passos no Escuro and Carne Humana era (1985–1987)
In 1985, Zero contributed to May East's album Remota Batucada, but soon underwent significant personnel changes as all members except Isnard departed. The former members pursued new ventures: Golfetti and Souza created the psychedelic rock band Violeta de Outono, while Birger joined Nau alongside Vange Leonel.
Isnard then formed what became the classic line-up with Alfred "Freddy" Haiat on keyboards, Ricardo "Rick" Villas-Boas handling bass, Eduardo Amarante on guitar, and Athos Costa playing drums. Their EP Passos no Escuro, released through EMI, garnered commercial acclaim and earned Gold Certification from Pro-Música Brasil. It included successful tracks such as "Formosa" and "Agora Eu Sei," the latter featuring guest vocals by Paulo Ricardo of RPM.
By 1987, Malcolm Oakley replaced Athos Costa on drums. That year marked the release of their debut full-length album Carne Humana. Although it did not match the EP’s commercial success, it yielded notable singles like "Quimeras" and "A Luta e o Prazer". Additionally, Zero served as the opening act for Tina Turner's concerts in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro during that period.
Disbandment and subsequent activities (1989)
In 1989, Guilherme Isnard declared the dissolution of Zero due to waning enthusiasm for continuing the band. He moved to Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro, where he engaged in projects such as the tribute band Roxy Nights and also worked professionally as a baker.
Rick Villas-Boas spent some time living in the Netherlands before returning to Brazil; Eduardo Amarante relocated to Aracaju, where he owns a bar; Malcolm Oakley transitioned into a career in advertising; and Freddy Haiat launched a musical instrument retail business with his brother Alec.
Reunion (1998–)
In 1998, Isnard brought together Zero's original lineup once more to celebrate the band's 15th anniversary. The enthusiastic reaction from fans led to the announcement of a complete reunion. Their initial release following the hiatus was the 2000 compilation Electro-Acústico, launched through Sony. This album featured acoustic renditions of earlier tracks along with four previously unreleased songs, including guest contributions from Philippe Seabra (Plebe Rude) and Bruno Gouveia (Biquini Cavadão).
To commemorate Zero's 20th anniversary in 2003, EMI issued Obra Completa, a collection that combined the albums Passos no Escuro and Carne Humana.
In 2004, Voiceprint Records released Dias Melhores, an anthology of demos and early recordings dating back to 1984–1985 that had not been published before.
The band refreshed its roster in 2006 by adding Jorge Pescara on bass, Yan França on guitar, and Vitor Vidaut on drums. On August 30, 2007, Zero independently released Quinto Elemento, marking their first studio album since 1987. Early demo versions can be found on their official Myspace page.
Further reunions of the classic lineup took place in 2012, during which they performed their first two albums live, and again in 2013 for the group's 30th anniversary. Isnard revealed plans for a live DVD capturing these shows; however, this project has yet to be released.
In celebration of the 30th anniversary of their debut album Carne Humana, Isnard restructured Zero's lineup in 2017 for a series of commemorative performances.
Current members
- Guilherme Isnard – lead vocals (1983–1989, 1998–present)
- Nivaldo Ramos – bass guitar (2017–present)
- Daniel Viana – electric guitar (2017–present)
- Gustavo Wermelinger – drums (2017–present)
- Caius Marins – keyboards (2017–present)
Former members
- Fabio Golfetti – electric guitar (1983–1985)
- Cláudio Souza – drums (1983–1985)
- Alberto "Beto" Birger – bass guitar (1983–1985)
- Gilles Eduar – saxophone (1983–1985)
- Nelson Coelho – electric guitar (1983–1985)
- Eduardo Amarante – electric guitar (1985–1989, 1998–2006, 2012, 2013)
- Ricardo "Rick" Villas-Boas – bass guitar (1985–1989, 1998–2006, 2012, 2013)
- Alfred "Freddy" Haiat – keyboards (1985–1989, 1998–2006, 2012, 2013)
- Athos Costa – drums (1985–1987, 1998–2000, 2012, 2013)
- Malcolm Oakley – drums (1987–1989)
- Sérgio Naciffe – drums (2000–2006)
- João Paulo "JP" Mendonça – keyboards (2000)
- Vitor Vidaut – drums (2006–2017)
- Yan França – electric guitar (2006–2017)
- Jorge Pescara – bass guitar (2006–2017)
Studio albums
| Year | Album |
|---|---|
| 1987 | Carne Humana
|
| 2007 | Quinto Elemento
|
Extended plays
| Year | Album |
|---|---|
| 1985 | Passos no Escuro
|
Singles
| Year | Single | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | "Heróis" | Track not featured on any album |
| 1985 | "Agora Eu Sei" | Passos no Escuro |
| 1985 | "Formosa" | Passos no Escuro |
| 1987 | "Quimeras" | Carne Humana |
| 1987 | "A Luta e o Prazer" | Carne Humana |
Compilations
| Year | Album |
|---|---|
| 2000 | Electro-Acústico
|
| 2003 | Obra Completa
|
| 2004 | Dias Melhores
|