Renato Russo
Encyclopedia
Renato Russo was a Brazilian
singer and songwriter. His first band was a punk rock band called "Aborto Elétrico" (Eletric Abortion). The band then broke up and split in two different ones: "Capital Inicial" and "Legião Urbana". He was the formal founder and leader of the Legião Urbana.
. He started his studies at an early age, at Colégio Olavo Billac. During this period he wrote an excellent essay named "Old house, in ruins". His father was an executive at Banco do Brasil, and the family moved to Forest Hills, Queens
, New York
in 1967, when he was assigned a job position in the city. Renato and his family returned later to Rio de Janeiro and moved in with his uncle Sávio. As an 18-years-old, he admitted to his mother to being bisexual. And in 1988 he made it public by writing the song "Meninos e Meninas" ("Boys n' Girls") with the chorus stating, in English, "I like St. Paulo, I like St. João, I like St. Francisco and St. Sebastião, and I like boys and girls."
to Brasília
, moving to the "Asa Sul" district. In 1975, aged 15, Renato went through one of the hardest phases of his life when he was diagnosed as suffering from epiphysiolysis, a bone disease. He underwent surgery and had three platinum pins implanted in his pelvis. He suffered greatly throughout his convalescence, being confined to bed for 6 months, almost immobile. While he was under treatment, he did little more than listening to music, collecting an extensive and varied album collection. In an interview, Renato stated that this period was crucial in shaping his musical ear.
(Electric Abortion) which lasted 4 years, from 1978 to 1982, but broke up due to constant arguing between Fê Lemos, the drummer, and Renato. Although the band did not last long, during this period Renato Russo wrote many songs that would later become hits of Capital Inicial
(founded by the remaining members of Aborto Elétrico) and Legião Urbana (founded by Renato Russo).
After the end of Aborto Elétrico, Renato began a solo career as the "Trovador Solitário" (Lonely Minstrel). This period only lasted a few months, as in 1982, he joined Marcelo Bonfá (the drummer of the band Dado e o Reino Animal), Eduardo Paraná (guitar player, known as Kadu Lambach) and Paulo Guimarães (keyboard player, known as Paulo Paulista) to form Legião Urbana. Renato was the lead vocal and bass player. Their main influences were the post punk bands of the time, especially Robert Smith
from The Cure
and Morrissey
from The Smiths
.
After the first few concerts, Eduardo Paraná and Paulo Paulista left the band. Dado Villa-Lobos then took over the guitars, creating the classic line-up of the band. The band also had Renato Rocha as a bass player from 1984 to 1989.
Leading Legião Urbana, Renato Russo reached the peak of his career as a musician, being recognized as the most important songwriter of Brazilian rock, securing a cult status within his fanbase.
He used to write long songs. "Faroeste Caboclo" for instance lasts 9:05, "Clarisse" is 10:33 long and "Metal Contra as Nuvens" is 11:29 minutes. The song "Fátima" was written in ten minutes. He recorded two solo albums, with both English and Italian songs, in the 1990s.
's garden.
On October 22, 1996, eleven days after his death, Dado and Bonfá announced the end of Legião Urbana. The bands estimated sales in Brazil during Renato's life amounted to roughly 20 million albums. More than a decade after his death, sales of his albums are still considerable.
Solo albums
Compilation albums
Brazilian
Brazilian may refer to anything of or relating to Brazil and may also refer directly to:* Brazilian barbecue, known as churrasco* Brazilian football—see Football in Brazil* Brazilian football clubs—see List of football clubs in Brazil...
singer and songwriter. His first band was a punk rock band called "Aborto Elétrico" (Eletric Abortion). The band then broke up and split in two different ones: "Capital Inicial" and "Legião Urbana". He was the formal founder and leader of the Legião Urbana.
Childhood
Renato Manfredini Jr. was born in Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
. He started his studies at an early age, at Colégio Olavo Billac. During this period he wrote an excellent essay named "Old house, in ruins". His father was an executive at Banco do Brasil, and the family moved to Forest Hills, Queens
Forest Hills, Queens
Forest Hills is a neighborhood in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York, United States.-Neighborhood:The neighborhood is home to upper-middle class residents, of whom the wealthier residents often live in the neighborhood's Forest Hills Gardens area...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in 1967, when he was assigned a job position in the city. Renato and his family returned later to Rio de Janeiro and moved in with his uncle Sávio. As an 18-years-old, he admitted to his mother to being bisexual. And in 1988 he made it public by writing the song "Meninos e Meninas" ("Boys n' Girls") with the chorus stating, in English, "I like St. Paulo, I like St. João, I like St. Francisco and St. Sebastião, and I like boys and girls."
Adolescence
In 1973, his family moved from Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
to Brasília
Brasília
Brasília is the capital city of Brazil. The name is commonly spelled Brasilia in English. The city and its District are located in the Central-West region of the country, along a plateau known as Planalto Central. It has a population of about 2,557,000 as of the 2008 IBGE estimate, making it the...
, moving to the "Asa Sul" district. In 1975, aged 15, Renato went through one of the hardest phases of his life when he was diagnosed as suffering from epiphysiolysis, a bone disease. He underwent surgery and had three platinum pins implanted in his pelvis. He suffered greatly throughout his convalescence, being confined to bed for 6 months, almost immobile. While he was under treatment, he did little more than listening to music, collecting an extensive and varied album collection. In an interview, Renato stated that this period was crucial in shaping his musical ear.
Musical career
During the years of 1978 and 1979, he was the bass player of punk rock band Aborto ElétricoAborto Elétrico
Aborto Elétrico was a Brazilian punk band formed in 1978 in Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil. The band primarily consisted of future Legião Urbana frontman Renato Russo , André Pretorius and future Capital Inicial drummer Fê Lemos...
(Electric Abortion) which lasted 4 years, from 1978 to 1982, but broke up due to constant arguing between Fê Lemos, the drummer, and Renato. Although the band did not last long, during this period Renato Russo wrote many songs that would later become hits of Capital Inicial
Capital Inicial
Capital Inicial is a Brazilian rock band that flourished in the 1980s, saw a resurgence in the late '90s, and extended into the 2000s.-History:...
(founded by the remaining members of Aborto Elétrico) and Legião Urbana (founded by Renato Russo).
After the end of Aborto Elétrico, Renato began a solo career as the "Trovador Solitário" (Lonely Minstrel). This period only lasted a few months, as in 1982, he joined Marcelo Bonfá (the drummer of the band Dado e o Reino Animal), Eduardo Paraná (guitar player, known as Kadu Lambach) and Paulo Guimarães (keyboard player, known as Paulo Paulista) to form Legião Urbana. Renato was the lead vocal and bass player. Their main influences were the post punk bands of the time, especially Robert Smith
Robert Smith
- Music :*Robert Smith , lead singer/guitarist of The Cure*Bob Smith , founder, singer, keyboards and drums for Cat Mother & the All Night Newsboys...
from The Cure
The Cure
The Cure are an English rock band formed in Crawley, West Sussex in 1976. The band has experienced several line-up changes, with frontman, vocalist, guitarist and principal songwriter Robert Smith being the only constant member...
and Morrissey
Morrissey
Steven Patrick Morrissey , known as Morrissey, is an English singer and lyricist. He rose to prominence in the 1980s as the lyricist and vocalist of the alternative rock band The Smiths. The band was highly successful in the United Kingdom but broke up in 1987, and Morrissey began a solo career,...
from The Smiths
The Smiths
The Smiths were an English alternative rock band, formed in Manchester in 1982. Based on the song writing partnership of Morrissey and Johnny Marr , the band also included Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce...
.
After the first few concerts, Eduardo Paraná and Paulo Paulista left the band. Dado Villa-Lobos then took over the guitars, creating the classic line-up of the band. The band also had Renato Rocha as a bass player from 1984 to 1989.
Leading Legião Urbana, Renato Russo reached the peak of his career as a musician, being recognized as the most important songwriter of Brazilian rock, securing a cult status within his fanbase.
He used to write long songs. "Faroeste Caboclo" for instance lasts 9:05, "Clarisse" is 10:33 long and "Metal Contra as Nuvens" is 11:29 minutes. The song "Fátima" was written in ten minutes. He recorded two solo albums, with both English and Italian songs, in the 1990s.
Death
Renato Russo died on October 11, 1996, at 01:15 a.m., weighing only 45 kilos, due to complications caused by AIDS (he had been HIV-positive since 1989, but never revealed it publicly). He left a son, Giuliano Manfredini, at the time only 7 years old. His body was cremated and the ashes were spread on Roberto Burle MarxRoberto Burle Marx
Roberto Burle Marx was a Brazilian landscape architect whose designs of parks and gardens made him world famous. He is accredited with having introduced modernist landscape architecture to Brazil...
's garden.
On October 22, 1996, eleven days after his death, Dado and Bonfá announced the end of Legião Urbana. The bands estimated sales in Brazil during Renato's life amounted to roughly 20 million albums. More than a decade after his death, sales of his albums are still considerable.
Solo albums
- The Stonewall Celebration Concert (1994)
- Equilibrio Distante (1995)
- O Último Solo (1997)
- PresentePresentePresente can refer to:* The Present* ¡Presente! the newsletter of the SOA Watch...
(2003)
Compilation albums
- Série Bis: Renato Russo - Duplo (2000)
- Série Para Sempre: Renato Russo (2001)
- Série Identidade: Renato Russo (2002)
- O Talento de Renato Russo (2004)
- O Trovador Solitário (2008)
- Renato Russo: Duetos (2010)