Biography

Plebe Rude was a group formed in Brasília, DF, in July 1981 by vocalist/guitarist Philippe Seabra, vocalist/guitarist Ameba (Jander Bilafra), bassist André X Muller, and drummer Gurtje Woorthmann. "Pressão Social" was written in that very month by Seabra, Muller, and Woorthmann. Deeply inspired by the punk movement and by the Clash, Plebe Rude had their first concert out of Brasília in Patos de Minas, MG, where they were taken to the police hall for questioning. The band still hadn't recorded their first album, but were portrayed as a self-made medium subject in the film Ascensão e Queda de Quatro Rudes Plebeus, which was awarded Best Experimental Film at the I Super-8 Film Festival of Brasília. At the same time, devoted to the punk scene, the band performed shows in small clubs in Brasília, Rio, and São Paulo. In 1985, Herbert Vianna (Os Paralamas do Sucesso) recommended that EMI sign Plebe Rude, and he produced their first album, a seven-track project called O Concreto já Rachou. The album was lauded by critics, being appointed the best of Brazilian rock, and sold 250,000 copies. With the illustrious presence of Fernanda Abreu and George Israel (Kid Abelha) among the crowd, the album was released at two shows at the Noites Cariocas (Rio) in February 1986. In the next year, the band moved to Rio. In the I Festival Alternativa Nativa, at the Canecão, the band released their second album, Nunca Fomos Tão Brasileiros, which was also produced by Herbert Vianna and featured a string quartet in the song "A Ida." "Censura" was vetoed by censorship. In November 1988, Plebe Rude came to light. With lighter lyrics, the album focused on the band's instrumental aspect, incorporating elements of baião, repente, and samba. The result was a weaker-selling, but still considerable, album, which sold 40,000 copies. After a crisis and subsequent break, Seabra and Muller resurrected Plebe Rude in 1993, recording the LP Mais Raiva do que Medo through Natasha. Continuing to do a series of shows, the group reached a dead end in 1994 when Seabra returned to the U.S.A.. ~ Alvaro Neder, Rovi