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Rock Day: check out some of the oldest and most active bands today

This Wednesday (13) is celebrated in Brazil the Day of Rock, the date celebrates not only the musical genre and lifestyle, but remembers the Live Aid festival, which took place in 1985 and brought together the biggest rock stars, like the band Queen, U2, David Bowie, Paul McCartney among other music beasts.

To celebrate the date, we selected some of the longest-running bands in rock history, which are still active, producing new songs and making the musical style even more eternal.

The list of national and international talents in this musical genre is extensive. And rock music can be divided into many themes, as explained by singer-songwriter Matheus Pimenta, who helped us with the selection based on “antiquity, relevance and current productivity”.

“There are sub-genres, but it’s all rock’n’ roll, which emerged in the 50’s and 60’s. It already had a blues characteristic, then surf music started coming in, and then we started this festival of sub-genres: folk, psychedelic rock , progressive rock, hard rock, heavy metal, punk, new wave, alternative rock, post punk, grunge, that is, it has no end. That’s why it’s tricky to make lists, because you’re inevitably going to displease some people,” he said.

Rolling Stones

The longest-lived, they have been active since 1962 with vocalist Mick Jagger, drummer Charlie Watts, guitarists Ronnie Wood and Keith Richards. “Almost 60 years on the road and living together”, highlighted Pimenta.

In 2020, amid the social isolation caused by the new coronavirus pandemic, the Rolling Stones presented their fans by releasing a new song called “Living in a Ghost Town”, recorded in part during isolation.

Iron Maiden

The British heavy metal band was founded in 1975 and still drives crowds wild with their classics “Fear of the Dark”, “The Number of the Beast” and “Hallowed be Thy Name”.

Iron Maiden has played in Brazil more than ten times. The rockers’ debut in the country was at the first edition of Rock in Rio, in 1985. And if you’re a rocker and you’re over 50, you were probably there in the crowd.

“Iron Maiden is an icon and phenomenon of Heavy Metal, they keep producing new things, and they’ve been together since 1975”, said the musician.

U2

With Bono Vox on vocals and guitar, the band has been a phenomenon since 1976, U2 has collected 22 Grammys, the biggest award in music. The Irish continue to produce new material for the thousands of fans in Brazil and around the world.

With a more melodic rock, U2 has immortalized classics of the genre like “With or without you”, “Beautiful Day” and “Sunday Bloody Sunday”.

Metallica

Metallica
Metal giants Metallica return to the country. Greta van Fleet also performs

Metallica rockers started their journey into music in 1981. “Metallica started out as a thrash metal band and they were progressing, they still produce a lot today”.

The Americans are also passionate about Brazil and have played in the country several times, the first being in the 80’s. The band would come to the country in 2020 for a new meeting with its thousands of fans, but the shows were canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Covid-19.

Pearl Jam

Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam concert
Photo: Pearl Jam/Disclosure

“Pearl Jam is not the oldest, it’s been there since 1990, 31 years old, but it’s a band that keeps producing new things”, said Matheus Pimenta.

Raised in Seattle, United States, at the time they were part of the grunge scene of the 90s, alongside bands like Nirvana, Soundgarden and Alice in Chains.

Teenagers of the early 2000s probably suffered for love to the sound of “Last Kiss,” one of the biggest hits performed by Eddie Vedder, lead singer of Pearl Jam.

“We have a lot of old bands, but despite changing their members, they still live from a glorious past, and they are glorious and have a whole merit because of that, but I really appreciate the prolific part of each of them”, explains the musician. .

“And then I end up leaving out important bands like Radiohead (in activity since 1985, 3 still producing); Red Hot Chili Peppers (since 1983 and producing). A lot of people will turn up their noses because I didn’t include Pink Floyd, but they’re not active as a band”, adds Pimenta.

national scenario

Among the national bands, the musician highlights the Mutantes, which were extremely relevant to many bands around the world. Although they don’t act anymore, it’s worth mentioning Rita Lee, iconic Brazilian rocker.

With psychedelic rock and formed during the Tropicalista Movement in 1966, the Mutantes left the legacy represented by the singer until today.

“We could still have Sepultura, an extremely relevant band nationally and internationally. It is a national band that had and still has a very large international projection in rock ‘n’ roll”.

Sepultura was created in 1984 by brothers Max and Igor Cavalera and established themselves as one of the most successful heavy metal bands.

The singer Rita Lee at the launch of the book "Rita Lee, Uma Autobiografia", in São
The singer Rita Lee at the launch of the book “Rita Lee, Uma Autobiografia”, in São Paulo / Photo: Gabriela Biló/Estadão Content (16.Nov.2016)

Remember the 1985 “Live Aid” festival, which gave rise to Rock Day

Source: CNN Brasil

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