A Bolha
- Origin
- Rio de Janeiro, RJ
- Years active
- 1965–2006
- Genres
- rock, progressive rock, hard rock, psychedelic rock, jovem guarda
- Instruments
- guitar, bass guitar, drums, keyboards
Biography
A Bolha was a seminal Brazilian rock band formed in Rio de Janeiro in 1965, initially under the name The Bubbles. During the Jovem Guarda era, they were a staple of the city's club circuit and television programs, starting their career with Portuguese versions of international hits by bands like the Rolling Stones and the Beatles. By the late 1960s, the band evolved into a heavier, proto-metal and psychedelic sound, heavily influenced by their experiences traveling to the Isle of Wight Festival and visiting exiled artists Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil in London. \n\nIn the early 1970s, the group rebranded as A Bolha and shifted toward original compositions, becoming a respected force in the Brazilian underground. They served as a powerhouse backing band for iconic tropicalista Gal Costa during her legendary residency at the Sucata nightclub and collaborated extensively with other legends such as Raul Seixas and Erasmo Carlos. Their 1973 debut album, "Um Passo à Frente," remains a landmark of Brazilian progressive rock. \n\nThe band's legacy is particularly notable for the subsequent success of its members. Musicians who passed through A Bolha's ranks went on to form or join some of the most successful Brazilian pop and rock acts of the 1970s and 80s, including Roupa Nova, A Cor do Som, Herva Doce, and Hanói-Hanói. After folding in the late 1970s, the group briefly reunited in 2004 to record new material for the film "1972" and released the album "É Só Curtir" in 2006.