Picassos Falsos

Origin

Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Years active

1985–presente

Genres

rock, mpb, soul, funk, samba-rock

Instruments

voz, violão, guitarra, baixo, bateria, cavaquinho

Biography

O Picassos Falsos is a Brazilian rock band formed in 1985 in the Rio de Janeiro neighborhood of Tijuca, initially under the name O Verso. The group stood out in the 1980s scene for its pioneering sound that blended rock, soul, and funk with traditional Brazilian rhythms such as baião, afoxé, ijexá, maracatu, coco, and samba, anticipating trends that would gain strength in the 1990s with exponents like Chico Science & Nação Zumbi and Mundo Livre S/A. The classic and current lineup features Humberto Effe on vocals, Gustavo Corsi on guitar, Romanholli on bass, and Abílio Azambuja on drums.

After recording a demo tape produced by Alvin L. and catching the attention of producer José Emílio Rondeau, the band signed with the Plug label of BMG/Ariola and released their acclaimed self-titled LP in 1987, charting hits such as "Quadrinhos" and "Carne e Osso". The peak of their sonic experimentation occurred with the album Supercarioca, released in 1988, which radicalized the fusion of rock and Brazilian music and became a cult-classic reference among critics and artists of that generation. After a period of separation in the 1990s — during which the members collaborated with names like Marina, Cláudio Zoli, and Teresa Cristina —, the group returned to the stage in 2001, later releasing the albums Novo Mundo in 2004 and Nem Tudo Pode Se Ver in 2016.