Secos & Molhados

Origin

São Paulo, SP

Also known as

Secos E Molhados

Years Active

1970–2012

Genres

rock, MPB, samba, glam rock, progressive rock, folk rock

Instruments

acoustic guitar, vocals, harmonica, twelve-string guitar, mouth organ, bongo

Biography

Secos & Molhados emerged in the early 1970s as one of the most audacious projects in Brazilian music, conceived by João Ricardo. The classic lineup, featuring Ney Matogrosso on vocals and Gérson Conrad on acoustic guitar, was consolidated in São Paulo, presenting a sound that fused progressive rock and glam rock with deep elements of Portuguese folklore and national rhythms such as samba and MPB. The group became famous not only for its music, but for its theatrical performances, which involved heavy makeup and extravagant costumes, defying the aesthetic and behavioral standards of the era.

The debut album, released in 1973, was an unprecedented phenomenon, selling over a million copies and charting hits like "Sangue Latino" and "O Vira". The band used poetry by major names in literature, such as Vinicius de Moraes and Oswald de Andrade, to build lyrics that often carried veiled criticisms of the military regime then in power in Brazil. The collaboration with songwriter Luhli was fundamental to the creation of some of their biggest hits, establishing a dialogue between the avant-garde and popular appeal.

Following the release of the second album in 1974, internal conflicts and financial issues led to the dissolution of the original lineup. While Ney Matogrosso went on to a victorious solo career, becoming one of the country's greatest interpreters, João Ricardo kept the Secos & Molhados brand alive through various lineups and releases in the following decades. The group's legacy remains an essential bridge between Tropicália and 1980s Brazilian rock, influencing generations of artists through its creative freedom and revolutionary aesthetic.

Discography

• Secos & Molhados (1973)
• A volta de Secos & Molhados (1973)
• Dois momentos (1973)
• Secos & Molhados (1974)
• Secos & Molhados (1978)
• Gravado Ao Vivo no Maracanãzinho (1980)
• Secos e Molhados (1980)
• A Volta Do Gato Preto (1988)
• Teatro? (1999)
• Memória Velha (2000)
• João Ricardo (2) E/Ou Secos & Molhados – Ouvido Nu (2003)
• Chato-Boy (2011)
• Puto (2016)
• Secos & Molhados & João Ricardo – Barulho de Rock & Gesta (2019)
• Matar O Pai (2019)