Metró (band)
| Metrô | |
|---|---|
Metrô at the Virada Cultural of São Paulo on May 22, 2016. From left to right: Xavier Leblanc, Alec Haiat, Virginie Boutaud, Yann Laouenan and Dany Roland
|
|
| Background information | |
| Also known as | A Gota Suspensa (1978–1984) |
| Origin | São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil |
| Genres | Progressive rock (early); new wave, synthpop, synthrock, pop rock |
| Years active | 1978–1988; 2002–2004; 2014; 2015–present |
| Labels | Underground Discos e Artes, Epic Records, Trama, Warner Music Group |
| Associated acts | |
| Members |
Virginie Boutaud Dany Roland Alec Haiat Yann Laouenan Xavier Leblanc |
| Past members | Pedro Parq Marcel Zimberg André Fonseca Edmundo Carneiro Donatinho Pedro Albuquerque |
Metrô is a famous Brazilian band formed in 1978 under the name A Gota Suspensa before renaming themselves in 1984. Beginning as a progressive rock band, they later shifted to a more synthpop-influenced direction, becoming one of the most successful groups in the then-thriving Brazilian rock/new wave scene.
The band that would become Metrô was founded in 1978, under the name A Gota Suspensa ("The Suspended Drop"), by six friends (all of them coincidentally French Brazilians) who studied together at the Lycée Pasteur in São Paulo: former model and actress Virginie Boutaud (vocals), Alec Haiat (guitar), Marcel Zimberg (sax), Yann Laouenan (keyboards), Xavier Leblanc (bass) and Daniel "Dany" Roland (drums). They were originally an experimental/progressive rock ensemble heavily inspired by acts such as Pink Floyd, The Beatles, Novos Baianos and the Tropicalista movement, among others, and toured extensively around Brazil to perform in numerous music festivals. In 1983 they released a self-titled album via independent label Underground Discos e Artes; despite being a commercial failure, it was very well received by the critics, and acquired a strong cult following as years went by.
The album caught the attention of Epic Records, who offered them a contract but at the same time demanded them to make their musical style more "accessible"; the band complied (with the exception of Zimberg, who would leave the band after their change of style), and developed a brighter and less experimental pop-inflected sound in the likes of Blondie, Rita Lee and Laurie Anderson. Afterwards, A Gota Suspensa changed its name to Metrô in 1984; their first release under this moniker was the successful 7" single "Beat Acelerado", which came out in the same year.
...
Wikipedia