Biquini Cavadão

Biquíni Cavadão emerged in 1983 in Rio as one of the leading acts in the second tier of Brazilian rock, ultimately issuing multiple studio albums that achieved strong sales while maintaining an active touring schedule both at home and abroad. Vocalist Bruno Gouveia, keyboardist Miguel Flores da Cunha, bassist André da Luz, and drummer Álvaro Lopes founded the lineup, yet the band’s name and initial direction came from Carlos Beni, formerly of Kid Abelha, and Herbert Vianna of Os Paralamas do Sucesso. While performing at parties and refining their sound in rehearsal, Beni assembled a demo that reached Fluminense FM, then the sole station programming rock; the new-wave track “Tédio” quickly became a hit. Polygram signed the group, issuing their debut single in early 1985. Guitarist Carlos Coelho joined shortly afterward, and the expanded lineup continued building momentum until the March 15, 1986 release of their first LP, Cidades em Torrente, which moved 60,000 copies and featured the hits “Tédio” and “No Mundo da Lua.”

The year 1987 was devoted to concerts across Rio and Brazil’s interior regions as the band prepared its sophomore effort, A Era da Incerteza, issued in November. Although that album contained the successful single “Ida e Volta” and was musically stronger than its predecessor, it drew less public attention and sold just under 50,000 units. The disappointing response postponed the third album, Zé, which finally appeared on July 27, 1989 and moved only 25,000 copies. Descivilização followed in November 1991; its hit “Vento, Ventania” helped the record reach 70,000 sales, yet Polygram declined to renew the contract. Without label support, the band opened the January 22, 1993 Hollywood Rock Festival for the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Alice in Chains. Still produced by Beni, they secured a Sony deal in 1994 and released Agora that August. The same year they contributed to the Rei tribute project honoring Roberto Carlos. Their tenth anniversary in 1995 was marked by shows throughout Brazil and the United States. In 1996 the band issued RockBook, a volume compiling their history, sheet music, and statistical records. After parting with Sony they prepared Biquini.com.br, which BMG released in 1998 and which included the national hit “Janaína.” The following year they appeared at the Planeta Atlântida festival in Santa Catarina during the 450th-anniversary celebrations of Salvador, Bahia, and in April they toured Portugal in support of the BMG album. More than 950 live performances later, the group remained active on stage.