Picassos Falsos

Regarded alongside Hojerizah among the strongest second-tier Brazilian rock acts, the Picassos Falsos issued two well-received albums before disbanding shortly thereafter. Initially performing as O Verso, vocalists Humberto Effe, drummer Abílio Azambuja, guitarist Luís Gustavo, and bassist Zé Henrique played Rio de Janeiro’s underground circuit and cut an unnoticed demo. Alvin L. subsequently renamed the group Picassos Falsos after one of his own compositions and oversaw their follow-up demo. Following the 1986 arrival of bassist Luís Henrique in place of Zé Henrique, “Carne e Osso” and “Quadrinhos” began receiving steady rotation on Carioca alternative stations. The next year the quartet released their debut album, Picassos Falsos, which solidified the tracks’ popularity. Supercarioca arrived in 1988, blending 1960s and 1970s rock with reinterpretations of Noel Rosa’s “Último Desejo” (as “Marlene”) and Jimi Hendrix’s “Third Stone From the Sun” (as “Bolero”). BMG Brasil later assembled twenty-one of the band’s songs on the 1999 compilation Hot 20.