Hollywood Rock
 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(July 2014) |
| Hollywood Rock | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Rock music |
| Dates | 3 days in January |
| Location(s) | São PauloandRio de JaneiroinBrazil |
| Years active | 1988, 1990, 1992-1996 |
| Founders | Souza Cruz tobacco company |
Hollywood Rockwas amusic festivalwhich took place inSão PauloandRio de JaneiroinBrazil,from 1988 to 1996, featuring both Brazilian and international acts. The festival was sponsored and organised by the Souza Cruz tobacco company, owners of theHollywoodcigarettebrand, taking its name from an unrelated festival that occurred in 1975 with an all-Brazilian lineup. After a law was passed by theSenate of Brazilprohibiting tobacco and alcohol companies from sponsoring cultural and sporting events, the festival was cancelled. The festival did not happen in 1989 or 1991 (the latter because ofRock in Rio 2happening at around the same time in Rio de Janeiro).
Origins
[edit]A festival named Hollywood Rock happened atBotafogo's stadium in Rio de Janeiro and featured performances byRaul Seixas,Rita Lee,O Terço,Vímana,Celly CampeloandErasmo Carlos,among others. The festival was spearheaded byNelson Motta,who later on conceded its name rights to Souza Cruz.
1988
[edit]The first edition of Hollywood Rock took place in January 1988, with four nights of concerts in each city. The venues for the festival were theMorumbi stadiumin São Paulo and theApoteose Square(the final section of theSambadrome) in Rio de Janeiro. The headliners for this edition wereSupertramp,The Pretenders,Duran DuranandSimple Minds.However,Simply Red,who opened the concert forDuran Duran,was generally considered by press and fans the breakthrough performance of the whole festival, leading them to come back for the 1993 edition, this time boasting headliner status.
UB 40,who opened the concert forSimple Minds,also met enthusiastic response from the crowds. The British reggae band distinguished itself as well by receiving a host of guests onstage, like late singerRobert Palmer,Pretenders's leaderChrissie Hynde(who performed live her famous duet withUB 40'sAli CampbellinSonny Bono's "I Got You Babe") and Brazilian bandParalamas do Sucesso,who had played previously the same night.
The night before,UB 40had taken part in thePretenders' concert encore, also performing "I Got You Babe".ThePretenders' line-up for the festival featured guitaristJohnny Marr,ofThe Smiths' fame.
The other Brazilian acts featured in the bill for the four-night event (from the next edition on, it would be shortened for three nights only) wereIra!,Titãs,Ultraje a Rigor,Lulu SantosandMarina Lima.As for the non-Brazilian acts, they were all touring the country for the first time.
1990
[edit]The second Hollywood Rock festival took place from 25th to 27 January 1990, at the same venues as the first edition. The international attractions for this edition of the festival wereBob Dylan,Bon Jovi,Tears for Fears,Terence Trent D'Arby,EurythmicsandMarillion.Terence Trent D'Arby headlined one night in São Paulo only, while Tears for Fears had the same privilege solely in Rio. Bob Dylan and Bon Jovi had headliner status in both cities. As in the first edition, all six acts were touring Brazil for the first time.
The originally scheduled Brazilian acts wereGilberto Gil,Barão Vermelho,Lobão,Engenheiros do HawaiiandCapital Inicial.However, Gilberto Gil cancelled the Rio concert because his son, musician Pedro Gil, was hospitalized in critical condition due to a car accident (he would die days later).Margareth Menezesperformed in his place, being booked just a few hours before the performance was due to start.
1992
[edit]The third edition of Hollywood Rock happened at thePacaembu stadiumin São Paulo, whilst the Rio edition was still held at the Sambadrome. The international lineup was composed ofLiving Colour,EMF,Seal,Jesus Jones,Skid RowandExtreme,all playing in the country for the first time, whileLulu Santos,Titãs,Paralamas do Sucesso,Barão VermelhoandCidade Negraformed the Brazilian lineup.
At this edition, Brazilian acts had headliner status for the first time, with Titãs and Paralamas do Sucesso closing the second night of the event in both cities. The joint performance featured one-hour slots for each band and an extended encore with both together on stage. Being a band from São Paulo, Titãs performed last on that city; in Rio, local band Paralamas did so. Living Colour and Skid Row were the international headliners.
1993
[edit]The fourth edition of Hollywood Rock featuredRed Hot Chili Peppers,NirvanaandSimply Redas headliners, withAlice in Chains,L7andMaxi Priestrounding out the international lineup. The Brazilian acts wereDefalla,Biquíni Cavadão,Dr. Sin,Engenheiros do Hawaiiand Midnight Blues Band. Due to the high demand for tickets, the venue for the São Paulo concerts was changed back to the larger Morumbi stadium, while the Sambadrome remained the festival's house in Rio. For the first time, Hollywood Rock brought back an international act, Simply Red, featured as opening attraction for Duran Duran at the 1988 edition, and now a headliner.
Nirvana's performances have generated controversy among fans and the media, particularly the São Paulo show, which has been described as "the worst performance of the trio's career."[1]Prior to the São Paulo performance, Nirvana's vocalist and guitaristKurt Cobainhad reportedly mixed pills and alcohol to combat his nervousness over playing to such a large crowd, but this affected his guitar playing, and after about 30 minutes the band started playing a "karaoke-inspired" set instead, exchanging instruments and covering songs bythe Clash,Queen,Terry Jacks,Iron Maiden,Duran Duranand others.[2]The band was booed by parts of the audience during this show,[3]although Cobain and bassistKrist Novoseliclater remembered the experience fondly.[4]In Rio, the band played a more straightforward set. However, this show also featured Cobain spitting into the lenses of the television cameras and briefly exposing himself to one, as well as attempting to destroy parts of the stage, during "Scentless Apprentice." Parts of this sequence, along with "Dive,"part of"Aneurysm"and a jam of theAerosmithsong "Sweet Emotion,"appear on the 1994 home video,Live! Tonight! Sold Out!!Cobain mocked the festival's sponsorship by a cigarette company periodically during the performance, and he and drummerDave Grohlplayed the encore dressed inlingerie.
Alice in Chains' performance in Rio on January 22 was the last concert with original bassistMike Starr.[5][6]
1994
[edit]The fifth edition of Hollywood Rock once again took place at the Morumbi stadium in São Paulo and the Sambadrome in Rio. The headliners for this edition wereAerosmith,Robert PlantandWhitney Houston.Poison,Ugly Kid JoeandLivecompleted the international lineup, all performing Brazil for the first time. The Brazilian lineup was formed byTitãs,Sepultura,Skank,Fernanda AbreuandJorge Ben.Virtually unknown in Brazil at the time, Live was the first international act to perform a daylight time opening concert at Hollywood Rock, before local band Sepultura.
1995
[edit]The sixth edition of Hollywood Rock was unique in the sense that Souza Cruz merely used the festival's brand to promote the first Brazilian tour of theRolling Stones.The concerts were a leg of theVoodoo Lounge Tourand three dates were booked for São Paulo, at thePacaembu Stadium(January 27, 28 and 30), and two for Rio, at theMaracanã Stadium(February 2 and 4). It was the only edition of Hollywood Rock in Rio not to happen at the Sambadrome.
All five dates featured the same lineup, completed byBarão Vermelho,Rita LeeandSpin Doctors.
1996
[edit]The seventh and last Hollywood Rock festival was headlined byThe Cure,Page and PlantandGilberto Gil,in the second occurrence of a Brazilian act occupying top spot, and performing a special concert with guests likeCarlinhos Brown,Lobão andFernanda Abreu.For the first time, both international headliners had toured Brazil before.Robert Planthad performed at Hollywood Rock withoutJimmy Pagein 1994, while The Cure had toured Rio, São Paulo,Belo HorizonteandPorto Alegrein 1987.Supergrass,White Zombie,Smashing Pumpkins,Urge Overkill,The Black Crowes,Steel PulseandAswadcompleted the international lineup.Pato Fu,Raimundos,Chico Science e Nação ZumbiandCidade Negracompleted the Brazilian lineup, the latter performing after Steel Pulse on the last night, headlined by Gilberto Gil.
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^Luerssen, John D. (2014).Nirvana FAQ: All That's Left to Know About the Most Important Band of the 1990s.Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 343.ISBN978-1-61713-588-0.
- ^Luerssen, John D. (2014).Nirvana FAQ: All That's Left to Know About the Most Important Band of the 1990s.Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 343.ISBN978-1-61713-588-0.
- ^Interview with Earnie Bailey, Nirvana's guitar technician
- ^"Nirvana Take In Utero on the Road, With MTV News Along For the Ride".MTV.12 September 2013. Archived fromthe originalon March 3, 2015.Retrieved10 July2020.
- ^Yarm, Mark (2011).Everybody Loves Our Town: A History of Grunge.Faber & Faber. p. 400.ISBN9780571249862.
- ^"2006 band bio – Aliceinchains.com".Aliceinchains.com.Archived fromthe originalon July 19, 2006.RetrievedSeptember 22,2019.