Inocentes

In early 1981, some friends in the working class borough of Vila Carolina, a natural punk enclave in the city of São Paulo, teamed to form the Inocentes. Three were former members of the Condutores de Cadáver (the Corpse Transporters): bassist Clemente, guitarist Callegari, and drummer Marcelino. With vocalist Mauricinho, they completed the initial formation of a group who synthesized the entire history of punk rock in Brazil. Several formations later, the group continued to play, with Clemente being the only remnant from earlier years. The band had a central role in the development of the punk style in Brazil, also being the only Brazilian rock band built around the figure of a black musician, Clemente. In mid-1981, the Inocentes played in public for the first time, in the festival Grito Suburbano in São Paulo. The record store associated with the punk movement, Punk Rock Discos, sponsored a 45 rpm album with some bands, including the Inocentes. The album was released in April 1982, with the band already having expelled Mauricinho. With the press' growing interest in the punk movement, Clemente was contacted by a video producing company, who created a documentary named after one of the group's songs called Garotos do Subúrbio. With the inclusion of vocalist Ariel (former Restos de Nada and Desequilíbrio), the Inocentes were expelled from the sophisticated Gallery nightclub and performed at the I Festival Punk de São Paulo (November 1982). With all shows recorded precariously, the festival yielded an album, O Começo do Fim do Mundo, which had "Salvem El Salvador," performed by the Inocentes. In March 1983 they participated in a similar event in Rio, the I Noite Punk do Rio de Janeiro, at the Circo Voador. Their first single, "Miséria e Fome" (45 rpm), came soon after....