Henrike of Blind Pigs
Could you please introduce everyone in the band and what they play?
Henrike: vocals; Gordo: guitar and vocals; Fabiano: Guitar; Alexandre: Bass and Buda: drums.
What led to the formation of Blind Pigs?
What led to the formation of Blind Pigs?
Boredom. We were fucking bored teenagers back in 1993, and the love of Punk Rock as well as my friendship with Gordo led to the Pigs.
How would you describe your sound, and what sets you apart from other bands in the genre?
We play first class Punk Rock coming straight from our hearts and souls in a third world country.
What musicians or people have you drawn inspiration from?
Basically the Canadian legends, Forgotten Rebels. We're in a movie with them called The Punks Are Alright.
What is The Punks are Alright about and what other bands are featured on it?
What is The Punks are Alright about and what other bands are featured on it?
Besides us, it features the Forgotten Rebels from Canada and Superman Is Dead from Indonesia. It's basically about how Punk Rock is a worldwide thing and how the music can affect our lives. It's been shown in many movie festivals around the world.
What do you write about?
Life, fights, friendship, and politics. And beer, of course.
How would you like people to react to the messages in your music?
How would you like people to react to the messages in your music?
I would like people to think for themselves. We don't preach and we've never acted as if we hold the answer to anything.
How has the band grown musically and lyrically since the beginning?
Well you'll have to check out our debut, "Sao Paulo Chaos", from 1996 and compare it with our latest album, "Herois ou Rebeldes" which was released last year. Basically, the main change is that now we sing exclusively in Portuguese, while on our first album, only two songs were in Portuguese. And I guess we're not as Hardcore Punk as we were back then, we're now playing straight forward Punk, call it Street Punk if you want.
What prompted the band to switch from singing in English to Portuguese?
We just decided that it would be cool if the kids knew exactly what they were singing along to. I mean, we've only played in Brazil so far, and Portuguese is our native language. I don't know, I guess that it just sounds better.
Do you have any plans to make a follow up album to 2006's Herois ou Rebeldes?
What prompted the band to switch from singing in English to Portuguese?
We just decided that it would be cool if the kids knew exactly what they were singing along to. I mean, we've only played in Brazil so far, and Portuguese is our native language. I don't know, I guess that it just sounds better.
Do you have any plans to make a follow up album to 2006's Herois ou Rebeldes?
Of course, as soon as we have the money to go back to the the studio. I run our own label, Sweet Fury Records and we do the work by ourselves, so it can be a little hard and tiring sometimes.
When did the Brazillian punk scene start and who were the influential bands?
When did the Brazillian punk scene start and who were the influential bands?
It started back in the early 80's, with bands like: Colera, Olho Seco, Inocentes, Garotos Podres, Replicantes, Ratos de Porao and many others. They all still play, but none have the original line-ups.
How would you describe the Brazilian punk scene?
Lot of emo kids, but still there are some kids who like old fashioned pure Punk. Some good bands too, like Calibre 12, Gramofocas, Lambrusco Kids, Rudes, just to name a few.
What bands are you guys currently listening to?
I'm listening to a lot of Johnny Cash, especially his stuff from American Recordings, and of course the greatest band of them all: THE CLASH.
If you got the chance to play one place in the world where you haven't played a show, where would it be and why?
Mexico. 'Cause I know we have many fans in that great country.
Do you have any crazy touring stories you'd like to share with us?
Well, we were almost arrested while on tour when the police mistook us for bank robbers. I mean, who the fuck would rob a bank with a blue mohawk? That was pretty scary, we had shotguns pointed at our heads on one of Vitoria's (a city in the Brazilian state of Espirito Santo) main streets. We were surrounded by cops while they searched our van. We were even in the news because of that. We had to bail Fabiano out of jail in the south of Brazil once because he attacked a police member of the Riot Squad. He was younger then, he knows better now (I hope).
Well, we were almost arrested while on tour when the police mistook us for bank robbers. I mean, who the fuck would rob a bank with a blue mohawk? That was pretty scary, we had shotguns pointed at our heads on one of Vitoria's (a city in the Brazilian state of Espirito Santo) main streets. We were surrounded by cops while they searched our van. We were even in the news because of that. We had to bail Fabiano out of jail in the south of Brazil once because he attacked a police member of the Riot Squad. He was younger then, he knows better now (I hope).
Where can people outside of Brazil buy your albums?
I don't really know, but you can download some of our songs from our website: blindpigs.com.br or porcoscegos.com (the sites should be up pretty soon). I think Interpunk.com sells some of our CDs online.
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Thanks to Henrike and good luck to the Blind Pigs!
http://www.antimidia.com.br/porcoscegos--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks to Henrike and good luck to the Blind Pigs!
http://www.myspace.com/blindpigs
(c) Rebecca Martyn, 2007
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