Legião Urbana

Legião Urbana (Portuguese for Urban Legion) was a Brazilian rock band formed in 1982 in Brasília, Distrito Federal. The band primarily consisted of Renato Russo (vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards), Dado Villa-Lobos (guitar), Renato Rocha (bass), and Marcelo Bonfá (drums, keyboards). Rocha left the band in 1989, and the band continued as a trio until their disbandment, with Russo becoming the band's de facto bassist after Rocha's departure. Following Rocha's death in 2015, Villa-Lobos and Bonfá are the last surviving members of the band's principal lineup.

While Legião Urbana disbanded officially in 1996, after Russo's death from AIDS, yet today they are considered one of the most influential Brazilian rock bands in music history, alongside Os Mutantes, Titãs, Os Paralamas do Sucesso, and Barão Vermelho, and are considered to be pioneers of Brazilian rock.

History

The beginning

Renato Russo (born Renato Manfredini, Jr.) founded Legião Urbana in 1982 in Brasília, after leaving his previous band Aborto Elétrico ("Electric Abortion"). Aborto Elétrico broke up due to repeated disagreements between Russo and brothers Flávio and Fê Lemos, his bandmates. After Aborto Elétrico split and Russo created Legião Urbana, the two brothers would also go on to found Capital Inicial.

Legião Urbana was initially formed by Renato Russo (vocals and bass) Marcelo Bonfá (drums), Eduardo Paraná (guitars) and Paulo Paulista (keyboards), but Paraná and Paulista would quickly leave the band. Ico Ouro Preto replaced Paraná as the guitarist. Dado Villa-Lobos replaced Ouro Preto in 1983. In the beginning of 1984, Renato Rocha joined the group as the bass player. Renato Russo would then focus on the vocals. He also played keyboards and acoustic guitar.