About Vímana
Hometown
Brazil
Formed
1974
Genre
MPB
Vímana wasn't typical in terms of discographical production or high sales. In the band's short career of four years they only recorded a single, and their main visible accomplishment was to back Patrick Moraz (former Yes keyboardist) in an ephemeral project. The importance of Vímana, a competent rock band with strong musical possibilities, resides in it being a link in the elaboration of Brazilian rock, a style that emerged in the '80s, and also having been the departure point for expressive musicians of that movement, like Lulu Santos, Ritchie, and Lobão. Since the late '60s, Os Mutantes became the main reference for new bands wanting to play rock in a Brazilian way. The scene of Rio and São Paulo was crowded by a multitude of groups which emulated the seminal rock band, together with the heroes from abroad. In 1974, some musicians left previous projects and put together the group Vímana, a Sanskrit word for the fire chariot used by the gods to descend to Earth. Luiz Paulo Simas (keyboardist) and Candinho (drummer) came out of Módulo 1000, a Black Sabbath-influenced band, while Luís Maurício Pragana dos Santos (Lulu Santos, guitarist, vocalist, composer), and Fernando Gama (bassist) were from the the Rolling Stones clone band Veludo Elétrico. With the later addition of Ritchie (the English Richard David Court, composer, vocalist, flutist) the group seemed ready for its start, but then drummer Candinho left, due to a mystical revelation. At that point, Vímana was hired to perform in the play A Feiticeira, at the Teatro Casa Grande (Rio), when Lobão (João Luís Woerdenbag, drummer, vocalist, composer) was introduced to the band by Inácio Machado. The energetic and rebellious drummer was hired immediately, and they departed for their solitary release, the single "Zebra" (Som Livre). They recorded also a 24-track tape at Estúdio Level by the American engineer Don Louis and by producer Guto Graça Mello, which remained unpublished. In those days, Vímana made considerable success in their performances at the Modern Art Museum, Teatro Tereza Rachel, and Teatro Galeria (all venues located in Rio). In 1977, Swiss keyboardist Patrick Moraz, who had left Yes after recording the LP Relayer, decided to make Vímana his supporting band, rehearsing in a Brazilian tour for a European one. The Vímana members thought that a big break was coming, but the results of the association were disappointing. Moraz began to disagree with Lulu Santos, and the band finally expelled Santos under the false accusation that he didn't know how to play. The collaboration of Vímana with Moraz continued until 1978, when the partnership and the band were altogether dissolved under a cloud of scandal. Lobão allegedly had an affair with Moraz's wife. Moraz came back to Europe, joining the Moody Blues, and the Brazilians and Ritchie departed for their solo careers. ~ Alvaro Neder
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