Beatniks (3)

The Beatniks, were born in Sao Paulo, Brasil during the mid-60s, in 1962 actually, when they were still known as The Hits, a 5-piece of rock'n'roll and twist. At that time time they had the following line-up: Tutti and Marcelo (guitars), Bog (bass), Mingo (piano) and Aidas (drums). Their first record came out when they were backing the singer Alberto Pav O. They recorded Tu E Eu/Move It, a 78 RPM on the Mocambo label. Later, with the female quartet Alvorada featuring Meire Pav O, they recorded Lio de Twist/Machach, another 78 RPM on Macambo. Second stage saw the remaining member of the original Hits - Bog (now on guitar) - meeting Marcio (also on guitar), William (drums) and Alemo (bass) and forming the Analfabeatles, but they didn't last long under this moniker due to the fact that other (and more famous) Analfabeatles were already around. So they changed their name in the Cheyenesand, the line-up changes again with Armandinho and Marcio (on guitars), Bog (bass) and finally Rubino (drums). None of these line-ups actually recorded or released any records. In 1965, The Beatniks were officially born. At first they were strongly influenced by Beatlemania, they were soon noticed by Roberto Carlos, guest of the most famous music TV program of that time, called (how different?) Jovem Guarda. Before that, Spesialmente Bog e Marcio, were influenced by the english The Shadows, and this was truly important, because it brought them a contract with the Rei Television. Even though the producers weren't happy about it, having someone else in mind... Ther set usually included covers of Turtles, Kinks, Them and later Jimi Hendrix. At the same time the band would show up on TV, play during the Sunday happenings in Sao Paulo, tour the whole country as promoters of the Fenit/Rhodia, backing the singer Silvinha as well as performing in the TV show O Bom, directed by Eduardo Arajo, on Canal 9 og the Excelsior TV(SP). From 1965 to 1968 they had the following line-ups: 1965 - 1966 - Bog and Marcio (guitars and vocals), Nen (bass - later in the also famous group Os Increveis) and Nino (drums) Second line-up: 1966 - 1967 featured Mario Lucio (bass) and Pandinha (drums - ex-Silver Strings, one of the best drummers around) Third line-up, until 1968 - Marcio and Tuca (guitars and vocals - Tuca performed with The Lunticos and Baobs and Later with Kompha and Sunday), Claudio (bass - later with Sunday) and Norival (drums - later in Som Beat, Sunday and Roberto Carlos Group). During the first phase they released 2 singles and 1 maxisingle: - 1st single - Cansando De Esperar (Tired of Waiting for You)/Este Lugar Vazio [CBS] - 2nd single - Outside Chance/Era um Rapaz Que Como eu Amava Os Beatles e Os Rolling Stones [Mocambo/Rozemblit] - 3rd maxisingle - Gloria/Fire/Eu Te Encontro/Alligator Hat [Mocambo/Rozemblit] The sleeves of the records Outside Chance/Era um Rapaz Que Como eu Amava Os Beatles e Os Rolling Stones; and Cansando de Esperar (Tired of Waiting For You)/Este Lugar Vazio were released by the graphic artist and cultural agitator of Sao Paulo, Antonio Peticov, with Stringly influenced by the psychedelic art that was spreading around those days, in Brazil as in the rest of the World. In 1975, the band made a reunion for the Rock Com Certesa show, with the following line-up; Bogo and Marcio (he died in 2001) (guitar and vocals), Claudio (bass) and Norival (drums). In 1984, they came back with a new line-up for a tour. This time around they were: Bogo, Ded (guitars and vocals), Wellington (bass) and Nivaldo (drums). Also during the 80s, bog played with the group Rock It, which featured Nacional Kid (ex-Thunders, with Liminha, in the 60s), Nivaldo, Bruno, Cesar and Mano. - Bethania Lauschner, May 2002