José Pedro Amaro dos Santos Reis, whom Portugal learned to love simply as Zé Pedro, was born in Lisbon in 1956, but his story is, from an early age, one of movement and a deep passion for freedom. His childhood took him, while still a child, to East Timor, where his father, a military man, was stationed—an experience that marked him.
This first great journey, at just four years old, foreshadowed a life that would never be tied to just one place or one idea. He was a young man of the world before he became a Lisbon rocker, and this openness shone through in his art.
His return to Lisbon at the age of six settled him in the Olivais neighborhood, a suburb that, amidst the effervescence of post-April 25th Lisbon, became the cradle of a cultural and sound revolution. The city was changing, and Zé Pedro was paying attention.
It was there, in the late 70s, that the “bug” for rock, and more specifically punk, began to bubble up. More than musical technique, he embraced the attitude: the raw energy, the urgency, and the unwavering belief in the power to change the world with three chords and an unbreakable spirit.
Zé Pedro was, above all, a contagious enthusiast. He was not the technical guitar virtuoso who sought harmonic perfection, but rather the pulsating heart and soul of the show. His true instrument was the feeling and total surrender to the music.
His “do it yourself” attitude was the pure punk essence he brought to national music, inspiring generations of musicians to pick up instruments without fear of failure.
His passion was so great that, in 1978, at 22, he published an ad that would become legendary in the Diário de Notícias: “Drummer and bassist needed for punk group.” This small act of audacity would forever change Portuguese music.
This ad was the spark that gave rise to Xutos & Pontapés. Kalú and Tim answered the call (along with the initial Zé Leonel) and, from a garage in Olivais, something unprecedented, urgent, and profoundly Portuguese was born.
The band’s name, after a few attempts, settled on Xutos & Pontapés, an expression inspired by the passion for football (kicks and volleys) and a certain explosive and immediate sound they sought.
The road, however, was not always paved with immediate glory. The beginning was pure guerrilla warfare, with concerts in every hall, party, and festival, in a constant fight to establish rock music sung in Portuguese.
Zé Pedro balanced night rehearsals with his work as a journalist at Diário de Lisboa, where, of course, he was the keen chronicler of the music scene he himself was helping to build.
The guitarist was known for his rocker joy on stage, a wide, embracing smile that seemed to encompass the entire audience. He was the host, the link between the band and the crowd, embodying the casual elegance of rock.
Off stage, Zé Pedro was equally a cultural catalyst. He was one of the founding partners of the mythical Johnny Guitar, a bar in Lisbon that became a meeting point and a vital launching pad for countless bands and artists from the underground scene in the 80s and 90s.
Amidst the frenzy of success and the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle, Zé Pedro also faced personal demons. He never hid his struggles with alcohol and drugs, speaking openly about recovery and the importance of owning up to one’s mistakes.
This brutal honesty and the ability to bounce back made him an even more human, inspiring, and real figure to his fans. His life was proof that even rock stars stumble, but that strength and the will to live can be stronger than any addiction.
In 2001, his health dealt him a serious blow. Hepatitis C, diagnosed at the time, worsened and required a liver transplant in 2011. This period of illness and struggle was faced with the same dignity and transparency with which he always faced life.
The transplant granted him extra years, and Zé Pedro embraced them with visible gratitude. He married his partner, Cristina Avides Moreira, in 2013, and returned to the road, renewed, to continue spreading his music and his smile.
His talent was not limited to Xutos. He authored iconic tracks like “Submissão” (where he even ventured into vocals) and “Não Sou o Único,” and released the solo album “Convidado” (Guest), where he collaborated with friends like Jorge Palma and Sérgio Godinho.
Xutos & Pontapés, with Zé Pedro at the forefront, opened for The Rolling Stones in Coimbra in 2003, a moment the guitarist considered the realization of a long-held dream and a major international recognition for Portuguese rock.
On November 30, 2017, Zé Pedro passed away, leaving Portuguese rock orphaned of one of its greatest icons. He was 61 years old, and the news of his death caused a wave of national consternation, transcending the music world to become a moment of profound collective mourning.
Zé Pedro left us more than songs; he left a legacy of attitude, resilience, and proof that you can be a rock star without ever losing humility and closeness. His charisma and relaxed elegance continue to embody the best of Portuguese rock, and his smile, we guarantee, echoes in every Xutos concert, forever, in the memory of Portugal.
