Tara Perdida is a Portuguese punk rock band, formed on June 10, 1995.
Tara Perdida was born as a result of the combination of two projects: on the one hand João Ribas, who after the end of Censurados wanted to create a new hardcore punk band and had the support of Cró, and on the other, Ruka and Orélio were looking for bassist and vocalist for a band of the same genre.
The genesis of Tara Perdida dates back to 1995 – more precisely to June 10, 1995. It was exactly on Portugal, Camões and Communities Day, that the musicians got together for the first time in the Alvalade neighborhood – famous for having given to the Portuguese punk rock movement bands like Peste & Sida and Censurados – for a first rehearsal. On the one hand, bassist Vitor Matos (Cró) and vocalist/guitarist João Ribas, still recovering from the sudden separation from the mythical Censors, but eager to embark on a new musical adventure. On the other hand, guitarist Rui Costa (Ruka) and drummer Hélio Moreira (Oregos), looking for the right musicians to implement the ideas they had already developed together. A huge passion for punk rock and an incessant desire to play brought the four musicians together, in the right place and time.
On the 17th of November of the same year, just five months later, the band gave their first concert at Grupo Dramático Ramiro José. Playing at home, the reactions were quick and, since that first live performance, they never looked back. Alternating writing songs with a few more shows, Tara Perdida signed their first record contract with Música Alternativa in early 1996, entering the studio to record their debut album in April. It is precisely at this point, with the band in the studio and in the middle of the recording process, that the first change takes place in its midst – Cró decides to abandon the project and is quickly replaced by Jaime Sousa. Preceded by a memorable performance at the mythical Vilar de Mouros festival, «Tara Perdida» hits the shelves in November and is met with a very warm acceptance by the public.
At a time when the national rock scene was desperately in need of a valiant shake, the contesting and energetic attitude of songs like “Isto Não Vai Melhorar”, “Feia” or “Até M’Embebedar” had precisely the effect that was intended and allowed them to spend the first part of the following year playing around the country and sharing stages with such well-known international bands as NOFX, Ratos de Porão and Exploited.
Without wasting much time, the four musicians returned to the studio and – between May and June 1998 – recorded their second album, interrupting the recording process to perform at the Coliseus in Lisbon and Porto as a “support band” for the North Americans. The Offspring.
“Só Não Vê Quem Não Quer” was edited by Música Alternativa in October 1998 and the group took to the road again, where it remained stoically for almost a year. The highlight of this tour turns out to be the first (and so far the only) appearance of Tara Perdida outside the country, with a performance at the C’Rock Note festival in France.
Faced with the prospect of having to delve into the process of composing the third album – which, in the rock universe, is usually seen as the one that can make or break a band – the musicians suddenly faced an impasse. Apparently exhausted by the rigorous level of activity they had been subjected to until then, they decided to slow down for a while and used this pause to rethink their attacking strategy.
The solution to the creative block they were going through at the time was when Ganso joined Tara Perdida, in November 1999. A longtime friend of the other elements, supporter of the band and excellent composer, the guitarist turned out to be a key piece during the years 2000 and 2001 – which, although with a few concerts in between, were spent basically creating new themes and finding a fixed place to rehearse. In March 2001, Hélio Moreira (Oregos) left the band, being replaced by Pedro Rosário (Kystos).
With a renewed line-up – João Ribas on vocals, Rui Costa (Ruka) and Tiago Ganso on guitars, Jaime Sousa on bass and Pedro Rosário (Kystos) on drums – they finally started recording their third full-length in February 2002. recording studios are divided between MB studios (in Porto) and BEBOP (in Lisbon), starting a healthy collaboration with producer Cajó (known for his association with names such as Xutos & Pontapés or Sérgio Godinho). «É Assim» was published in June 2002 and, from the outset, acclaimed as the best record of Tara Perdida until then.
The melodic sensibility of Tiago Ganso, the rhythmic versatility of Pedro Rosário (Kystos) and a slightly more relaxed attitude helped to broaden the group’s following and transformed songs such as “Nasci Hoje”, “Criar Soluções”, “Desalinhado” and «30 Days» in true hymns. With even greater cohesion on stage and with the charismatic João Ribas more free and at ease in the position of frontman, the years 2003 and 2004 became one of the most active periods for the band in terms of live performances, proving the success of the album “É Assim”. The year 2004 was marked by the departure of Pedro Rosário (Kystos). Rodrigo Alves occupies the place left behind the drum kit.
2005 marks the tenth anniversary of Tara Perdida and the release of a new record. In January of that year, the quintet returned to the MB and BEBOP studios, counting again on the production of Cajó, for the recording of the successor to «É Assim». The edition of «Lambe-Botas» by Música Alternativa, in April, is marked with three great concerts, with the collaboration of Miguel Gomes (Xuxa Jurássica) – first in Porto, then in Lisbon and, finally, in Faro. Closer to perfection of the explored formula of its predecessor, the new album allowed the group to fly even higher and participate in events such as SBSR 2005 and, in the following year, Rock In Rio Lisboa, Vans Club Tour and Jurassic Summer Fest.
2006 turned out to be the most productive year ever for the band, which played around 40 concerts across the country and proved that – a decade after starting to write the first songs – it was at the peak of its form. Even before the end of the year, they recorded their first DVD, in front of an Incrível Almadense bursting at the seams. At a time when the word “cult” is easily confused with the amount of mp3 files stored on a computer’s hard drive or “friends” on a Facebook account, Tara Perdida show that it is still possible to build a career based on loyalty of their followers and the close relationship they maintain with them. Three years after the release of the very successful «LambeBotas» and one of the most prolific periods of their career when it comes to live activity, Tara Perdida are finally back in charge with a new record of originals. In 2008, «Nada a Esconder» is the fifth album signed by the Lisbon quintet, it marks the band’s first contract with a multinational label, Universal Music and, above all, reinforces the idea that the band continues to be as relevant as when it formed.
For the first time, Tara Perdida work with an agency, Oficina da Idições, and with a multinational, Universal Music, reaching a level never seen before, starting five years of non-stop road with many shows throughout Portugal, and in all festivals, exceeding all expectations. They performed at Coliseu dos Recreios in their own name, in 2009, and, that same year, they also performed at Estádio do Restelo, in the first part of the concert celebrating 30 years of Xutos e Pontapés.
Five years after the release of the album «Nada a Esconder», «Dono do Mundo» arrives, in 2013, with a new lineup marked by the return of Pedro Rosário (Kystos) on drums and the departure of Jaime Sousa, longtime bassist, being replaced by Nuno Espírito Santo. The album features iconic singles such as «Lisboa», which was nominated for best song of the year at the Golden Globes and which features Tim (Xutos & Pontapés) and pianist Rui Almeida (JPP), «O que é que eu I do it here», «Segredo» and «“Message», entered directly to the sixth place of the National Top, proving, once again, the success of the band.
The release of this long-awaited album marks the new contract with the label Sony Music and the new agency Just for You. The band returns to the Coliseu, solo, in the presentation of «Dono do Mundo», in Lisbon, and they return to the road at full throttle.
On March 23, 2014, Tara Perdida lost one of their founders, their iconic vocalist of all time, João Ribas, victim of respiratory arrest. More than losing a vocalist, a Great Friend, a Great Partner, a Great Heart was lost. Tara Perdida prepared their return to the road, after the success of «O Dono do Mundo», the sixth studio work in the group’s discography, released in June 2013.
It is by fulfilling João’s will, who left us a message of courage, strength and determination, that the band will pay his tribute, continuing to bring to the public that cherished him so much the themes that marked and will continue to mark a generation. The return to the road marks a new phase of Tara Perdida, in homage to their late singer. The band invited some friends to perform their best-known songs on stage, which will certainly enhance the show, pay tribute to their first performer, João Ribas, and surprise the audience.
What for many seemed impossible, in 2015, the band edits «Luto», continuing with the Sony Music label, which goes directly to the fourth place of the National Top. This new album, in homage to João Ribas, has Tiago Afonso taking responsibility for the voice, and the great Alexandre Morais, for the bass, bringing a unique energy to the band’s most remarkable moment. The record should be understood as an album of mourning, but with the verb to fight. Tara Perdida’s message is positive and motivating, and «Luto» marks the rebirth of João Ribas’s band. «Mourning» presents, once again, emblematic themes such as «One Day at a Time», «Fight», «Until the End», «Morphine», «Histórias de Silêncio» and «Regresso» *, which reflects the feeling of band in the face of the loss of great friend João Ribas.
On June 10th, 2015 marks the 20th anniversary of Tara Perdida, who, since the day they started, have never stopped.
In 2016, the band hands over the agency to Lemon and the management to Paulo Ventura, who suggests the transformation of some themes into acoustic format and thus, “Metamorfose”, the band’s first acoustic album, distributed with Blitz magazine, in partnership with the same.
The band returns to the road, on a tour promoting “Metamorfose”.
METAMORPHOSIS Back on the road at full speed doing a tour of 12 dates followed by clubs from north to south of Portugal (Tara Perdida Club Tour / Blitz) that brought the band closer to its audience that welcomed them with open arms. The proximity to the fans was without a doubt the best part of the Club Tour.
2017 continues the promotion of Luto together with Metamorfose, some of the shows being electric with acoustic moments with the fans always present never leaving the band
2018 – The new cycle, Tara Perdida enter 2018 with a new album in the secret of the gods, successor to Luto edited in 2015 in honor of Joao Ribas, Tara Perdida 3 years later prepare to launch the new long-play that promises to give a lot what to talk
Continuing with the Sony Music label and handing over the folder of the agency GIGS ON MARS, Tara Perdida prepare to return to the load and spread adrenaline with new anthems.
Tara Perdida face life with reality, knowing that the path is not always made with a smile, but passion is stronger and the dream commands life, giving up is impossible, after almost 23 years the band feels they have to keep doing it history and carrying the flag of Portuguese Punk Rock with the ambition that has always characterized them.
Three years after the release of the most remarkable album of their career (Luto) in 2015, a tribute to the great João Ribas, the emblematic vocalist of all times, Tara Perdida return to the load with “Reza”, the name of the new long-term successor to “Luto” that promises to give a lot to talk about and set the audiences on fire.
Tara Perdida are considered the biggest Punk Rock institution in Portugal.
Current formation: Rui Costa, Tiago Ganso, Pedro Rosário, Tiago Afonso, Alexandre Morais.
Source: musicaportuguesa.pt
