Flerte Fatal (band)

Flerte Fatal is a Brazilian rock band from Fortaleza. Formed in 1992, they achieved great success in the 90's, mixing the punk rock with some attributes of Britpop, however, the band has absorbed various musical styles during their 20-year career, such as indie rock, hard rock and electronic rock.

Flerte Fatal started with this line-up: Victor Porto (vocals), Filipe Galvão (guitar), Leonardo Pontes (bass) and David Mello (drums). In 2002, after disagreements and a troubled tour, Filipe announced his departure from the band, being replaced by Victor's cousin, guitarist Pedro Lucas. This second line-up lasted until 2010, when Filipe decided to return to the group, forming a pair of guitarists with Lucas.

Their latest album, Salamandra, was released in 2015.

History

Early Years

Students from the same school in Fortaleza, Victor and David began to make plans to form a band for fun. Victor had scribbled some lyrics that would become songs, while David has practiced battery for a few years. They met Leonardo in the school, and he offered to play bass. The guitarist position was taken by Filipe, David's friend, who knew of the group's creation and wanted to participate as well.

They began playing at parties, private events and night clubs, where the band played his own compositions, as well as Brazilian rock bands covers, like Ira!, Engenheiros do Hawaii and Legião Urbana. In 1994, after two years of articulated shows, the group finally signed a contract with producer Marcos Alexandre who, at the time, was working for WEA.

Rising Up

Their first CD, Zona de Combate, released in 1995, was a great success, reaching the first gold record of the band. The main hits were Longe da Multidão, Felicidade Clandestina, Mitologia e Intuição, Fim da Linha and the title track. Flerte Fatal began to fill various venues throughout Brazil, being considered for various journals the musical revelation of the year. In 1996, they were one of the principal attractions of the Hollywood Rock festival.

In 1997 they went on to record their second CD, Faça O Que Eu Digo: Não Faça O Que Eu Faço. This album marks the peak of the commercial success of the group, surpassing the previous record sales and reaching a platinum disc. All members contributed to the composition of the album's songs, highlighting the compositions written by the duo Victor/Felipe, who became instant hits, such as the title track, Saia de Caminho, Trabalhar Ninguém Quer, Não Faz Sentido and Assim Você Me Conquista. Faça O Que Eu Digo: Não Faça O Que Eu Faço was considered the best album of the year, and is remembered as one of the best records of Brazilian rock during the 90s.

In 1999, tired of media persecution and stressed to the long duration of the previous tour, Flerte Fatal radicalized and released their third CD, O País do Futuro, a concept album that tells the story of Brazil, counting from the arrival of the Portuguese caravels until the time the album was released. In addition, this record also demonstrates the maturity of the group, which invests in various music styles, like samba, blues, progressive rock, ska punk, reggae, folk rock and country. The album sold well, but was not well received by the media, thanks to its anti-commercial style, but was hailed by fans and even received some good reviews. The main hits were the title track, Independência ou Morte, Estados Unidos do Brasil, Novos Horizontes and Ordem e Progresso. During the tour in support of O País do Futuro, the band recorded their first live album, titled Flertando Ao Vivo, released in 2000.

In 2001 Flerte Fatal released their fourth CD, entitled Admirável Mundo Novo, recorded during a troubled period of the band, which faced a dispute between Victor and Filipe, each trying to establish its place as absolute leader of the group. The album's sonority recalls the first two discs of the group, but with a heavier loudness. The main successes were the title track, (A Nova) Geração do Rock, Tal Pai, Tal Filho and Pátria Amada. The reviews were positive, and a new legion of fans had been formed. The group came to perform at the third edition of the Rock in Rio festival, but that has not stopped the guitarist and songwriter Filipe Galvão, in early 2002, announced his departure from the band, declaiming that was looking for new horizons.

In 2002 was also released the compilation album Não Faz Sentido: 1995-2002, containing the greatest hits of Flerte Fatal.

New Line-Up

It did not take long for Victor Porto, after finishing the promotion of his first solo album, announce the entrance of guitarist Pedro Lucas, singer's cousin. Lucas didn't yet have much experience in the music world, but he would come for show. The fifth album's recordings began in late 2002, and were well relaxed, with David and Leonardo accepting very well Lucas's entrance, which gave a new rhythm to the group. The band opted to record a dirtier, direct and heavy record. So was born As Longas Tranças do Rei Careca, released in 2003, which, for once, was not well received by the specialized press and criticism, while most fans well accepted this new side of Flerte Fatal. The main highlights were Porrada Neles, Você Não Precisa Entender and A Volta dos Que Não Foram.

In 2005, decided to return to stardom, the group calls the music producer Liminha, who played a great job to organize the recording of the sixth CD of Flerte Fatal, named Poeira Em Alto Mar. The album features a more commercial sound, but the band continued to innovate and flirting with new music styles, such as MPB and psychedelic rock. Poeira Em Alto Mar was a sales's success, becoming the most successful album of the group since Faça O Que Eu Digo: Não Faça O Que Eu Faço, reaching double platinum. This record is full of hits, such as the title track, Serra Leoa, Eclipse Solar, As Coisas Que Eu Faço Por Amor, Terceiro Mundo e 1° de Abril.

In 2006, upon the success of Poeira Em Alto Mar, Flerte Fatal recorded and released their second live album, Acústico MTV, where the band revisited their career. The album was a huge success, and the acoustic reinterpretations of Amigos Invisíveis and Vamos Botar Boneco were among the most played songs of the year. Acústico MTV is their most successful album, reaching diamond certification.

In early 2007, after the extensive tour of the Acústico MTV, the band decided to return to the studio, but the main objective of Flerte Fatal was to re-record classics of Brazilian rock, such as Engenheiros do Hawaii, Capital Inicial and Titãs, as well as newer bands songs, like Raimundos and Os Ostras. During the recording, the group began to develop their own compositions, and the band didn't want to discard them, so it was decided that the seventh album of Flerte Fatal would be a double album: the first disc would be covers, while the second disc would be original songs. Titled simply Flerte Fatal, the album sold well, thanks to the meteoric success of songs like Sexta-Feira 13 and Rádio, Cinema & Televisão, in addition to the disclosure of versions of Parabéns Pra Você and Mickey Mouse em Moscou. In the same year was released the EP Luau MTV, where the band played songs that were left out of the Acústico MTV.

In 2008, the band recorded their second EP, called Balada MTV, where the group plays its calmer tunes and other less known songs.

During an interview in early 2009, the singer Victor Porto was asked how would be the group's new album. He replied that "the new album of Flerte Fatal will be more innovative and different than its predecessors, because we had complete freedom to record as we'd like, so I think it will be our most creative and strange album". Some time later, it was announced the album's title, named Aurora Boreal, which was released in the second half of 2009. The band, decided to continue innovating, bet in a mix of electronic rock and funk rock. Aurora Boreal was widely praised by music critics, but the fans of the group didn't accept very well this new work. O Homem Amarelo, Descendo o Arco-Íris, As Quatro Estações and the title track were the highlights.

The Return of Filipe

In early 2010, Flerte Fatal announced the release of their second compilation album, entitled Rádio, Cinema & Televisão, which features songs released during the period 2003-2009. It was also announced that Filipe Galvão, guitarist from the original line-up, would be returning in his position in the band, after some years dedicated to his solo career. The reunion tour was a great success, creating a possibility of the band releasing a new album, now with a pair of guitarists.

In 2011, after several months swapped in a studio in Fortaleza, Flerte Fatal released their ninth album, called O Muro das Lamentações. The title, according to Victor, would be a way to apologize to the old fans, who were not satisfied with the result of the previous album. This record features a heavier sound, thanks to the double guitars, in addition to the acidic lyrics. Reviews were excellent, emphasizing how the new formation of the group works well. The main hits were Destinos Cruzados, Amor Platônico, the title track and Juízo Final. During the promotional tour of O Muro das Lamentações, the band recorded their third live album, called Aconteceu em Porto Alegre, released in 2012.

In 2013, the band returned to the studio to record their tenth album, called Mundo Canibal. Launched in the second half of the year, the album mixes the sonority of the previous album with various musical influences, such as heavy metal, alternative rock and world music. Sales success, this album provided Flerte Fatal the chance to participate in the fifth edition of Rock in Rio festival, and their performance was very acclaimed by the audience. Mundo Canibal provided four singles: Amor à Primeira Vista, Uma Questão de Vida ou Morte, Eu Estarei Lá (Se Você Precisar de Mim) and Não Me Faça Rir.

At the end of the first semester of 2015, Flerte Fatal announced the release of their eleventh studio album, entitled Salamandra. The first single, "Tudo É Possível", was released a week before the album.

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums

• Zona de Combate (1995)
• Faça O Que Eu Digo: Não Faça O Que Eu Faço (1997)
• O País do Futuro (1999)
• Admirável Mundo Novo (2001)
• As Longas Tranças do Rei Careca (2003)
• Poeira Em Alto Mar (2005)
• Flerte Fatal (2007)
• Aurora Boreal (2009)
• O Muro das Lamentações (2011)
• Mundo Canibal (2013)
• Salamandra (2015)

Live albums

• Flertando Ao Vivo (2000)
• Acústico MTV (2006)
• Aconteceu em Porto Alegre (2012)

Compilation albums

• Não Faz Sentido: 1995-2002 (2002)
• Rádio, Cinema & Televisão: 2003-2010 (2010)

EP's

• Luau MTV (2007)
• Balada MTV (2008)

References