Garotos Podres

Garotos Podres (Portuguese for Rotten Boys) was a Brazilian punk rock band that formed in 1982 in Mauá, part of the A.B.C. metropolitan region of São Paulo. The band gained prominence during Brazil’s military dictatorship and became well-known in the Brazilian punk rock scene.

History

Garotos Podres made their first major appearance in 1985 on the Ataque Sonoro compilation, which featured other iconic Brazilian hardcore bands such as Ratos de Porão, Cólera, and Lobotomia. The same year, they released their debut album, Mais Podres do que Nunca (“More Rotten Than Ever”), on the now-defunct Rocker label. The album sold around 50,000 copies, cementing the band’s popularity. In 2016, Rolling Stone Brasil ranked it as the 3rd best Brazilian punk rock album.

Many of their songs were controversial during the military dictatorship in Brazil. Some tracks were censored, such as “Johnny,” while others like “Papai Noel Filho da Puta” (“Santa Claus Son of a Bitch”) and “Maldita Polícia” (“Damn Police”) had to be reworked and re-released under alternative names to avoid censorship. For instance, “Papai Noel Filho da Puta” was retitled “Papai-Noel Velho Batuta” (“Santa Claus Cool Old Man”), a play on words where “velho batuta” sounds similar to “filho da puta,” and “Maldita Polícia” became “Maldita Preguiça” (“Damned Laziness”).

The band’s lead vocalist, Mao, is also a history professor at the University of São Paulo and holds a Doctorate in History, demonstrating his influence beyond the music scene.

Split and Legacy

In 2013, Garotos Podres split into two different groups. Mao and Cacá Saffiotti formed a new band called O Satânico Dr. Mao e os Espiões Secretos, while other members continued performing Garotos Podres’ original songs under the new name “Garotos”.