Legião Urbana

About

Formed in 1982 in Brasília, Distrito Federal, Legião Urbana was a Brazilian rock band whose name translates to Urban Legion in Portuguese. The band's primary lineup consisted of Renato Russo on vocals, guitar, bass, and keyboards, Dado Villa-Lobos on guitar, Renato Rocha on bass, and Marcelo Bonfá on drums and keyboards. When Rocha departed in 1989, the band continued as a trio with Russo taking over bass duties. The band officially disbanded in 1996 following Russo's death from AIDS, though Villa-Lobos and Bonfá remain as surviving members of the principal lineup. Despite their relatively short existence, Legião Urbana is recognized as one of the most influential Brazilian rock bands in music history, standing alongside other notable acts such as Os Mutantes, Titãs, Os Paralamas do Sucesso, and Barão Vermelho. The band is also considered to be among the pioneers of Brazilian rock.