A Bolha | Interview | Arnaldo Brandão

Uncategorized September 20, 2023
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A Bolha | Interview | Arnaldo Brandão

A Bolha was a legendary Brazilian rock band that formed in 1965 as The Bubbles. The band released their fantastic debut album, ‘Um Passo A Frente’ in 1973.


A Bolha was originally started as The Bubbles. The band was formed by Cesar and Renato Ladeira in 1965. They started out only playing cover songs and in 1966 released their first single which consisted of two cover songs by The Rolling Stones and Los Shakers. In 1970 they changed their name to A Bolha with a new lineup of Renato Ladeira on keyboard, Pedro Lima on guitar, Arnaldo Brandão on bass and Gustavo Schroeter on drums.

Arnaldo Brandão was at the Isle of Wight Festival, in 1970, with Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil and other two members of A Bolha. They have made an impromptu appearance at the stage of the festival. NME even noticed it and wrote about their appearance as the “Brazilian Group”. In 1972 Arnaldo Brandão went to England where he became friends with Mick Taylor of The Rolling Stones and ended up living for awhile at Taylor’s house with his wife.

A Bolha promotional photo

“We became very famous in the emerging underground music scene all over Rio”

What was it like to grow up in your part of the world?

Arnaldo Brandão: I was born in Rio de Janeiro on December 2, 1951. When I was three years old I heard on a radio station a song called ‘Paraíba Mulher Macho’ from a Brazilian popular music genius called Luiz Gonzaga and immediately asked my mother to buy me the record. At four years old I was sent to Portugal to live with my aunts, sisters and grandmother in a very poor and small village in the north of Portugal. It was a time of sadness and very catholic and strict education. At age ten I was sent back to Brazil to live with my parents. My father was a waiter and used to play accordion at home and my mother was a house wife and enjoyed singing songs from Angela Maria and Dalva de Oliveira. I felt misfit and hated everything. At 15 I heard ‘(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction’ by The Rolling Stones and that changed my life. I began to play as a singer in a band school and after a while I was invited to be part of The Bubble as bass player. Soon we changed the name to A Bolha. Sure, the places where I lived really inspired me. In my case the music that was made in England was a big influence; The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Cream, as well as Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin.

The band was started by Cesar and Renato Ladeira in 1965. 

When Cesar, Lincoln and Ricardo left The Bubbles, me, Gustavo Schoeder and Pedro Lima were invited to be part of the band. That changed completely the sound of The Bubbles because we began to do covers of Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, Cream, Three Dog Night, Creedence Clearwater Revival. We became very famous in the emerging underground music scene all over Rio. After changing the name to A Bolha we started writing our own songs in Portuguese.

You were not part of The Bubbles’ single from 1966 (‘Não Vou Cartar o Cabelo (Break It All) / ‘Por que Sou Tão Feio (Get Out of My Cloud)’?

No, I started playing in the band around 1968. Renato Ladeira (keyboard, vocals and guitar), Pedro Lima (vocals and guitar), Arnaldo Brandão (vocals and bass) and finally Gustavo Schroeter (drums).

A Bolha in newspaper

How did you get signed to Top Tape Records, where you released an ‘Sem Nada’?

In 1969 we were invited by Jard Macalé to play with Gal Costa in her new show directed by Helio Oiticica in a nightclub called Sucata.

What kind of gigs did you play? 

We used to play in ballrooms, clubs and theatres, like Olaria Tennis Club, Meier, Tijuca Tennis Club, Monte Libano, Bonsucesso, Botafogo, MAM et cetera.

A Bolha promotional photo

Why did you leave the band?

Among other reasons I left the band because I wanted to expand my music repertoire and improve my musicality. Also at this time Brazil was under a military government and long haired people were not welcome. The repression was brutal.

A Bolha promotional photo

“I was lucky to play with Gal Costa, Caetano Veloso, Raul Seixas, Gilberto Gil”

You had a very rich career playing with many famous artists including Caetano Veloso. What was that like for you?

I was lucky to play with Gal Costa, Caetano Veloso, Raul Seixas, Gilberto Gil and other very talented artists. I learned a lot playing with them.

What about your collaboration with Jards Macalé and Zé Ramalho?

Jards Macalé and Zé Ramalho have different styles and they impressed me a lot when I recorded and played with them. With Macalé I learned about modern harmony and with Zé the roots of northern Brazilian music.

Arnaldo Pires Brandão of A Bolha group accompanying Gal Costa

Who else did you work with later on?

Rita Lee, Zé Rodrix, Gonzaguinha, As Freneticas, Naná Vasconcelos (at the time I worked with Gal Costa), Blitz, Lobão and others I can’t remember now.

Looking back, what was the highlight of your time in the band? Which songs are you most proud of? Where and when was your most memorable gig?

‘Desligaram Meus Controles’ and ‘Sem Nada’ are unforgettable songs! We had great gigs, but the one at Monte Libano Club at Rio, opening for Ravi Shankar and the one we perform at FIC (Festival Internacional da Canção) are unforgettable.

Is there any unreleased material by A Bolha or any other projects you were part of?

Yes, there are two songs by A Bolha that were never recorded.

You also released two solo albums, would you like to talk about it?

Besides one album with Brylho, one with A Bolha and five albums with Hanoi Hanoi, I have four solo albums: ‘Plano D,’ ‘Ao Vivo no Sergio Porto,’ ‘Amnésia Programada,’ and the latest one ‘Psicopop’. All these artists with whom I played and spent time together influenced me on my creations.

What currently occupies your life?

Now I am concentrating on my solo career, making songs for my next album and doing solo shows acoustic and electric in Brazil. I’m also planning to do some gigs in Portugal this year.

Arnaldo Brandão

Thank you for taking your time. Last word is yours.

I’m grateful that you’re interested in my work and thank you very much for making me travel in time with so many memories.

Klemen Breznikar


Headline photo: Naná Vasconcelos and A Bolha at Parque Lage in 1969 for the publicity of the Gal Costa show at Sucata | Photo credit: Carlos Leonam

Arnaldo Brandão Facebook / Instagram

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