Please give a brief history of the band, including current line up.
THE STORY…SO FAR(T)!
The band was born in the end of 1981. Started as many other's
in that time: a tremendous desire to make noize and disturb families and
neighbourhood. For short: pure revolt and juvenile delinquence. The first
influences were mostly from British and US Punk from the end of the 70's
and early 80's: Cockney Rejects, Killing Joke, Blitz, Dead Kennedys, 999,
Black Flag, Adicts, Business, Anti Pasti, 4-Skins, Dickies, etc.
The first show takes place in December 82 on the E.S.B.A.L.
- Escola de Belas Artes de Lisboa (Lisbon School of Arts). A real success
since the band is kicked out from stage for the first time (many other's
to follow), ending the show with some band fans standing on the roof pissing
in the remaining audience. Some of then where arrested by Police including
their nº1 fan and future vocals of the band. The following shows didn't went
more peacefully, in some of them the band was even forbidden to get on stage.
The band decided, together with other Punk bands from that
time - like
CRISE TOTAL
,
KÚ-DE-JUDAS
and
GRITO FINAL
(the so called 2º wave of Portuguese Punk; being the first
wave made of bands like
FAISCAS, AQUI D'EL ROCK, MINAS E ARMADILHAS
and
XUTOS & PONTÁPES
) - to organise their own gigs (DIY) on a historic Lisbon
Venue: A TEIA (The Web).
From
MATA-RATOS
first line-up only the guitar player - Pedro Coelho -
remained along the years, but even him recently left the band to work exclusively
on his other project: ANTI-CLOCKWISE. In 1984 they get a new vocalist, Miguel "Angel
Face" Newton, that rapidly becomes the brand image of the band and is
still to this day one of the most carismatic and polemical agitators of the
Portuguese musical underground.
In 1991, after their bombastic appearance on the 6º Concurso
de Música Moderna do Rock Rendez Vous (something like a Battle of
The Bands) they finally release their debut album on EMI-Valentim De Carvalho:
"ROCK RADIOACTIVO".
The purpose of the band was never to release their work
on a multinational label like EMI;
But they had little alternative since all independent
labels around that time refused to have the band on their catalogues due
to Mata-Ratos growing fame of disorderly conduct and incitement to violence.
Their reputation was increased by the growing number of skins on their shows
and their refusal to make statements against the bootboys. EMI knows how
to smell for a good business and they weren't wrong: the album went straight
to the 5th place on the Portuguese Top and sold more than 7.000
units. The rude and hard tunes - like «A minha Sogra é Um Boi» (My
stepmother is an Ox) , «Eu Tenho Um Pobre» (I have a Poor) e «C.C.M. - Cona
Cú e Mamas» (P.A.T. - Pussy, Ass and Tits) - become street anthems
for an intire generation.
By this time Mata-Ratos had already changed their line-up
for a couple of times and when the album hits the streets new changes arrived
because of disagreements on what way the band should go: or to remain on
the pat chosed until then - pure fun and chaos moved on alcohol - or change
to a more "soft" attitude to get more "client's". Tradition
won, long live the chaos. For pleasure of long time fanatics, they kick out
the Bass and Drummer and moved along with a new line-up. The same reason
that saw the old line-up going out the drain took also Mata-Ratos to put
an end to their contract with EMI. From now on they're on their own risk
and the journey hasn't been an easy one. This only made the band to become
stronger and more aggressive. New line-up changes, chaotic shows, endless
polemics, dubious accusations, bloody fights, agro, etc, etc….
Natural survivors, only in 1994 they have the chance to
record for a new label- Drunk Records/Fast' N' Loud - that debut's by releasing
the legendary
"EXPULSOS DO BAR"
quickly sold out (latter re-released by German label and
also sold out). In 95 the second full length comes out - "
ESTÁS AQUI … ESTÁS ALI !"
- and the band goes to Tour in Portugal and Germany together
with Brazilian band
GAROTOS PODRES
. A real success and an endless drinking party for 15
days. During the tour they also had the luck to play together with bands
like
BRAINDANCE (UK)
and
OXYMORON (Germany).
The band also appear on lots of International compilations
and play in 96 on the 1st Super Rock Festival in Faro, Portugal, together
with
THE EXPLOITED (UK)
and
RATOS DO PORÃO (Brazil).
Two years ago
MATA-RATOS
celebrated their 15 th year of existence as a band. The
un-official party took place on the Academia de Linda-A-Velha (Suburb of
Lisbon) with the special guest band
RUIN BOIS (from Vigo/Galiza).
By the end of 97 the band records their last CD "SENTE
O ÓDIO" (FELL THE HATE) that due to various conflicts will only
see the light of day on the beginning of 99. The CD is released by new Portuguese
label ALARM! RECORDS.
For the last two decades MATA-RATOS have played live with
bands like
NO FX (U.S.A.)
,
SOZIEDAD ALKOHOLIKA (Euskadi)
,
TOY DOLLS (U.K.), GAROTOS PODRES (Brazil), RUIN BOIS (Galiza),
MADBALL (NY), CRISE TOTAL, OXYMORON (Germany), GRITO FINAL, RETALIATOR (UK),
BABES IN TOYLAND (USA), RENEGADOS DE BOLIQUEIME, EXPLOITED (UK), RATOS DE
PORÃO (Brazil), BRAINDANCE (UK), SETIMA LEGIÃO, METRALHAS,
ANTI-PORCOS, KU-DE-JUDAS, DR. MARTENS BEAT (Galiza), RAMP, TARA PERDIDA,
and lots more.
Mata-Ratos line-up:
-
ZÉ PEDRO
SARRUFO
- Guitarra;
-
MIGUEL "ANGEL FACE" NEWTON
- Voz;
-
ALEXANDRE BACALA
- Baixo;
-
RICARDO VIAGRA
- Bateria.
Discography.
-
«ESTÁS AQUI…ESTÁS ALI!»
, CD, Fast'N'Loud, Portugal, 1995
MATA-RATOS ON COMPILATIONS:
-
«ATESTADO DE POBREZA»,
Tape, Combate, Portugal, 1986 (with 2 tracks).
-
«X-MAS HERE AND STARVATION THERE»,
Tape, Punx, Belgium, 1987 (4 tracks).
-
«THIS BOOTS ARE MADE FOR STOMPIN»,
Tape, Street Beat, Germany, 1993 (5 tracks)
-
«PORTUGAL'S NOT DEAD»,
Tape, Street Beat, Germany, 1994 (4 tracks)
-
«HERE'S A BOOT...STOMP!»,
Tape, Street Beat, Germany, 1994 (3 tracks)
-
«VOZES DA RAIVA1»,
CD, Drunk Records/Fast'N'Loud, Portugal, 1994 (16
tracks)
-
«PLAY IT LOUD»,
CD, Fast'N'Loud, Portugal, 1995 (1 track)
-
«Oi! UM GRITO DE UNIÃO»,
CD, Rotten Records, Brazil, 1995 (5 tracks)
-
«VOZES DA RAIVA2»,
CD, Fast'N'Loud, Portugal, 1995 (5 tracks)
-
«SONGS ABOUT DRINKING»,
LP/CD, Too Many Records, USA, 1996 (1 track)
-
«A IDADE DO PECADO»,
CD, Sony Music, Portugal, 1996 (1 track)
-
«Oi! WE ARE THE BOIS!»,
CD, Bronco Bullfrog, Spain, 1996 (2 tracks)
-
«CAUGHT IN THE CYCLONE»,
CD, Cyclone, USA, 1997 (1 track)
-
«Oi! ... RARE & EXOTICA»,
LP, Teenage Rebel, Germany, 1997 (1 track)
-
«CAOS EM PORTUGAL»,
CD, Fast'N'Loud, Portugal, 1997 (2 tracks)
-
«ROCK'N'ROLL DELO TERCERO MUNDO 3»,
CD, HP Records, Brazil, 1997 (1 track)
-
«SCENE KILLER!»,
CD, Outsider, USA, 1998 (1 track)
-
«TO THE EAST AND TO THE WEST - PORTUGAL Vs. CZCHEC
REPUBLIC»,
7"EP, Bastard Rec./Fast'N'Loud, Czchec Republic/Portugal,
1998 (1 track)
-
«WALZWERK - THE FIRST 10 YEARS»
, CD, Walzwerk, Germany/Ireland, 1999 (1 track)
NEXT RELEASES:
What are the main themes in the lyrics?
Social problems, street living, friends, enemies, drinking,
political incorrect issues, live & death, streetpunk attitude, silly behaviours,
fake underground people, disgusting and annoying subjects, etc.
Do you do any covers in your live set, if so what?
"Eye Of the Tiger" (I don't remember the name of the fucking
geezers who play this song only know it's from the ugly movie called Rocky)
under the title "Olho Do Cu" (Eye Of the Ass); also another assassination
on Bob Marleys tune "No Woman No Cry" under the title of "Fui Ao Cu ao teu
Pai" (Getting upon your father's Ass); and finally we play "Exploited Barmy
Army" as "Mata-Ratos Barmy Army". Eventually play Portuguese National Anthem
just to annoy the hippies & hippy punks.
If you could see any band play live, either of the past or
present who would it be?
For me it would be Condemned 84 no doubt about it. For
Bacala with would be Agnostic Front (but he as seen them at least 5 times
now). For Sarrufo it would have been old time Sex Pistols and for Viagra
he's an R.D.P. (Ratos Do Porao from Brazil) addict.
What is the Punk/Oi scene like in your area?
The scene was good from back the early 80's till early
90's with lots off bands, show's and even some zines. Then with the tentacle
influence of P.C. on Punk thing's changed a lot and the scene became divided.
Since then HC took the place left open by Punk and become the major underground
force (after Metal) and is now very strong around here. Punk is now rising
again with new bands like INCRIMINADOS and ROLLS ROCKERS fuelling up the
scene togheter with old acts like Mata-Ratos and RENEGADOS DE BOLIQUEIME.
Do you prefer watching, or playing gigs? Why?
Obviously prefer to play. Why? Because if there's people
wanting to see your band you have to give them your best and if there's people
who hate you you've got to annoy them the best you can. So is always great
to play no matter what. Also there's not much bands around worth to see.
What is the favourite song (and what band is it by) of each
member of the band?
For me is "The boots go marching In" from C-84, for Sarrufo
it would be any Sex Pistols tune or one from is HC band TRINTA-E-UM (31),
for Bacala maybe "One Voice" or Crucified" from AGNOSTIC FRONT, for Vieira
it would be "Beber, Fumar, Descansar" (Drink, Smoke and Rest) by R.D.P.
Plans, gigs and releases planned for 99.
Nothing concrete as for gigs. Since I organise some shows
with outside bands I intend to put Mata-Ratos playing as support act for
most of them. Eventually we are invited to play around Portugal. I'm now
trying to put something up for D.R.I. over here but there's many people trying
to bring them over so I don't know how's it going to end. Next will be The
Business on November and with some luck also my all time favourites will
come over by the end of 99 or beginning of 2000. Hope also to bring Retaliator
back for a couple of shows. As for releases: we hope to start working on
our new album during this summer. The other scheduled releases are: a split
7" on a US label together with RETALIATOR, SCAVENGER, ULTIMA THULE and JIM
RICHMAN'S DIZZY_DIZZY (to be out around end of August/September) also will
have a tune in a Oi! CD compilation to be released by US label Go Team! Records
(to be out around September).
Any final comments?
Best regards to you Rebecca and all the true Punks and
Skins from the UK. Just forget the 5"O clock tea and riot for your right
of free beer 24 hours day non stop. Fuck European community.
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Please note that the opinions expressed by band
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