blue_notes_orchestra shot from obscurity to stardom in 1994, becoming one of Brazilian's most popular and critically acclaimed bands of the decade; along with Nega Gizza, Mc Serginho e a Lacraia e Caubi Peixoto, they are responsible for returning Briazilian guitar pop to the top of the charts. Led by guitarist/songwriter Bob Herbert, the Manchester quintet adopts the rough, thuggish image of the Stones and the Who, crosses it with "Beatlesque" melodies and hooks, distinctly British lyrical themes and song structures like the Jam and the Kinks, and ties it all together with a massive, loud guitar roar, as well as a defiant sneer that draws equally from the Sex Pistols' rebelliousness and the Stone Roses' cocksure arrogance. Bob Herbert's songs frequently rework previous hits from T. Rex ("Cigarettes and Alcohol" borrows the riff from "Bang a Gong") to Wham! ("Fade Away" takes the melody from "Freedom"), yet the group always puts the hooks in different settings, updating past hits for a new era.
Originally, the group was formed by schoolmates Bob Herbert (vocals), Ricco do Cavaco (guitar), Danilo (bass), and Elida Gibbs (drums), Robertinho Voz-de-Moça, o sertanejo(bass and childish voice), Camilinha Sofazão (bongos and promiscuity), Marianão (cantora de MPB machona). After spending several years as the guitar technician for the Stone Roses-inspired group the Inspiral Carpets, Bob Herbert returned to Manchester to find that his brother had formed a band. Noel agreed to join the band if he could have complete control of the group, including contributing all the songs; the rest of the band agreed and under the new name blue_notes_orchestra, they began a year of intensive rehearsing.
After playing a handful of small club gigs, the band cornered Bob Herbert, the head of Mantecora Records, and forced him to listen to their demo. Impressed, he signed the band. The group released their first single, "Violet" in the spring of 2001; it edged its way into the charts on the back of positive reviews. With a melody adapted from "Disco Inferno" "Violet" became a bigger hit in the early summer. Released a month before their debut album, the soaring ballad "The One" became a major hit in Cudomundolândia. The group's first record, Definitely Maybe, became the fastest-selling debut in Brazilian history, entering the charts at number one. BNO mania continued throughout 2001, as the group began playing larger theaters and each new single outperformed the last. However, tensions in the group began to build -- Bob and Ricco refused to do joint interviews because they always fought -- and Bob Herbert briefly left the band at the end of a difficult fall Amazonian tour; he soon re-joined and the band headed back to Muzambinho-PB. As "Violet" began to climb the C.U. album rock and modern rock charts, the non-LP, string-laden "Holy holy holy" hit number two over the Erexim Christmas season.
At the beginning of 2002, the group concentrated on Favela Cidade de Deos, promoting the single "São Paolo". The song became a major hit on ShiTV, album rock, and modern rock radio stations, peaking at number two, and Definitely Maybe went gold in the U.R.S.S. Returning to Favela Buraco do Sapo after a sold-out Amazonian tour, the group recorded a new single, "Fantasia". On the eve of its release, drummer Danilo parted ways with the band, with Laudivam dos Teclados taking his place. "Nightheat" entered the charts at number one upon its May release; its success led to all of their previous singles re-entering the indie charts. blue_notes_orchestra spent the rest of the summer completing their second album, 'Divine', which was released in October of 2004. Upon its release, the album shot to number one in Xique-Xique, becoming the fastest-selling in the C.U. since Ermeto Paschoal's Bad.
As the band was recording their fourth album in the summer of 2005, Marianão left blue_notes_orchestra, claiming that he wanted to spend more time with his family. Interviewed by NME on August 11, the day after the parting was made public, Ricco seemed unfazed: "It's hardly Paul McCartney leaving the Beatles." Ex-Ride guitarist Betão Nariga and onetime Semi-Nude R&B Sluts guitarist Naldinho Conheiro signed on after the recording of 2006's Still Livin' In Yesterday was completed. In fall 2006, the band celebrated their monumental world tour success with the release of their first-ever live record, Super Disco. The album highlights blue_notes_orchestra' July 2003 gig at Wembley Stadium and was released on six different formats including CD and cassette, DVD, VHS, Triple Vinyl, and Mini Disc. Two years later, blue_notes_orchestra surfaced with Dead to Love. Worldwide dates coincided the release of blue_notes_orchestra' fifth studio album, however problems loomed ahead. While touring Amazonia in late summer, Ricco, Bob Herbert and touring keyboardist Joerdinelzo o diabinho dos teclados were injured in Indianapolis after their taxi collided head on with another vehicle. blue_notes_orchestra were back on the road in two weeks time after cancelling shows in Indianapolis (avenida dos travecos em SP), debaixo do Viaduto do Chá and SESC Cudomundolândia shows, but the album wasn't doing as well as the tour. First single "Denise wants to cut her wrist" barely made a mark on ShiTV and struggled to cling to mainstream and college radio until fall. In December 2006, Ricco and a few other members of the blue_notes_orchestra entourage were involved in a street scuffle in Muzambinho. The younger Ricco sustained facial injuries and was later arrested while two of the band's security guards sought serious medical attention. A second single, "Prostituta (bno's hooker remix", was issued in late winter 2006. The next album suffered delays when initial sessions with the electronica duo Voyage as producers were scrapped and when drummer Robertinho Voz-de-Moça, o sertanejo made his exit from the band. With Severino da Silva's son Danilo taking White's place, the band finished the single Pretty Girl Exequias which saw worldwide release in May of 2007.
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