The festival starts on September 13th; find out all about your story
In 2024, Rock in Rio, one of the largest events of its kind in the world, turns four decades old and promises an eclectic lineup, from September 13 to 22.
This time, during the seven days of shows, the audience will be able to see performances ranging from Hermeto Pascoal to Evanescent, from Iza to Deep Purple, including the festival debut of the country singer, led by Chitãozinho and Xororó.
But all this mix is nothing new today. In fact, since January 1985, Rock in Rio has already shown what it was born for.
ROCK FACTS IN RIO
When Roberto Medina created Rock in Rio in 1984, this businessman wanted to attract all the tribes of the music world, even if it was necessary to bring together names like Baby Consuelo and Nina Hagen, Kid Abelha and AC/DC, at the same time festivals of Lulu Santos and Iron Maiden.
And to open the first edition, no one better than the transgressor Ney Matogrosso who, according to the organizers of the event, “is rock even when he’s not”.
On a night that brought together an estimated 300,000 people, the singer, who shared his show with fans of artists such as Queen and Iron Maiden, was greeted with hard-boiled eggs thrown by the audience.
The first edition, in Jacarepaguá, lasted 10 days and saw the participation of 31 national and international attractions, who performed on what was considered the largest stage in the world, with an 80-meter beam.
Artists such as Queen, Rod Stewart and Ozzy Osbourne passed through there, the first confirmed at the time. Among the Brazilians who performed, that January 1985, were artists such as Gilberto Gil and Erasmo Carlos.
Despite its success, Cidade do Rock had to be demolished, by order of Rio’s then governor, Leonel Brizola. The 1991 edition was held at the Maracanã, where the Norwegian band A-ha opened the festival in front of a record crowd of 198,000 people.
As entrepreneur Roberta Medina recalls in the series ‘Rock in Rio – A História’, on Globoplay, not even the high numbers of the festival prevented the debts of the 1985 edition, which would only be paid at Rock in Rio II, in 1991, when artists such as Guns N’ Roses, Prince and George Michael performed.
The third edition would take place only a decade later, again at Cidade do Rock, where Cássia Eller performed, sending the audience into a frenzy when she lifted her blouse and showed her breasts, and bassist Nick Olivieri (‘Queens of the Stone Age’) played completely naked.
Despite four Portuguese editions, in Lisbon, between 2004 and 2010, the Brazilian public will have to wait another 10 years to see Rock in Rio IV, which lasted seven days, counting around 100 thousand people per day and training with names like Coldplay, Evanescent, Guns N’ Roses, Metallica, Motörhead, Red Hot Chili Peppers and System of a Down.
One of the biggest tribal mixes in the entire history of the event took place in 2013, in the unusual and cathartic show where the band Sepultura shared the stage with Zé Ramalho. ‘Zépultura’, as the meeting became known, performed “Admirável Mundo Novo” with heavy metal notes.
Intangible cultural heritage of Rio de Janeiro, since 2022 the festival has had versions in Las Vegas (USA), Lisbon (Portugal) and Madrid (Spain).
SERVICE
Rock in Rio Brazil 2024
In the city of rock (Olympic Park – Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, RJ)
September 13, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21 and 22
Gates open at 2:00 pm; Close at 2:00 am (last admission midnight)
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
