Long before the Legião Urbana, Renato Russo created, in his isolation, an imaginary world that would prepare him for the stage. Find out more!
Before becoming the greatest symbol of Brazilian rock and voice of a generation, Renato Russo – born Renato Manfredini Junior – At the age of 15 he experienced one of the most difficult phases of his life. In 1975, the young student who lived with his parents in Brasilia was diagnosed with epiphysiolysis, a rare bone disease affecting the femoral joint. The condition forced him to undergo surgery and remain unable to walk for months.
Second Arthur Dapieveauthor of the biography “Renato Russo – The Lonely Troubadour”, the future singer of the Legião Urbana spent “six months in bed, six months in a wheelchair and six months moving on crutches”. It was a period of isolation and suffering, but also of profound personal transformation.
The birth of an alter ego
Away from school and the street, Renato immerses himself in reading and music. Dapieve reports that he “read like crazy and decided to take an even more serious interest in music.” In his room, with the walls covered with photos, he created an imaginary band called 42nd Street Ganginspired by the music scene he admired.
In this imaginary band, Renato invented a singer and alter ego called Eric Russell. The name was not accidental! Russell referenced Bertrand RussellBritish philosopher who influenced him and to whom he seemed close Jean-Jacques Rousseau AND Henri RousseauFrench thinkers and artists whom he also admired.
From this fusion between intellectuals and cultural references was born “Russo”, a surname that the artist would adopt only a few…
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Source: Terra
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