Rodolfo Abrantes’ only regret regarding Raimundos’ departure

Rodolfo Abrantes’ only regret regarding Raimundos’ departure

Former lead singer of the band remains firm in his religion, including having made a career in gospel music

One of the great rock bands of Brazil, the Raimundos lived its heyday when Rodolfo Abrantes announced his departure in 2001. The vocalist left the group rather abruptly due to a religious conversion with his wife. The band ended immediately, but was resumed by the remaining members two months later. The then guitarist digão accumulated the role of singer and a new guitarist, marquinhowas brought.

Two decades passed and Rodolfo not only remained firm in religion but also made a career in gospel music, with several albums released. At the time of his departure from Raimundos, the relationship with Digão was quite strained, but the two reconciled a few years ago — which, of course, did not represent his return to the band.

Currently, Abrantes speaks more openly about his time at Raimundos and the aforementioned departure. During a livestream held in 2020 with Pastor Andre Fernandes (via TMDQA), the artist said he did not regret breaking up with Raimundos, just one detail: the way he handled the situation.

“I believe that everything happens under God’s permission, but if I had asked Him for some things, they would be different. I would leave Raimundos differently. It would come out, but different. I would prepare the band’s people. I was very taken aback by the gospel in my life, with healing and with the presence of God, and from the Holy Spirit. I left the band at once and I know that it offended them a lot in a way that we still don’t have a relationship [nota: à época, Rodolfo e Digão ainda não haviam se reconciliado].”

Still in his statement, Rodolfo made it clear that he would not like to offend former colleagues with his change. However, the artist assured that he could not think so maturely in that period — he was 29 years old when he made the untimely decision.

“If I could change anything, I would change the way I left just so I don’t offend. I don’t charge myself with a maturity that I didn’t have at that time. A spiritual maturity, of doing things well sewn. I understand that the very noise of my exit announced the name of Jesus. If it was God’s will, I don’t know, but if I could, I would change that, because I’m sure that if I left the band blessed by those I had a band with, maybe my life would be a little easier.”

Digão’s old hurt with Rodolfo

Rodolfo Abrantes’ statement makes sense when considering a previous speech by Digão, given in 2017 during an interview with the channel My Brasilia (via Whiplash). At the time — and, reinforcing, when the two had not yet reconciled —, the guitarist explained that he was hurt by the singer precisely for the aforementioned reason: no member of Raimundos was properly prepared for his departure.

Digão and Rodolfo Abrantes (Reproduction/YouTube)

“I think he should have given me my right to prepare for what was to come. I had just bought a house, I had financed it, we had a three-year contract, so I was calm. And the guy pulled my rug, without telling me. If I knew he was going to leave, I wouldn’t buy the house. The guy takes away my only source of livelihood. This hurt me a lot, my children, the whole band. Every worker has the right to prior notice.

Reconciliation

Digão and Rodolfo Abrantes (Reproduction/YouTube)

In June 2020, Rodolfo and Digão revealed that they made peace after the guitarist made an unexpected phone call to the vocalist. In an interview with the TV program The NightAbrantes said:

“The Bible teaches that we have to give honor to those who have honor. And the greatness of this reconciliation came from Digão. I woke up on June 10th, I was having breakfast and, suddenly, I got a call from him. A guy with a surrendered heart, hard to even recognize. A Digão I never met in my life.”

Source: Rollingstone

You may also like