My Memories of Rock in Rio – Part 1

Rock in Rio has marked my life in many ways. It was impossible to be a young music lover in Brazil for the past 40 years and not be influenced by the country’s biggest music festival. For this reason, anyone who has gone to any edition of the festival has a memory of it. Here are mine.

In 1991 I had a goal: to watch Guns N’ Roses, the biggest rock band in the world at the time. It was the “Use Your Illusion” phase and GNR were at the peak of their career, on top of the world. I remember the Maracanã completely packed, with no empty spaces. And, of course, I remember the feeling of watching a band at the peak of its form. There are not many opportunities that come along in a lifetime to do that.

In 2001, Rock in Rio allowed me to watch some of the greatest acts of my life, especially REM and Neil Young & Crazy Horse. Both were performing in the country for the first time and it was very moving to watch Michael Stipe lead the audience in anthems like “Losing My Religion” or “It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)”.

As for Neil Young and Crazy Horse, my supreme memory is seeing them occupy the center of the gigantic World Stage and leave empty spaces on the sides, but producing a sound so cohesive, strong and visceral that it still hurts my ears to this day. In addition to these, I remember seeing Oasis, who performed before Guns N’ Roses, playing in a bureaucratic way; and, of course, the return of Axl Rose and his henchmen. I will never forget the ground of Cidade do Rock shaking to the sound of “Welcome to the Jungle”. A mini-earthquake that perhaps did not even appear on the Richter scale, but which remained in the memory of everyone present.

I returned to the festival in 2013, more than a decade later, with one goal: to watch Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band. And my greatest memory outside of the show is the crowd leaving Cidade do Rock right after John Mayer’s show. Too bad for whoever did that. They missed one of the greatest rock shows in history. Cleverly, Bruce played the entirety of “Born in the USA,” his most successful album in Brazil, as well as many other classics from his unmatched repertoire.

Responsible for giving me some of the best moments of my musical life, Rock in Rio is a festival that not only I, but all music lovers, hold dear to our hearts. Today it doesn’t mean much to me anymore, but its importance in my education is undeniable.

Rodrigo James is a journalist, content creator and publishes the weekly newsletter SUITCASE

with news, reviews, and thoughts on pop culture and entertainment.

Source: Terra

Earl

Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.