Marcelo D2 and other band members spent five days in jail in Brasilia, accused of apology for marijuana; Remember the case
Saturday, November 8, 1997. After a show at Minas Tennis Clubin Brasiliathe Planet Hemp left the stage straight to the cell of 3rd Police Stationin Cruiseone of the neighborhoods of the federal capital. Marcelo D2 And the other members of the band were arrested in the act. The accusation? Apology to marijuana use.
Even after almost 30 years, this is still one of the most emblematic episodes in Planet history, which announced the farewell tour last week last week The last tip. THE Rolling Stone Brazil Remember this case that marked not only the carioca group, which will put an end point in its career, but also national rock.
The moment
In 1997, the Planet Hemp had just released his second album, Dogs wife but the caravan does not stop. The band was one of the main names of rock in Brazil.
At the same time, however, the lyrics were already attracting the attention of the authorities, in view of the theme of drugs, especially marijuana.
To the Charla podcastMarcelo D2 says that the music “Burning everything” – whose lyrics soon brings the verse “I sing like that, because I smoke marijuana …” “It was the trigger for the group to start even more persecuted.” The mood during the tour became tense, with the police on top.
Before the arrest in Brasilia, the Planet Hemp had already been summoned by the police of Belo Horizonte To give testimony and clarify the letters and some lines on stage during the presentations.
Planet Hemp’s arrest
On Saturday, November 8, 1997, came the arrest. THE Planet Hemp He did a show for an audience of almost 7,000 people at Minas Tennis Club. When leaving the stage, the band has already been approached by police from the Toxic and Narcotic Police Station.
According to the time declared to the Folha de S. Paulo the delegate Eric Castroresponsible for the arrest, the group was arrested in the act for apology for marijuana:
“We learned of the show here in Brasilia and got judicial authorization to record it, both video and audio. As expected, they sang the songs that apologize for the use of marijuana.”
Marcelo D2 and the other five members, among them Black Alien, Tingle and Zé Gonzaleswere taken to jail. The case generated great repercussion and cover in the impression, in view of the popularity of the Planet Hemp. It is estimated that at the time the group’s second album had already sold 300,000 copies.
Habeas corpus and visit to politicians
The members of the Planet Hemp They spent five days detained until they got a habeas corpus. Fernando Gabeirathen federal deputy, and Eduardo Suplicythen senator, visited the band in jail.
In a recent interview with Charla podcastMarcelo D2 recalled one of Gabeira’s words while the band was trapped:
“Gabeira turned to me and said, ‘Don’t lower your head, you are the band leader, they do it so that I have been in the dictatorship. It’s the guys’ system, of oppression. You’re the vocalist, do not lower your head. I said that you are proud of you, that you are fighting for the ideal you believe.'”
On Thursday, November 13, 1997, the Planet Hemp It was released. After leaving the 3rd Police Station, Marcelo D2 spoke to the newspaper The globe:
“This arrest only reinforces what we already sing. It proves that we are on the right track by questioning social hypocrisy and exercise the right to opinion. We are honest people and we will act within the law. We know that drugs are bad and do not apologize to use. We hope to have contributed to the debate, not only the legalization of marijuana, but also about freedom of expression.”
Current reflection on the debate around the theme
At the press conference that announced the farewell tour of Planet Hemp, Marcelo D2 and Bneagon – who was not arrested because he was in Rio de Janeiro – they approached precisely the advances that see in the national discussion about the legalization of marijuana. D2 says he prefers to see the “half -full glass” in this sense.
“I think we have more voice of minorities compared to 30 years ago. It was absurd a band like Planet Hemp. We started Planet Hemp six or seven years after the end of the military dictatorship. [As autoridades] They just found that Planet Hemp was ‘planet marijuana’ after a few years. We were only arrested four years later. They are kind of slowly. We managed to enter this system. I think we walked with the question of legalization. It’s okay that Brazil is the forefront of delay … it will legalize in the whole South America – if it is no longer – and in Brazil, you speak ‘marijuana’, people are impressed. […] But I think we have a different world and better now. ”
In his reflection, Bnegão pointed out the importance of Planet Hemp by making the marijuana debate broader. It has reached the point of social and political leaders of the present admitting to him that the band served as a “gateway” for this discussion in their lives.
“Externally, I saw how the ‘marijuana’ subject came out of the police pages. We put this discussion on the dining table. Of course, then he eventually returned to the police pages, but anyway. […] It is wonderful to be able to discuss these issues involving the plant, including physical and mental health. Everyone I know about this ‘spearhead’ crowd within the subject says that the first contact with the theme seriously was through Planet Hemp. ”
The farewell of Planet Hemp
The last tipfarewell tour of the Planet Hempit is scheduled for September, October and November 2025. So far, 10 shows have been confirmed.
Integrate the current formation of the band Marcelo D2 (voice), Bneagon (voice), Tingle (low), Pedro Garcia (battery), Nobru (guitar) and Daniel Ganjaman (guitar and bass). The most recent album, Gardenerscame out in 2022.
Check out the full list of shows:
09/13 – Acoustic Shell (Salvador)
09/20 – Classic Hall (Recife)
03/10 – Live Curitiba (Curitiba)
04/10 – Kto Arena (Porto Alegre)
12/10 – P12 (Florianópolis)
10/17 – Goiânia Arena (Goiânia)
18/10 – Arena BRB (Brasilia)
31/10 – Befly Hall (Belo Horizonte)
08/11 – Farmasi Arena (Rio de Janeiro)
15/11 – Allianz Parque (São Paulo)
+++ Read more: How much do tickets cost to the final shows of Planet Hemp?
+++ Read more: where Brazil has evolved since the beginning of Planet Hemp, according to D2 and Bnegão
+++ Read more: Why will Planet Hemp end? Marcelo D2 Responds
Source: Rollingstone
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.
