Metrô is a Brazilian band formed in 1978, then known as A Gota Suspensa before renaming themselves in 1984. Beginning as a progressive rock band, they later shifted to a more synth-pop-influenced direction, becoming one of the most successful groups in the then-thriving Brazilian rock/new wave scene.
History
Early years and A Gota Suspensa (1978–1984) The band that would become Metrô was founded in 1978, under the name A Gota Suspensa ("The Suspended Drop"), by six friends (all of them coincidentally French Brazilians) who studied together at the Lycée Pasteur in São Paulo: former model and actress Virginie Boutaud (vocals), Alec Haiat (electric guitar), Marcel Zimberg (sax), Yann Laouenan (keyboards), Xavier Leblanc (bass) and Daniel "Dany" Roland (drums). They were originally an experimental/progressive rock ensemble heavily inspired by acts such as Pink Floyd, The Beatles, Novos Baianos and the Tropicalista movement, among others, and toured extensively around Brazil to perform in numerous music festivals. In 1983 they released a self-titled album via independent label Underground Discos e Artes; despite being a commercial failure, it was very well received by the critics, and acquired a strong cult following as years went by.
The album caught the attention of Epic Records, who offered them a contract but at the same time demanded them to make their musical style more "accessible"; the band complied (with the exception of Zimberg, who would leave the band after their change of style), and developed a brighter and less experimental pop-inflected sound in the likes of Blondie, Rita Lee and Laurie Anderson. Afterwards, A Gota Suspensa changed its name to Metrô in 1984; their first release under this moniker was the successful 7" single "Beat Acelerado", which came out in the same year.
Olhar, rise to fame and Virginie's departure (1985–1986)
In 1985 Metrô released their first studio album, Olhar, which was a commercial success and contained the band's most famous songs, such as "Tudo Pode Mudar", "Cenas Obscenas" (written by and featuring former João Penca e Seus Miquinhos Amestrados member Léo Jaime on guitar and backing vocals), "Johnny Love" (included in the soundtrack of Lael Rodrigues' 1985 film Rock Estrela, in which Metrô cameod alongside Jaime) and "Ti Ti Ti" (used as the opening theme of the eponymous telenovela which ran from 1985 to 1986). The album also counted with guest appearances by Guilherme Isnard (of Zero fame) and new wave band Degradée, in which Alec Haiat's brother Freddy played in. The band also cameod as themselves in Francisco de Paula's film Areias Escaldantes the same year.
The band soon grew to be one of the most famous and successful acts of Brazil, touring extensively (sometimes they performed seven shows in a week) and constantly appearing in numerous variety shows of the time. They also contributed with a song for the popular children's TV series Balão Mágico, "Não Dá pra Parar a Música".
Despite their massive success, Virginie was growing weary of the band's convoluted touring schedule; furthermore, the other band members wanted to shift to a more "mature and daring" musical direction influenced by acts such as Legião Urbana and Titãs. This brought numerous frictions and creative divergences between Virginie and her bandmates, what led her to be abruptly fired from the band in 1986. Two years later, she formed the short-lived solo project Virginie & Fruto Proibido, releasing with them only one album, Crime Perfeito.
A Mão de Mao, split-up and aftermath (1987–1988) Virginie was eventually replaced by Portuguese musician Pedro d'Orey (a.k.a. Pedro Parq), who was living in São Paulo at the time and was famous for being one of the founding members of the experimental rock group Mler Ife Dada. With D'Orey, the band shifted to a more avant-garde sonority heavily reminiscent of their A Gota Suspensa era; he originally wanted to change the band's name from Metrô to "Tristes Tigres" ("Sad Tigers") in order to reflect their shift in direction, but Epic did not allow it. And so, in 1987, the band's second album (and the only one with D'Orey on vocals), A Mão de Mao, came out. A couple of months after the album's release, drummer Dany Roland left the band and was briefly replaced by Edmundo Carneiro.