ArtistInfo

Pholhas

Band, *1969 BR, São Paulo (state)
Rock, Latin and Pop

Formed in 1969 in São Paulo, SP, Brazil, the Pholhas was named as a suggestion from a friend of the members Paulo Fernandes, Oswaldo Malagutti, Helio Santisteban and Wagner Benatti during their first rehearsal. The band used to play at dancing clubs in the city in order to achieve popularity. And it happened quickly. The first album was recorded in 1972 by RCA Records, all sung in English in a time when this was not common in Brazil, where the language spoken is Portuguese. The album DEAD FACES reached the # 1 position on the charts just 3 months after its launching, with 450,000 copies sold. This album won Pholhas' first gold album. Then, the singles "She Made Me Cry", "I Never Did Before" and "Forever" sold over 300,000 copies and consecrated the band as a phenomenon on the national scene. Due to all this impact, RCA decided to release DEAD FACES also in Spain and South America in 1975, with the title HOJAS. It was the second gold album of the band. In 1977, for contractual and strong pressure from RCA company, the band recorded the album THE SOUND OF DISCOTHEQUE containing covers of the main successes of Disco Music. It sold over 150,000 copies. In this same year, Helio Santisteban left the band. In his place entered keyboardist Marinho Testoni. In 1977, a radical change of style ocurred. PHOLHAS decide to release a progressive rock album singing in Portuguese. In 1978, Oswaldo Malagutti leaves the band to set up the MOSH STUDIOS. Nowadays, this is one of the most famous recording studio in Latin America. He was replaced by the bassist João Alberto. In 1979, Helio Santisteban returned to the band. In 1980, singing in English, they released the album MEMORIES. In 1981, Marinho Testoni leaves the band. In 2007, Helio Santisteban left the band permanently. He was not replaced. Since then, The Pholhas always have a guest keyboardist for theirs concerts. Discography - PHOLHAS, 1982 (RCA) - WINGS, 1985 (Lupsom Records) - THE NIGHT BEFORE, 1987 (Lupsom Records) - CÔRTE SEM LEI, 1988 (Ecosom) - DISCO DE OURO (Collectanea), 1995 (BMG/RCA) - 25 ANOS, 1996 (Laser) - PHOLHAS FOREVER - 26 ANOS, 1998 (Laser) - DEAD FACES, 1999 (BMG) Recovery remastered 1st LP - AO VIVO NO BRASIL (Live collectanea), 2000/2001 - 70's GREATEST HITS, 2003 (BMG) - MAXXIMUM COLLECTION, 2005 (SONY) - PHOLHAS FOREVER, 2009 (Independent) Available only at shows.

Members

	Paulo Fernandes voc, dr
	Wagner Benatti voc, g
	Oswaldo Malagutti b, voc
	Helio Santisteban voc, key