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In 1980, Bob Marley traveled to Brazil on a scouting mission with Island Records’ Chris Blackwell and the Wailers’ Junior Marvin in preparation for a world tour. A year later, he was dead.
But even though Marley never got to play Rio or São Paulo, the reggae man’s musical influence had a serious impact on the people of Brazil, especially the members of O Rappa. “I think [lead singer Marcelo Falcão] is the new Bob Marley,” Jane’s Addiction’s Perry Farrell recently told Brazilian magazine Veja.
Blending reggae, rock, dub, and funk, O Rappa has been one of Brazil’s biggest bands for more than 20 years. However, the outfit’s international following is just as impressive. And after being blown away by an O Rappa set at Lollapalooza Brazil this past April, Farrell personally invited Falcão and his group to play Lollapalooza in Chicago on August 3, where they’ll open the Bud Light main stage with a midday set.
Local fans, however, won’t have to travel all the way to the Windy City to catch O Rappa. Because two days after playing Grant Park, the Brazilian band will perform its only other U.S. show, a Miami debut at the Fillmore Miami Beach.
