This Saturday (1/13) is a sad day for rock in BH, Minas and Brazil. The 70yearold TV presenter, radio presenter and music critic from Minas Gerais, Adriano Falabella, died as a result of septic shock due to a dental infection.
Since 1997, Adriano led the section “Enciclopédia do rock” in the program “Altospeaker” on Rede Minas, hosted by journalist Terence Machado and shown nationwide on TV Brasil. Irreverent, funny and hyperinformed, it's not for nothing that he received the nickname that gave the attraction its name, “Loudspeaker.” After all, he really knew everything about rock. With his “crazy” 70s look and big hippiestyle hair, he was also known as “Get Crazy.”
“Big Father’s Orphan”
The death of Adriano Falabella shocked musicians in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Ricardo Koctus, bassist of the band Pato Fu, says he was important for both Minas Gerais music and national rock. “When Pato Fu started, he was there, working hard and giving the biggest support to the bands that were just starting out,” he says.
“Adriano had a real encyclopedia in his head about rock, about everything that was happening in the world. We have lost a very valuable source of information. That's all, I'm talking about the professional side. “Everyone who lived with him, like me, lost a great friend, an extremely sensitive, caring and openminded person,” regrets Koctus. “We were orphaned by the big daddy who brought us all the rock knowledge.”
Ricardo Koctus, bassist of Pato Fu, highlights Adriano Falabella's deep knowledge of rock
Edésio Ferreira/EM/D.APress
Speechless
“It's difficult to even find words,” admits singer and composer Wilson Sideral, author of the hit “Fácil” by the band Jota Quest. “He really captivated everyone. He was an encyclopedia for us, a man who taught. I knew all the names. It was impressive how much he knew about recording records and classics. “A treasure trove of wisdom,” he says.
“When I released my first work, Adriano was one of the first to open space in the media to talk about this independent album, a demo tape. He saw a future in the work we had just started,” Sideral says.
Guitar teacher
The singer and composer Affonsinho met Falabella at the age of 15. “He was my first guitar teacher. I started playing with his lessons, the first guitar solo I learned in my life was taught by Adriano, the first song I learned in my life was taught by Adriano,” he says.
Affonsinho reveals that, in addition to being a presenter and radio presenter, “Enciclopédia do Rock” was also a talented guitarist. “In the 1970s it was very rare to have information (about rock). We had three magazines, but with little information. And Adriano already knew a lot. He taught me songs by the Beatles, Eric Clapton and Johnny Winter. He showed me all these guys.”
Affonsinho: “The first guitar solo I learned in my life was taught by Adriano, the first song I learned in my life was taught by Adriano.” Affonsinho: “The first guitar solo I learned in my life I learned was taught by Adriano, the first.” The song I learned in my life was taught by Adriano.” Affonsinho: “The first guitar solo I learned in my life was taught by Adriano, that “The first song I learned in my life was taught by Adriano.”
Anna Lara/Disclosure
Guilherme Castro, a member of the Orquestra Mineira de Rock, met Falabella while hosting a program on Rádio 107. As a boy, he took the tape of his school band with him so the radio host could listen to it. Adriano immediately ordered him to enter the studio. When he found out it was progressive rock, he didn't hesitate and put the tape on the air. “It impressed me,” Castro remembers.
“He picked up the Bsides of the bands, not the obvious repertoire, in addition to bands that were very little known here in Brazil. He did a program late on Sunday afternoons where he always played rock music for everyone. Its importance was very important to the scene here in Belo Horizonte,” he says.
“Getting crazy!”
Allan Wallace of the band Eminence still remembers how Adriano led the program “Rock que a Terra não Esqueceu” with his famous slogan “Get Crazy”. “He always supported local bands, he always wore the rock and heavy metal shirt,” he comments. Eminence had the support of the presenter from the start. “He’s a guy who’s always lived music, right?” says Wallace.
Rapper Roger Deff reveals that the rock master has always been a reference for him, long before he followed the show “AltoSpeaker”. It helped him discover bands, learn more about artists and expand his musical knowledge.
“He always had a great story to tell, with great expertise. And with the classic ending: “Do you like the delirium, baby?” The loss of this unique communicator is invaluable,” he laments.
The journalist Tutti Maravilha, host of the program “Bazar Maravilha” on Rádio Inconfidência, highlights the importance of Adriano Falabella as a communicator. “He managed to show the people of Belo Horizonte the rock of the world,” he says. He adds: “To be a rocker, there’s no point in just putting on black clothes and parading around. It takes attitude. First, Adriano had an attitude. Even underwater he was a rocker.”
Adriano Falabella leaves behind his partner Débora and his 18yearold daughter Júlia.