Brazilian band Barão Vermelho revisits 45 years of history at Rock in Rio

Persistent rain did not stop Barão Vermelho from turning the opening of Rock in Rio’s third day into a celebration of the band’s 45-year history. Four members of the original lineup took the main stage, drawing thousands of people who arrived from the festival’s other stages in rain capes.

The group opened with Maior Abandonado before the crowd grew. By the time the band played Pense, danse, the stage area had filled considerably. It was the first large concert since the original members reunited in March for a series of performances.

Roberto Frejat led the show on vocals and guitar, alongside Guto Goff on drums, Mauricio Barros on keyboards and Dé Palmeira on bass. Fernando Magalhães played second guitar. He was the only musician onstage who had not belonged to the group in 1981, although he has long been associated with Barão Vermelho.

The band also paid tribute to Cazuza, one of Brazil’s biggest rock idols and a founder of Barão Vermelho who died in 1990. The surviving members performed several songs he wrote for the group while screens showed footage from his earlier performances.

The set included Pro Dia Nascer Feliz, Bete Balanço, Por Você, Maior Abandonado, Todo amor que houver nessa vida and Puro Êxtase. Sunday’s concert was Barão Vermelho’s fifth at Rock in Rio. After appearing twice at the festival’s first edition in 1985, the band returned in 2001, 2013, 2024 and 2026. Nelly, Black Eyed Peas and Scottish electronic DJ Calvin Harris were also scheduled to perform. This year’s Brazilian edition features about 1,300 artists across seven days and seven stages.