Os Mutantes aren’t just musical visionaries, they are social and political renegades, having risked life and livelihood to make their art. Their shows in San Paulo in the ’60s were often raided and their luminaries incarcerated by the oppressive military government. They were effectively enemies of the state. Instead of kow-towing, Mutantes thumbed their nose at the Generals and made their Beatles/Picasso-inspired world even more irreverent, even more subversive. They became gonzo (if not guerilla) entertainers, cultural provocateurs, art visionaries, and in turn, folk heroes.
Listen back to Latin Connection with Mick & Leandro for a live set from Os Mutantes.
