Interview: Chuck Hipolitho (Forgotten Boys)
by Rafael Karasu (rafael@karasukiller.com)
Photos: Ana Mazzey
originally published in DOLL (Japan) #250
2008/05

Forgotten Boys
During the second half of the 90s, the Brazilian underground music scene was (already) clearly dominated by Hardcore and Emo. Two kids, however, were not sure what the hell was going on, after all, they had grown up listening to Iggy & The Stooges, Johnny Thunders, MC5, etc. Bored with it all and without any motivation to go out and see shows to have a good time, they decided to book studio time to record a 3-song demo called "...Cos Revenge is Sweet". The product was basic Rock'n'Roll, 3 powerful chords Ramones style, and it included a very raw version of "It's Cold Outside" by The Choir, a Garage-Punk band from the 60s. They put together some, also basic, cover art and they baptized themselves as The Forgotten Boys. The year was 1997, the place, Sao Paulo, Brazil.Forgotten Boys, a band from São Paulo, formed by Gustavo Riviera - Guit & Vocals, Chuck Hipolitho - Guit & Vocals, Zé Mazzei - Bass and Flávio "Flav" Cavichioli, come to show that in the middle of so much dullness of disputable quality, there can still be real rock'n'roll. In this interview, guitar player Chuck Hipolitho tells us a little bit about the band's beginning and new projects.

1- Tell the Japanese readers who are Forgotten Boys today.
Well, we are a Brazilian rock and roll band, simple as is gets. We play RNR influenced and inspired by the Stones, the Beatles, the Stooges, the Ramones, 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's and 00's music... since 2003 we turned into a quartet, that makes me (Chuck) on second guitar and vocals, Gustavo Riviera on guitar and vocals, Pepe on the bass guitar and Flavio Flav on drums.

2- Tell us a little of the band's story and first shows.
The band started in the late 90's as a power trio and rapidly became very well known doing a type of rock and roll that was not being made in Brazil at that time. Quickly, through the internet, the band found out that similar artists were treating music the same way, as the Hellacopters and the Backyard Babies... by 2000 we released the first CD and in 2002 we were touring with the Backyard Babies in Brazil. Over the years we have played with names such as the Stiff Little Fingers, Marky Ramone, Backyard Babies, Lurkers, Ratos de Porao, Autoramas, Motosierra and many others... now we are ready to release our 6th album, not yet recorded.

3- Tell us about all the material that has been released by the band since the 90s.
3 Cds as a trio, the first one self titled, than the drummer left the band and I ended up doing the drum parts and the bass for the second release, a split CD with the Argentinean band Killer Dolls. With Flavio on the drums now, after touring a lot, we released Gimme More, that made us well known and respected on Brazilian territory. The video for the song Cumm On ran was nominated best indie video on MTV VMB (the Brazilian MTV VMA) in 2003. After that we got a bass player and I went for second guitar. We released another split CD, this time with Uruguayan destroyers Motosierra... and we made our first tour in Argentina. On the way back we signed to ST2 records and released Stand By The Dance in 2005 featuring 3 songs in Portuguese. Now we are ready to record another album, having close to 25 songs... half in Portuguese, half in English.

4- Why Forgotten Boys?
After the song Search And Destroy by the Stooges, an anthem and probably the best rock and roll song for delinquent and outcast people.

5- What are the band's main influences?
Good music. Metal, rock, reggae, rap... whatever, we listen to everything. But I can say that the Ramones and the Stooges are the biggest ones.

6- When the band started, you sang in English, and now you sing in Portuguese. Has the band gotten closer to the audience this way? Explain us how that transition happened.
Yes, writing in Portuguese is way more difficult, but way easier for the Brazilian audience to assimilate... we took a chance and it worked. But, it was not easy... now we feel much more comfortable with that...

7- Which bands did Forgotten Boys tour with?
With the Backyard Babies, Marky Ramone and the Intruders... and with Pitty in Brazil.

8- How did you receive the invitation to join the cast of ST2?
They needed a rock and roll band in the cast, we needed a record label, we found ourselves... it happened after coming back from the first tour in Argentina...

9- Nowadays, do the band members have day jobs, or do you live off your music?
We try to make a living only with the band, but it is almost impossible right now... so, we often have other duties...

10- What are you listening to nowadays?
Elvis Presley, LCD Soundsystem, the Wildhearts, the Ramone.... bah.... everything.

11- Brazil is a very big country, the band has been to many cities and states, so how's the audience reaction in each place? Is there a difference?
The country is a continent... HUGE!!! The most part of Brazil is only possible to reach by airplane... the transportation system is terrible, no railroads, we live in a state (province) called Sao Paulo, that we can cover in a Van, out of it, it's impossible... we have to take a plane, that means very cheap shows and no road crew at all. But we are now able to cover the whole country, and the audience is usually better where it's harder to get to.

12- What are the new projects?
Making a very good new record.

13- For a few years now, we've been seeing a new wave of punk/hardcore bands in Brazil. How do you see this renewal? Which bands do you like?
We love the fact that the Brazil is getting recognition not only for the "Brazilian music" made for exportation, and I would suggest listening to bands like MQN, Hurtmold, Nação Zumbi, Autoramas, Vanguart and many others...

14- What do you know about Japan? What do you admire about this country?
I know it is a very advanced and very conservative country in some other points... a country with a beautiful and unique culture. I know that Japanese people have a huge hunger for Rock And Roll. Japanese people have a way of facing life and death that I admire very much... Japanese food is wonderful, and I personally was very influenced by artists like Katsuhiro Otomo (Akira) and Kurosawa. Akira is yet one my favorite movies of all.

15- Is there a possibility of the band coming to Japan?
Yes, a simple call would do it!!!

16- Do you know any Japanese band?
Guitar Wolf and the Mad Capsule Market.

17- Leave a message for the readers of Doll Magazine.
Thank you very much for the opportunity of bringing some Brazilian culture to you in the shape of rock and roll. Brazilian people are good at loving, so, we love you.


DISCOGRAPHY
Stand By The D.A.N.C.E. (ST2 Records - BR - 2005)
Split Forgotten Boys/Motosierra (13 Records - BR - 2004)
Gimme More and More (No Fun Records - USA - 2004)
Gimme More (13 Records - BR - 2003)
Split Forgotten Boys/Killer Dolls (Spicy Records - BR - 2002)
Forgotten Boys (Ataque Frontal - BR - 2001)
www.forgottenboys.com.br / www.myspace.com/forgottenboys
contact: contato@forgottenboys.com.br