wife, Lucy Needham Vianna, crashed en route to Dado Villa-Lobos's house in Angra dos Reis, Rio de Janeiro. Lucy died instantly in the crash and left Herbert in a coma. The crash became front-page news and the entire country followed Herbert’s fight for survival in the hospital Copa D’Or, in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro. Herbert eventually woke up from his coma, but was left in a wheelchair and battled long-term difficulties with speaking and playing after the accident. After many years of therapy, Herbert has made significant strides in his recovery, despite the permanent damage done to his brain. Even during this difficult period, his musical talent was not incapacitated and, in October 2002, he began rehearsing with the band again in his home studio. This led to the recording of a new CD titled Longo Caminho, with songs composed before the accident. In 2005, they released Hoje and in 2009 they released Brasil Afora, which was first available for digital download and only later released on CD. On 3 March 2015, ex-drummer Vital Dias died of cancer in Rio de Janeiro. In their official Facebook page, the band published a message by the members, stating that they were sending "our higher thoughts for his wife, children and friends in this difficult time". In February 2016, it was announced that the band, together with singers Nando Reis, Paula Toller and Pitty, would take part of a tour promoted by the project Nivea Viva!, which takes place every year and takes artists on Brazilian tours. The series of 7 shows will pay tribute to Brazilian rock. Influence on Brazilian Rock In 1987 and 1988, Afro-Bahian rhythms began to influence the sound of some of the major Brazilian rock bands, most notably Os Paralamas do Sucesso. This created a break with the influence of English-oriented, North American rock groups that originally inspired Brazilian bands. With this new sound, they were able to criticize foreign, mainstream music while simultaneously creating new opportunities for Brazilian rock groups and a more genuinely Brazil-oriented music. This new sound also followed in the tradition of the politically-influenced artists from the 1960s and 1970s, like Os Mutantes, Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso, and Raul Seixas. Movement toward a more Afro-Brazilian sound was also the result of the explosion of funk, hip-hop, and rap internationally. Os Paralamas are best remembered for their reggae-afrobrazilian-ska beats. Throughout its 30 years of existence,