Barão Vermelho () is a Brazilian rock band. Formed in 1981 in Rio de Janeiro, it was originally led by songwriting duo Cazuza (singer) and Roberto Frejat (guitarist), who assumed the vocals after Cazuza's departure in 1985. Frejat left the band in 2017 and was replaced by Rodrigo Suricato. They are considered one of the most influential bands in Brazilian rock. History Formation The band, named after Snoopy's "Red Baron" strips, began in 1981, in Rio de Janeiro, as a literal garage band, when Maurício Barros and Guto Goffi, both studying at Imaculada Conceição High School, got together to play Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones at the former's parents' house. Guitarist Roberto Frejat and bassist Dé Palmeira joined them, and the band began to look for a singer. One candidate was singer and guitarist Léo Jaime from Goiás, who was turned down by the band, because they considered his vocal style "too soft" for their taste. Jaime suggested one of his colleagues at acting class, Agenor Miranda Araújo Neto, more commonly known as Cazuza, and noted that he was "the son of João Araújo" - a reference that the barões missed, only later learning that João Araújo was an executive at Som Livre, one of Brazil's largest record companies. Cazuza showed them some lyrics that he had already written, and Barão Vermelho, which had been a cover band until then, began writing their own songs. They recorded their first album, Barão Vermelho by Som Livre in only two days in 1982. The album included songs such as "Bilhetinho Azul", "Ponto Fraco" and "Down em Mim." They played in a few concerts in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo and returned to the studio for a month to record their second album, Barão Vermelho 2, which was released in 1983 and which includes the song "Pro Dia Nascer Feliz". Gaining recognition Despite having released two albums the radios refused to play their songs. Barão only gained recognition after Caetano Veloso called Cazuza the greatest poet of his generation and played a cover of "Todo Amor Que Houver Nessa Vida", and Ney Matogrosso recorded "Pro Dia Nascer Feliz". As a result, they were invited to write the soundtrack for a film called "Bete Balanço" in 1984, spreading their fame across the country. This same year they released their third album, Maior Abandonado, which includes the song "Bete Balanço". This album sold