Rio de Janeiro hosted the first ever (and aptly named) Rock in Rio music festival in 1985.
Following the ten-day long Queen, George Benson, Rod Steward, Yes, AC/DC filled flagship event, 1991 and 2001 saw two more installments of the festival in Rio. However, following its success in Brazil, Rock in Rio went the way of the soccer elite and jumped ship to Europe.
In the last decade the festival has taken place four times in Portugal and twice in Spain – until now.
This year marks the festival’s return to Rio, and the city has been buzzing about it since my arrival eight months ago.
There are huge guitars with scrolling marquees (best HTML tag ever) of expected acts that have been erected throughout the city before I even arrived (at least I think they have always been there, anything before Carnaval is a little fuzzy).
Those with tickets, sport shirts that simply state “Eu Vou” (I am going) – I want one. And yes, tickets have long been sold out.
This year’s ticket sports the likes of Elton John, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Metallica, Stevie Wonder, Shakira, Jay-Z, Coldplay and Guns N’Roses.
Only excited for half of those – guess who?
I’ll guess…
1. Elton John. He’s a classic, and who doesn’t like to crocodile rock?
2. RHCPs. Iconic 90s band. Two of the greatest songs of all time. Under the Bridge and Soul to Squeeze. Crazy that the latter was associated with the Coneheads movie. Plus, Flea.
3. GNR. Man, what I would give to attend one of those drug and alcohol fueled, late-starting (thanks, Axl) concerts. That was Rock in Rio.
Now I’m stumped a bit. Metallica or Stevie? Stevie is too far along the classic spectrum — he pegs the needle — so I’ll go with…
4. Metallica. Personally, I’d pick Coldplay (which, admittedly, is passé and a poor-man’s U2 with a cold), but my gut tells me you’re a whiskey in a jar guy because nothing else matters. Sad but true [fade to black].
You’re good! Except I was really more excited for Coldplay than Metallica. I went through a Metallica phase once, but I never really got too into them.
However, I would also love to see Stevie despite his being along another spectrum entirely.