Bio Full Biography »

Pioneering the Portuguese rock scene in the beginning of the '80s and choosing to maintain a route towards the leanest sounds of pop/rock, GNR slowly became one of the senior musical references in this small European country. Their deliverance of uncommonly poetic lyrics, supported by eccentric pop rhythms, ended up bringing them an ever-growing fan base. It all began in 1979, when guitarist Alexandre Soares, bassist Vítor Rua, and drummer Toli César Machado made their first rehearsals in Oporto. One year after forming, the band recorded their first single, which turned out to be a true song icon in Portugal, "Portugal na CEE" ("Portugal on the EEC"). The single distinguished the band through its political message, and at the same time provided new gateways to the newborn Portuguese rock. In 1981 vocalist Rui Reininho joined the team, and a year later, Independança, the band's first album, hit record stores, having poor results. Following a series of conflicts, Rua left the band and at...