Information Society no Jornal do Brasil
Thanks go out to Arvy and Junior Kain for providing the translation.
Translation Caderno B cover:
Alert: Eighties Lives
So, Information Society, a group that made the world dance with technopop of the past, is back in Brazil for the eighth time, and they don’t know why thousands of fans still love the dance floor hits while the rest of the country is listening to local (Brazilian) rock.
Page B4 (main article):
Technopop? Still?
Today, it sounds like an old bpm to less nostalgic ears, but in seven visits to Brazil – in 1989, 1990, 1991 (twice), 1993, 1997, 2006 and the eighth about to happen on August 7 at Vivo Rio – the American technopop group Information Society enjoys a rarely-reached status on the world stage.
“I can’t explain how we became so popular there, maybe it’s because the Brazilian people have an excellent musical taste,” said Paul Robb, band co-founder, from New York in a phone interview with Jornal do Brasil. “The interesting thing is that we sold many more records here in the USA and Japan, but we never performed to a huge crowd like the times we’ve been in Brazil.”
Tropical memories
Together with DJ’s and original band members Kurt Harland and James Cassidy, Paul Robb expects to face that receptivity one more time. They were the first international artists to perform in many Brazilian cities.
“On the first occasion in Manaus, it was very hot and I got sick,” recalls Robb. “It felt like a hundred degrees. I couldn’t take it and I left the hotel to get some fresh air in the city. I bumped with a school-kind-of band that seemed to be fantastic. I don’t know why, but that military beat made me feel better from fever.”
Many visits to Brazil, with countless stories.
“The best tour was in 1991, at Rock in Rio. It was one of the best shows of our career, but the fans complained a lot about the short set. We wanted to play more, but the organizers didn’t allow us. I don’t think they realized how popular we were, between stars like George Michael and Prince. Even now, in interviews, we are asked why that show was too short. I also remember that our success was so big we couldn’t get out from the hotel, so many fans gathered in the hall. To hang out in the city, we had to sneak out of the hotel, so we could take a ride through Rio together with Run DMC.”
It was a time of pop music when guitars, bass and drums gave room to computers, synthesizers and drum machines. And Information Society reigned in that department. The technopop genre had roots from the 70’s, with the sound of bands like Kraftwerk and Tangerine Dream. Soon after, others took flight. Some of them vanished (Human League, Ultravox, A Flock of Seagulls, Soft Cell, Thomas Dolby) while others kept themselves alive (Depeche Mode, New Order, and IS itself). The band - formed by Robb, Harland and Cassidy - had a collection of hits during their career, with a 3-year hiatus in 1993. Now they are back together, not just rehashing a glorious past, but actually producing new material. In 2007 they released a CD with brand new songs called Synthesizer and will release the DVD “It Is Useless to Resist Us” in October.
“The musical styles were changing and we didn’t want to change what we were doing just to keep us popular. We were 30, time to take a break, marry, and raise children.”
The favorite pop gems vary with audiences around the world.
“It’s funny, but we noticed that even in our country the people’s taste may vary,” points Paul. “On the west coast, “What’s On Your Mind” is unbeatable. Here in New York and also in Florida, the success is “Running”. In Brazil, it always was “Repetition”. All Brazilian chicks love the ballads!”
All the hits, plus “How Long”, “Peace & Love, Inc.” and “Think”, will be in the set list for this tour. In addition to Rio, the tour includes stops in Belo Horizonte, Curitiba, São Paulo and Ribeirão Preto. Only in Rio de Janeiro, the show will be opened by DJ Memê, playing hits from the 80’s.
“I think the longevity of our success is due to the fact that our shows are very upbeat, compared to other electronic bands. And also, Information Society isn’t a reunion of three unemployed DJ’s, producers or singers. We are a real band,” says Robb.
(end of main article)
(box section)
“People running out from the restrooms to the dance floor” by Amandio
In late-80’s and early-90’s they played a lot in carioca clubs. They were one of the most popular bands back in the day. Unfortunately, I never saw the band perform live, but I played Information Society a lot. I loved to play it. I remember very well, I was a resident DJ at Columbus, renamed Bunker later. I was doing a partnership with DJ Nino Carlo, who simply adored Information Society. I used to like it too, of course, but he was addicted. He could play “What’s On Your Mind” without stopping if you allowed. This song, by the way, was played a lot. It was a smash hit ’round here, especially on the dance floors. Actually, the whole album was a success.
It had a funky beat, a cool new thing. Not so fast, but enough to fill the dance floor. I just had to play it to see people stop peeing in the restrooms and run out to the dance floor. Those were dance floor hits, sales hits and radio hits. A unanimity, never seen before, because we had bands with huge success on the dance floors but a flop in sales, or a smash hit on radio but not on dance floors. Information Society attacked on all frontlines.
When I do 80’s parties, the band repertoire is still a success. It wasn’t just a thing from the past. The people still remember. It wasn’t a squared sound, they were very wild at that time, and that’s why it is still being played and everybody likes it. Some people say unanimity is dumb, but it wasn’t in this case, indeed.
2009-08-01 at 11.10 am
Always welcome here in brazil guys =), i´m from Sao Paulo but i´m happy to see that Insoc´s on the newspaper =)
2009-08-03 at 6.44 am
Welcome back!
It’s not a bad idea to put any live performance of InSoc live in Brazil as a bonus material in the new upcoming DVD.
This will be my 5th Insoc gig in audience. I was there in 1991 (Ginasio do Ibirapuera - Sao paulo), 1993 (Olympia - Sao Paulo), 1993 (Toco - Sao Paulo), 2006 (Espaco das Americas - Sao Paulo). I will be there, at Via Funchal, in Sao Paulo.
2009-08-03 at 4.00 pm
I’m very Hurt!! Show is canceled in Curitiba!!!!!!!!!
What i do??????
2009-08-04 at 5.20 am
To Brazilians:
NÃO HA CONFIRMAÇÃO OFICIAL DE CANCELAMENTO DO SHOW DE CURITIBA.
2009-08-05 at 7.20 am
não estão nem vendendo ingressos mais…
2009-08-06 at 8.39 pm
Don’t forget your skates!!
2009-08-08 at 9.34 am
Last night’s gig was awesome! Keep it up, guys!
2009-08-08 at 4.01 pm
It’s so grat you’re back in Brazil! I just wish you would come to Recife!
2009-08-09 at 12.27 am
PLAY IN PORTO ALEGRE RIO GRANDE DO SUL, PLEASE - PPLAY IN PORTO ALEGRE RIO GRANDE DO SUL, PLEASE - PPLAY IN PORTO ALEGRE RIO GRANDE DO SUL, PLEASE - P-P-PLEASE-PLEASE-PLEEEASE
2009-08-09 at 4.11 pm
I Agree with DanielHDR. Please come to do a concert in Porto Alegre city, Brazil, too. Please
You have a lot of fans here.
2009-08-10 at 4.34 am
Guys….i was at the first show u made here in Brazil…and the second…and the third…lol.
Today, we’re all older, but the taste stills in the end of 80’s and early 90’s. By the way, congratulations for your new CD and see u guys 08/12 in São Paulo. And i´ll come with a lot of friends who enjoyed INSOC in the older days (and still enjoy, of course).
Cheers…
Gallo
2009-08-10 at 6.44 am
Hello everybody. I´m here to express the disappointment I felt yesterday evening when I watched the band at this TV show! Kurt was so rude and I simply lost my interent on the band. The other guys were nice, but the lead singer who was supposed to talk and be nice was such a jerk. This is so disrespectful at us people who only gave you guys love and bought your records!!! I was going to buy my ticket today… but I decided not to!!!I chatted online with a few friends of mine who are not going anymore either… it´s sick how he considers himself so much better than the others. And more… the band was doing great and playing well… but Kurt was all out of tune, sounded like an amateur!!If you guys have any doubts that this is true… watch this on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzjtKS9ZCug
2009-08-10 at 7.54 am
I totally agree with Ana Brito! Kurt was very impolite… honestly I didn’t understand that attitude. I’m not a die hard fan, but I was going to the show in Curitiba to watch them perform those nice songs I used to listen to all the time when I was a kid, but I changed my mind… I’m staying home! I never thought that a “1 hit wonder” singer would be such a dick on one of the best watched TV shows in Brazil. He could have at least answered the host’s question! Shame on you Mr.Kurt!!!
2009-08-10 at 9.13 am
Faustao need an Skreee, well done Kurt!, he´s a moron that billion of brazilians don´t support him
Skreee Time!
2009-08-11 at 7.37 am
I agree with Ana and Marco. As an American living in Brazil, I was embarrassed by Kurt’s lengthy refusal to answer Faustão´s question. Even worse is that he did it in such “drama queen” fashion. Brasil has been very good to Insoc. For him not to say a few words to appreciative fans was rude. Fortunately for him, his band partners were gracious enough to speak.
2009-08-11 at 2.03 pm
Hey guys, wait a minute…
The production staff from the TV show didn’t supplied Kurt with the cue earphones, to hear the translation. In this case, all questions should be adressed to Paul, because of the short time performance.
But then Faustão made a question to Kurt, and he DIDN’T UNDERSTOOD A WORD. His reaction was just a way to express his disapointment about the TV staff, because they didn’t allowed him “to speak, think and function”.
Paul tried to translate the question to Kurt, but it was already too late, he was upset. You can see by yourself on the video.
My first was exactly the same of you guys. But I got information straight from the band members and related people, and that’s exactly what happened.
Kurt is excentric, but not a jerk. Look to “Programa Hebe” videos.
2009-08-11 at 4.27 pm
already secured my tickets for the show in Ribeirão Preto!
Welcome back!
2009-08-12 at 10.31 am
Hi guys, Im from Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) and i was there in 7 august (VIVO RIO)’s show and it was magic for me because i didn’t had a chance to go to Rock In Rio II(i was very young) and i would like to thank you guys in the name of all fans here in Brazil and we will wait for a next show soon. In time: It was really cool and great your perfomances in FAUSTAO SHOW and HEBE SHOW! Really GREAT and FUNNY!!
2009-08-12 at 10.43 am
HI GUYS,
I was watching the video and seems Kurt didn’t had the translator, only Paul had the equipment and he try to translate the question to Kurt so it was not his fault when Faustao did his question to him… Another thing: Kurt, where are the rollers, skates??? Thanks!
2009-08-12 at 1.23 pm
Well, anyway, I just think that a simple “Sorry, but I didn’t understand your question” would do it… his answer was rude, it’s a fact. Although, the band is pretty good and the other members seem to be very nice people.
2009-08-14 at 7.49 am
Ola pessoal,
Orlando Camargo e Marco, eu li seu comentario e andei pesquisando em alguns sites tentando entender o q aconteceu nessas apresentacao do faustao… já que no Vivo Rio eu curti muito o show e tem gente falando que os caras chegaram nos estudios do programa por volta de umas 11:00 da manha e só foram tocar no final á noite. Deram um chá de cadeira nos caras e mais uma vez o programa conseguiu estragar uma apresentacao internacional,ou seja, colocoram uns bailarinos nada a ver com a banda, fora aquele problemas com os tradutores, e as perguntas do Faustao que poderiam ter sido mais elaboradas. Parece que a equipe do programa nem pesquisou direito sobre os caras. Tantas perguntas que o Fausto poderia fazer… Resumindo: Eu acho que se juntarmos isso tudo dá pra entender pelos menos um pouco o pq do Kurt estava meio “desanimado”. Mas nós que somos fans, devemos pelo menos esperar eles voltem pra casa e leiam esses comentarios nossos com calma pq se aconteceu algo q agente nao sabe, eles com certeza vao nos esclarecer em breve. Eles mesmo dizem que o “Brazil” é o público numero 1 do grupo, então eu espero que assim que a tour acabar, eles declarem algo pra gente. Um abraço e vamos comentar mais!!!