Translation:
31 January, 2012
Bands of Psicodália 2012
[Text provided by the Psicodália 2012 organization: psicodalia.mus.br]
CASA DAS MÁQUINAS
The band was formed when José Aroldo Binda (Aroldo) and Luiz Franco Thomaz (Netinho), former members of the band Os Incríveis, joined forces with Carlos Roberto Piazzoli, known as Pisca, Carlos Geraldo Carge, a former member of the band Som Beat who played bass and guitar, and Pique, a former member of Roberto Carlos's band, who played organ, piano, saxophone, and flute. Initially, they were known as “the new Incríveis,” performing shows across Brazil.
Their repertoire included songs by Elvis Presley, Paul Anka, Chubby Checker, Neil Sedaka, among others. Their performances featured costumes, makeup, and theatrical stage presentations.
In 1974, they entered the studio to record their first LP, titled Casa das Máquinas. This debut album followed a more hard rock style, reminiscent of the Incríveis' sound. After Pique left the band shortly after the album’s recording, his spot was filled by virtuoso keyboardist Mario Testoni Jr., who, along with Marinho Thomaz (drums), Netinho’s brother, brought renewed energy to the band. Casa das Máquinas became one of the first Brazilian rock bands to feature two drummers.
After releasing Lar de Maravilhas (1975) and Casa de Rock (1976), which adopted a more progressive style, some lineup changes occurred. Carlos Geraldo and Aroldo left, prompting the group to search for a vocalist and bassist. Simbas, a former vocalist of Mountry—a dance and show band of the era—took over as lead singer, bringing his androgynous stage presence to the group. They recorded Casa de Rock without a bassist, with Pisca handling the bass lines. João Alberto was later invited to fill the bassist role. Around this time, the band performed on TV Tupi, but the show was never aired due to censorship, reportedly because of Simbas’ flamboyant clothing and stage movements. The footage eventually became available online.
At this point, Mario Testoni left the band after his contract ended, accepting a lucrative offer to join the group Pholhas. Moving forward without a permanent keyboardist, Pisca, the instrumental genius of the group, played keyboards on certain tracks where the guitar wasn’t needed, such as Vale Verde and Mania de Ser. They recorded the music video for Casa de Rock, featuring a set with machinery and scaffolding that reflected the band’s name. The video later aired on Fantástico on TV Globo.
Near the end of their career, the band performed a show in Santos in 1978, which was recorded on a cassette tape and later pirated onto CD. This became one of their final performances. The possibility of a reunion had been considered for years, and in December 2003, Netinho restructured the band for a one-off show in Matão, São Paulo’s countryside. The audience response exceeded expectations. This lineup included Netinho, Marinho Testoni, and Marinho Thomaz, with Andria Busic (Dr. Sin) on vocals and bass and Sandro Haick on guitar.
In January 2008, they were invited to perform at the Psicodália Carnaval Festival in Serra do Tabuleiro, Santa Catarina, where a crowd of 3,000 fans sang along to the band’s classics. Casa das Máquinas delivered a high-energy and skilled performance, proving why they deserved a comeback. The lineup for the February 3, 2008, performance included Netinho, his brother Marinho Thomaz, Marinho Testoni, Andria Busic, and Faíska. From then on, the band solidified their return with outstanding shows, including the Virada Cultural in São Paulo on May 7, 2008, and the renowned Expo Artur in Artur Nogueira, São Paulo, on October 11, 2009. These performances sent fans into a frenzy.
Two months later, on December 16, 2009, the band shared the stage with legendary vocalist Glenn Hughes (ex-Trapeze, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple) at Carioca Club in São Paulo.
After much negotiation, Casa das Máquinas officially marked their return in 2010 with a highly anticipated show at Carioca Club on April 7. The performance featured several renowned Brazilian rock musicians, including Paulo Zinner, Oswaldo Malagutti, Sergio Hinds, Carlos Geraldo, and Luiz Carline. This show introduced João Luiz as the band’s new vocalist, bringing his dynamic energy to the lineup.
The band continued to evolve and eventually settled into its current lineup:
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Mario Thomaz (Marinho) – Drums
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Mario Testoni Jr. – Keyboards
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João Luiz – Vocals
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Leonardo Testoni – Guitar
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Fabio César – Bass