A Bolha

A Bolha originated in Rio de Janeiro circa 1965 as The Bubbles, a beat group formed by guitarist brothers César and Renato Ladeira with bassist Ricardo “Ricardão” and drummer Ricardo. The brothers were sons of broadcaster César Ladeira and actress Renata Fronzi, who enrolled them in guitar and classical voice lessons. Lincoln Bittencourt replaced Ricardão within weeks, while Ricardo Reis claimed the drum seat.

The Bubbles

The Bubbles played weekend dances at Clube Monte Líbano, Associação Atlética Banco do Brasil, and suburban venues across Rio. They also appeared on Jovem Guarda, Fahrenheit, and Embalo Musical, hosted by conductor Erlon Chaves. In 1966, the quartet cut the Musidisc single “Não Vou Cortar o Cabelo” (b/w “Porque Sou Tão Feio”), Portuguese adaptations of songs by Los Shakers and the Rolling Stones. Producer Durval Ferreira then recruited The Bubbles to back singer Márcio Greyck on his 1968 Polydor album.

César left the group for cinema studies and cleared the lead-guitar position for Pedro Lima, a former member of The Goofies. Arnaldo Brandão replaced Lincoln on bass and drummer Johnny succeeded Reis. Brandão grew up between Rio and northern Portugal and began singing in a school band. Gustavo Schroeter joined on drums in 1970 after stints with Black Foot and The Cougars. A Humaitá native, he studied drums with Robertinho, a neighborhood musician from The Youngsters.

In 1970, The Bubbles accompanied Gal Costa at Boate Sucata in Rio, where Jards Macalé directed the music and Hélio Oiticica designed the stage environment. The ensemble also included percussionist Naná Vasconcelos and brass players. Costa took Lima, Brandão, and Schroeter to Portugal, followed by the Isle of Wight Festival in England. The three joined Brazilian expatriates for an impromptu performance at the festival. Back in Rio, they persuaded Renato to abandon the dance-band format and develop Portuguese-language originals under the name A Bolha.

First Single

The revised quartet premiered at the 1971 Festival de Verão de Guarapari. A Bolha also backed singer Leno on the Raul Seixas-produced CBS project Vida e Obra de Johnny McCartney, shelved after government censorship objections. Producer Ademir Lemos arranged the first A Bolha single for Top Tape, coupling “Sem Nada” with the two-part “18:30 / Os Hemadecons Cantavam em Coro Chôôôôôôô.” The group performed “18:30,” co-written by Eduardo Souto Neto and Geraldo Carneiro, at the sixth Festival Internacional da Canção and won the revelation prize.

Brandão departed after Carnival 1972 and moved to England. Bassist Marcelo Sussekind joined A Bolha for intermittent live engagements. The musicians entered “Liberdade, Liberdade,” an Oscar Toralle number, at the seventh Festival Internacional da Canção that September. Meanwhile, producer Fabian Ross arranged a contract with Continental for the first album. Lincoln returned on bass alongside Renato, Lima, and Schroeter, with guest pianist Luiz Eça and saxophonist-flutist Íon Muniz. A Bolha cut Um Passo à Frente at Áudio Vídeo in Rio, co-produced by Ross and Ramalho Neto and released in May 1973 on Continental.

Between Albums

The quartet struggled to maintain a concert schedule after the release. Renato moved to Itaboraí and established a rehearsal studio, while Lincoln pursued medical studies at Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro and gigged with pianist Luiz Carlos Vinhas. Schroeter joined the progressive-rock group Veludo and worked with Raul Seixas and Moraes Moreira. Renato and Lima reorganized A Bolha with drummer Léo César, formerly of Analfabitles, and a returning Sussekind on bass.

In 1975, A Bolha performed at the Banana Progressiva festival in São Paulo and joined the second Temporada de Rock e Música Progressiva at Teatro Tereza Rachel in Rio under manager Carlos Alberto Sion. Renato left A Bolha to join Bixo da Seda, a Porto Alegre rock group formed by former members of the Brazilian beat group named Liverpool. Lima and Sussekind continued A Bolha with bassist Lincoln Bittencourt and drummer Sérgio Herval. The quartet played scattered engagements through 1976 across Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Curitiba, and neighboring cities.

In 1977, A Bolha secured a Phonogram contract and teamed with producer Pedrinho da Luz, a former member of The Fevers. The musicians prepared a rock repertoire with covers of Roberto and Erasmo Carlos, Carlos Imperial, and Eduardo Araújo. Da Luz also arranged shared songwriting credits with radio disc jockeys in an attempt to increase airplay. Polydor issued the eleven-track album É Proibido Fumar, including “Estações,” a Renato Ladeira original. The group toured Brazil with Erasmo Carlos, performing as both the opening act and the backing band for the headliner. Renato rejoined the touring lineup on keyboards.