BECK - OS MUTANTES LAUNCH FIRST US TOUR

Brazilian psychedelic rock band OS MUTANTES launched their first American tour on Friday (21JUL06), nearly 30 years after they split. With high profile fans including BECK, DAVID BYRNE and late NIRVANA frontman KURT COBAIN, the group are an offshoot of Brazil's 1960s Tropicalia movement which emerged in reaction to the South American country's US-backed military dictatorship. Os Mutantes garnered critical acclaim for their synthesizing of Western pop with traditional Brazilian folk rhythms and classical music on hits such as BAT MACUMBA. Founder member SERGIO DIAS says, "We knew that people were going to come to see our music as it was, so we decided to preserve them. We're having a lot of fun playing together again."