Biography
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Years Active
1982 – present (42 years)
Mata-Ratos was born by the end of 81 in Oeiras (Lisbon suburbs). The early influences came from late 70's and early 80's British and US Punk. Mata-Ratos first show took place at the Lisbon Art School on Dec 82. Due to indecent exposure the band was run out of stage for the very first time. The next shows went on the same nihilistic & self-destructive path. Facing public and promoters animosity the band on 84 got together with other punk acts like CRISE TOTAL, KU-DE-JUDAS and GRITO FINAL to start their own DIY shows at the TEIA venue in Lisbon. It was also the year that Miguel Newton shows up to take the vocals task into his hands. Far was he to know he was taking a life sentence on this one. Only in 1990 the band finally got a deal for a first album ROCK RADIOACTIVO. The album went directly to 5th place on the Portuguese charts and sold over 9.000 copies: Hard as nails and streetwise tunes like «A minha Sogra e Um Boi», «Eu Tenho Um Pobre» and «C.C.M.» became street anthems for more than one Portuguese generation. This was also the start of a hard period for the band: line up changes, chaotic gigs, negative media coverage, endless polemics, untrue accusations, showdowns and street fights etc., etc., etc. Natural born survivors only by 94 MATA-RATOS got a new deal for a release this time on the new independent label Drunk Records/Fast N Loud who had their debut with the Mata-Ratos EXPULSOS DO BAR 7 very soon sold out. 1995 sees MATA-RATOS 2nd Album ESTAS AQUI ESTAS ALI! CD (also on Fast 'n' Loud) and the band hit the road on a Portuguese and German tour together with Brazilian street-samba-oi-boys GAROTOS PODRES. On this tour MATA-RATOS shared also stage with BRAINDANCE (UK), OXYMORON, WILD JUNGS and TEENAGE TOYLETS (Germany). 1996 was another great year with MATA-RATOS on the bill at the 1st Festival Super Rock in Faro side by side with THE EXPLOITED (UK) and RATOS DO PORAO (Brazil). End of 97 the band records a new work SENTE O ODIO CD that due to problems at FAST'N'LOUD label only comes out by 99 on the Portuguese ALARME! Label. Before the release Pedro Coelho (guitar) the last member from the original 82s line up leaves the band for good. Hooked on the band, the now oldest member (since 84) Miguel Newton soon recruits new blood in order to keep the flame of Mata-Ratos infamy alive. Old fans now become band members. With ups and downs and more line-up changes MATA-RATOS are still on the move and pushing punkrock to the man while doing more shows than ever and releasing a couple of EPs (Crime, Deus Patria & Familia), Splits (with Urban Crew, Retaliator) and tunes on international compilations worldwide. In recent years they also did two European tours - 2002 and 2003 that took them to venues in Spain, Euskadi, France, Belgium and Germany. The new MATA-RATOS studio work ES UM HOMEM OU ES UM RATO? Was released on September 2004 and was a sure step into the Asylum called Mata-Ratos. This new work was immediately considered a classic and his seen by many as the best Mata-Ratos work to date. Bringing street anthems for the new generation like No Meu Sonho Era o Figo, Terrorista Urbano or Menina da Rua. Comes 2005 and MATA-RATOS recorded and released via RASTILHO their first live album. A great release in 2 CDs that include the live performance on the Rastilho Fest early 2005 (including the old and new classics), some extra live tracks, a multimedia presentation with videos, bio, photos, releases and lots of surprises. MATA-RATOS is still the best selling punk band in Portugal and this with almost no media coverage or even media animosity. If they got the chance to talk to the press they would be running the fucking country now More than 23 years kicking (others and their own) ass MATA-RATOS have shared stage with local and outside acts like NO FX (USA), MOONSPELL, SOZIEDAD ALKOHOLIKA (Euskadi), TOY DOLLS (U.K.), GAROTOS PODRES (Brazil), RUIN BOIS (Galiza), MADBALL (NY), CRISE TOTAL, MINDLOCK, OXYMORON (Germany), GRITO FINAL, PAINSTRUCK, ARGIES (Argentina), BABES IN TOYLAND (USA), RENEGADOS DE BOLIQUEIME, EXPLOITED (UK),KICKBACK (France), RATOS DE PORÃO (Brazil), BRAINDANCE (UK), SETIMA LEGIAO, HOLMGANG (Spain), SOCIAL COMBAT (Spain), ORDUS NECAT(Germany), RESPOSTA SIMPLES, THE SUSPECTS DC (USA), METRALHAS, GOD (Romania), LOS FALTONES (Galiza), SHOCKS (Germany), ANTI-PORCOS, KU-DE-JUDAS, HOLOCAUSTO CANIBAL, THE BLAST OFFS (Germany), RETALIATOR (UK), DR. MARTENS BEAT (Galiza), RAMP, DESKARGA ETILIKA, PERKELE (Sweden), 2ND UNIT (Norway), TARA PERDIDA, OMITED GR, D.U.I. (USA), MANIFESTO and many more.
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