JOELHO DE PORCO – Sao Paulo By Day (Trombadinhas) (1976)

Joelho de Porco (“Pig Knee” or “Ham Hock”) is a Brazilian rock band formed in 1972 in the city São Paulo. They are known for their musical eclecticism and their role in pioneering punk in Brazil.

In 1965, the group The Skeletons was formed in São Paulo. Later, they changed their name to Os Abrasivos. Their line-up involved Fábio Gasparini and Eduardo Zocchi on the guitars and Próspero Albanese on the drums. They initially had no bassist and performed instrumental rock. Later, bassist Gerson Tatini (who would later play with Moto Perpétuo) joined them.

Still in the 1960s, the band Mona is formed with Albanese, Gasparini and Tatini among its members. Other members included guitarist André Geraissati, brothers Albino and Pedro Infantozzi, João Paulo de Almeida and Conrado Ruiz.

In 1966, João Paulo de Almeida invited some of his former Mona mates for a show at a music festival at Rio Branco School in which he would perform a song of his. The performed under a line-up that included Almeida (keyboards, vocals), Fabio Gasparini (guitar), Gerson Tatini (bass), Prospero Albanese (drums) and Celso (accordion). The name “Joelho de Porco” was suggested by Gasparini, who had had some Eisbein (known as “joelho de porco”) in Brazil in a German restaurant and jokingly suggested they adopted the name, which was ultimately accepted.

In 1972 they established their classic line-up of Tico Terpins (acoustic guitar, vocals, rhythm guitar; formerly of Os Baobás), Próspero Albanese (drums and vocals), Gerson Tatini (guitarist-turned-bassist), Rodolfo Ayres Braga (bass and vocals; formerly of Terreno Baldio and The Jet Blacks), Walter Baillot (lead guitar; formerly of Provos e Século XX; replaced Gerson Tatini following an invitation by Rodolfo Ayres Braga), Conrado Ruiz (guitar, piano and vocals; formerly of Mona) and Flavio Pimenta (drums and percussion).

andando nas ruas do centro cruzando o viaduto do chá eis que me vejo cercado trombadinhas querendo

me assaltar , me assaltar

andando nas ruas do centro cruzando o viaduto do chá eis que me vejo cercado trombadinhas quereeendo

me assaltar , me assaltar

trombadinhas q sao q fazem do assalto a sua profissão na avenida são joão

bebericando cachaça sandália havaiana tentando assaltar na praça don jose gaspar

tira a mão do meu bolso

andando nas ruas do centro cruzando o viaduto do chá eis que me vejo cercado trombadinhos querendo

me assaltar , me assaltar

glória glória aleluia , trombadinhas do Brasil!

walking on the streets of downtown crossing Viaduto do Chá I find myself surrounded by pickpockets wanting

to rob me, rob me

walking on the streets of downtown crossing Viaduto do Chá I find myself surrounded by pickpockets wanting

to rob me, rob me

Pickpockets who have robbery as a profession on São João Avenue

sipping cachaçaHavaianas flip flops trying to rob at Don José Gaspar Square

take your hand out of my pocket

walking on the streets of downtown crossing Viaduto do Chá I find myself surrounded by pickpockets wanting

to rob me, rob me

glory glory hallelujah, Brazilian pickpockets!