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Ratos de Porão is a Brazilian hardcore punk/crossover thrash band from São Paulo. Their name is Portuguese for "basement rats". Ratos de Porão have been around since the early 1980s and have toured South America, North America, and Europe. They still continue to play today. Lead singer João Benedan (better known as João Gordo, Portuguese for "Fat John") has been one of the most well-known VJs on MTV Brasil. João Gordo (João Francisco Benedan) — Lead Vocals (1983) Jão (João Carlos Molina Esteves) — Guitar (1981) Boka (Maurício Alves Fernandez) — Drums (1991) Bin Lacto (Paulo Sergio Sangiorgio Júnior) — Bass (2004) User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.
# Ratos de Porão: Why It Matters This São Paulo ensemble occupies a fascinating position in punk and metal history as one of Latin America's most enduring crossover acts. Emerging from the early 1980s underground, they bridged hardcore's raw aggression with thrash metal's technical ambition—a fusion that predates and rivals more celebrated North American precedents. What distinguishes them is their refusal to dilute regional identity; their music channels the specific energy of Brazilian street culture while engaging genuinely with international underground networks. Their longevity across decades, combined with João Gordo's subsequent visibility in mainstream media, makes them a rare case study in how underground authenticity can coex