Dead Past

Dead Past formed in São Paulo in the early 2000s around frontman Cadu Pelegrini. Their sound pulled from post-punk and grunge, with a rotating lineup that included bassist Emerson Helloy, drummer Dinho Almeida, and guitarist Fernando Quesada at various points.

Their 2006 album 'Depois de Tudo' gave them a clearer identity. The title track became a touchstone, a slow-burning ballad about what comes after a relationship ends. Other songs like 'Ele Vem' and 'O Salário do Pecado' showed their tendency toward darker themes and heavier guitar work.

Pelegrini's lyrics often dealt with difficult subjects, addiction, depression, the fallout from bad relationships, which sometimes put them at odds with more mainstream Brazilian rock. They worked with artists like Rita Lee and Negra Li, but the core of their music remained Pelegrini's raw vocal delivery and the band's persistent, moody arrangements.