Kiko Loureiro It’s not for less that KIKO LOUREIRO is considered one of the main musicians nowadays. After starting his musical studies when he was just eleven years old, KIKO has never stopped developing himself as a guitarist and a composer, what made him hold the enviable position of a respectful and well known guitarist world wide.

It was with 19 years, after he had studied with Master Mozart Mello, among others, and had been playing in many bands from São Paulo, that KIKO was invited to become part of the recently formed Angra, a band which trajectory has happened to molt with the musician’s own.

In March of 93, KIKO recorded his instructional video by MPO productions and just after that he traveled to Germany to record Angra’s debut album, “Angels Cry”. The success regarding the album had been opening many new markets for the band, like Argentina and Europe, besides, of course, Brazil in self.
Two years after, the band recorded their second album, “Holy Land”, once again in Germany and with the production of Charlie Bauerfeind and Sascha Paeth. The original style exposed in the album made the band become a reference into the international melodic heavy metal scene.

Before their next studio work, Angra had released two EPs, “Freedom Call” and “Holy Live”, this latter recorded live in Paris. “Fireworks”, the band’s third album, was released in 98. A little different from their previous works regarding conceptual terms, as it was more focused on the roots of heavy metal, the CD had the production of Chris Tsangarides and was recorded inside very well appraised English studios, like Abbey Road and Power House.

On the eve of 2001, Angra presented their new lineup to the fans and to the press on an event in which the band put out the “Acid Rain” demo. KIKO’s work, being in a constant technical development without never giving up on feeling, was one of the highlights on this demo which anticipated “Rebirth”, the band’s new album. Released in October of 2001, “Rebirth” was also recorded in Germany, at this time under producer Dennis Ward’s command. The album, as its own title indicates, has signed the band’s rebirth, which has become to be once again acclaimed all over the world then, not only because of the album itself, but also because of the concerts they had been doing in Brazil and Europe.

The album had been granting many awards to the band during the end of the year elections promoted by magazines in the whole world. KIKO was well classified on uncountable publications, like the Japanese Young Guitar and Burrn! and the Brazilians Rock Brigade, Rock Underground and Roadie Crew; in these latter three he was classified in 1st position as “Best Guitarist Of The Year”. Still in the year of 2001, KIKO had an instructional video on DVD included in the Young Guitar magazine, in which he shows all his huge technique.

In May of 2002, KIKO and his partner in Angra, guitarist Rafael Bittencourt, released the “Rebirth” songbook, with all the notation and tablature of the songs from the album. The book, containing 116 pages, has become the first publication on the genre edited in Brazil regarding hard rock bands.

In the same month, was released the “Hunters and Prey” mini-album. Once again produced by Dennis Ward, the album brings eight songs, along with a multimedia track. Following, Angra returned from Japan, where they were acclaimed one more time by the audience in five concerts that obtained a great repercussion. Besides this, the quintet has also played in Taiwan, becoming the third rock band to play in that country - they were preceded only by Dream Theater and Helloween.

In the year of 2003, Angra released the “Rebirth World Tour Live In São Paulo” DVD and double CD that registered one of the world tour promo concerts from the album “Rebirth” and made Angra be acclaimed all around the planet.

KIKO, in turn, released two more instructional videos, “Técnica e Versatilidade” and “Os Melhores Riffs e Solos do Angra” on VHS and DVD. Both of videos bring the guitarist on top of his technique and show, in a clear and easy-to-learn way, uncountable details that are meant to enrich the musical repertoire of any guitarist.

In September of 2004, Angra released their most recent and waited album, “Temple of Shadows”. A different work which brings many diverse nuances and tendencies - without, however, giving up from the melodic metal sound that has always characterized the band - , the album shows Angra over its technical and creative height. Once again with the production of Dennis Ward, “Temple of Shadows” proves, also, that the group has achieved the goal of expanding their fame beyond the heavy metal circuit, as they count on the participation of the MPB singer and composer Milton Nascimento - who affirmed to know the band and said had loved the song in which he participates, “Late Redemptions”.

KIKO is also almost ready to release his first solo album, “No Gravity”. The album was recorded last May, in Germany, with the production of Dennis Ward, and will bring thirteen instrumental tracks. “No Gravity” has the participation of the drummer Mike Terrana, while KIKO has taken charge of the many other instruments - guitars, acoustic guitars, bass, keyboards, piano and percussion. The album has its upcoming release scheduled for November next.

The recognition regarding Kiko and Angra’s work keeps bringing many gains to the guitarist. Uncountable corporations have been insisting on associating their names to KIKO through the signing of endorsements like the Tagima guitars, Santo Angelo wires, D’Addario strings, Zoom effects, Takamine acoustic guitars, AKG microphones and Warm Music amplifiers.

Even among the specialized press KIKO has conquered space and respect, having already been on the cover of many magazines like the Japanese Young Guitar, French Guitar & Bass and Brazilians Cover Guitarra and Guitar Class, besides having already written columns and contents on these publications.

For all of this, it becomes easier to understand why KIKO LOUREIRO has conquered, throughout these years of work, everything that any musician would want: a granted place among the main heavy metal guitarists in the world..

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--- 1.Feijão de Corda (play)
--- 2.Ojos Verdes (play)
--- 3.Havana (play)
--- 4.Anastácia (play)
--- 5.Monday Mourning (play)
--- 6.Arcos da Lapa (play)
--- 7.Samba da Elisa (play)
--- 8.Camino a Casa (play)
--- 9.Realidade Paralela (play)
--- 10.Recuerdos (play)