EMQ’s with MOFO

EMQ’s with MOFO

Hi everyone! Welcome to our new EMQ’s interview with Brasília, Brazil based Thrash Metal band, MOFO. Huge thanks to guitarist Rodrigo “Shakal” Loreto for taking part!

What is your name, what do you play, and can you tell us a little bit about the history of the band?

My name is Rodrigo “Shakal” Loreto and I play guitar at MOFO. Well, the band started back in 2010 with me and Lucas Werner focused on playing Iron Maiden and Metallica covers but quickly we began creating our own things and gradually turned to more aggressive music, such as Exodus, Vio-Lence, Death, Coroner…

How did you come up with your band name?

We didn’t hahaha. Who came up with it was Lucas Werner’s father, Wamberto Noronha. I distinctively remember the moment he suggested MOFO and we immediately thought it was a terrible name but better than the one we had, so we decided to change it to MOFO until we found something better. And here we are 10 years after hahahahaha.

What Country/Region are you from and what is the Metal/Rock scene like there?

I’m from Recife, Pernambuco, north-eastern region of Brazil, but I’ve been away for so long and moved to Brasília at such a young age that I didn’t get much in touch with the scene there. The Brasília or the DF scene on the other hand has been part of my life for quite a while now. Great bands, great guys, great variety of genres, great festivals. I believe it’s a very vibrant scene. New blood coming in every year, new recordings coming out every year. To me it’s a scene that should get more attention!

What is your latest release? (Album, EP, Single, Video)

Our album “Sick And Insane” (2020)

“Sick And Insane” (Official Full Video Album – 2020)

Who have been your greatest influences?

I’d say Dave Mustaine. So many comebacks along the years, great composer, great guitarist (lead and rhythm), great lyricist.

What first got you into music?

My cousin Filipe. Before I started playing guitar, he took me to a rehearsal of his band and that’s the first time I saw music as a living breathing thing. It was the beginning of something.

If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?

Too many bands to decide! Probably something weird like Sigh, Voivod or Mr Bungle.

If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?

So many to choose just one… But Wacken surely is the top of the list. Along with the festival itself, I’d love to visit Germany one day!

What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?

Haven’t received one yet ☹

If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?

Send gifts!! Just kidding. Thank you very much for every act of support ever intended to us. All together, We Are Metal!

If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?

Either Lemmy or Jimi Hendrix. Two legends that influenced a lot of what we listen to today. But probably Jimi due to his passing at such a young age.

What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?

Playing live! That exchange of energy between the five of us and the public is something else! On the other hand, I do hate carrying all those things back home after late nights.

If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?

Its dependency on big names or the prejudice against new names. After so many years, we still judge books or records by their covers.

Name one of your all-time favourite albums?

“Twisted Into Form” by Forbidden! Amazing record.

What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?

I don’t own any vinyl or cassette records, unfortunately. But that giant art only available in vinyl is something else!!

What’s the best gig that you have played to date?

Tough one… Maybe Samamba Rock 2019. It was the culmination of great response from the public, many friends joining us on stage and our best moment playing together.

If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?

I’d very much like to try acting or writing. Anything creative.

Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?

Les Claypool, Scott Ian, Toni Iommi, Bobby Blitz and Dave Lombardo. We need to make this super group happen.

What’s next for the band?

Right now, thanks to the pandemic, all we want to do is get together and rehearse, play some songs again for god’s sake!! But as the next big step I’d like to make a small tour again as soon as possible or make an EP for 2021 (don’t tell the other guys, I haven’t talked to them about it yet)!

What Social Media/Website links do you use to get your music out to people?

www.facebook.com/mofothrash/
www.instagram.com/mofothrash/
www.youtube.com/mofothrash
www.open.spotify.com/artist/5b0lBSsVnWjnxqL3bfTwEE
www.mofothrash.bandcamp.com/
www.deezer.com/en/artist/1659855

Jaffa Cakes? Are they a cake or a biscuit?

I’d need to try it first. Is Ever metal shipping them to Brazil? Hahaha. But usually I go with whatever says on the box, so a cake it is.

Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?

We’re very happy to be featured here on Ever Metal and very happy about the response we’re getting from “Sick And Insane”. Sure hope to keep them coming and to keep playing for many years! Thank you all for the support, brothers in metal!

Disclaimer: This interview is solely the property of Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this interview, unless you have the strict permission of said party. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.