The Bank of Portugal is today issuing a collection coin, valued at five euros, dedicated to Xutos & Pontapés, as part of the “Portuguese Musicians” series, which started last year with a coin dedicated to José Afonso.
On one side of the coin, designed by guitarist Tó Trips, there is an “X” made with arms, just like the fans of the band often do during concerts. On the other side, “Xutos & Pontapés” and “Rock ‘n’ Roll since 1979” are written, along with the letter “X”, which is the band’s symbol.
The official birth of Xutos & Pontapés took place 45 years ago, on January 13, 1979, in the dance hall of the Alunos de Apolo in Lisbon, on a night when they played four songs in just over five minutes. At that time, the group, which was initially called Delirium Tremens and later Beijinhos e Parabéns, included young members Zé Pedro, Kalú, Tim, and Zé Leonel, influenced by the punk rock that was gaining strength in the foreign music scene. Throughout the early years of the 1980s, Zé Leonel left the group at different times, and João Cabeleira and Gui joined.
Forty-five years after their first concert, the group continues to thrive in Portuguese music with over a dozen albums and many songs that serve as an anchor for a rock clan with thousands of fans from various generations. Even after the death of guitarist Zé Pedro in 2017, the band has remained active, both on stage and in the studio, with Tim (vocalist and bassist), João Cabeleira (guitarist), Gui (saxophonist), and Kalú (drummer). At the end of 2019, they released “40 Anos a Dar no Duro,” a double album that gathered the 40 most significant songs from the band’s career, arranged in chronological order. The compilation starts with “Sémen,” the band’s first single, with lyrics by Zé Leonel and music by Tim, released in 1981 by radio host António Sérgio and producer of the band’s debut album, “78/82,” which was released in 1982.
On September 14, the band will celebrate 45 years of career and Zé Pedro’s birthday with a concert in Porto. Zé Pedro was born on September 14, 1956. This year he would have turned 68. The setlist for the show is expected to include some of the band’s most popular songs, such as “Contentores,” “A minha casinha,” “À minha maneira,” “O homem do leme,” “Mundo ao Contrário,” “Remar, remar,” “Chuva Dissolvente,” and “Circo de Feras.” The first part of the concert will be performed by Meu General and Conjunto!Evite.