The Bank of Portugal is putting into circulation this Wednesday, September 4, a collectible coin with a face value of five euros, dedicated to Xutos & Pontapés, as part of the “Portuguese Musicians” series.
On one side of the coin, designed by guitarist Tó Trips, there is an X made with arms, as fans of the band usually do during concerts. On the other side, it reads “Xutos & Pontapés” and “Rock ‘n’ Roll since 1979,” along with the letter “X,” which is the band’s symbol.
The series from the Mint dedicated to Portuguese musicians began last year, with a coin dedicated to José Afonso.
The official birth of Xutos & Pontapés took place 45 years ago, on January 13, 1979, at the ballroom of the Students of Apollo, 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 the young Zé Pedro, Kalú, Tim, and Zé Leonel, influenced by the punk rock that was gaining momentum in the foreign music scene.
Throughout the early years of the 1980s, at various times, Zé Leonel left the group, and João Cabeleira and Gui joined.
Forty-five years after their first concert, the group continues to thrive in Portuguese music with more than a dozen albums and many songs that serve as anchors for a rock clan with thousands of fans across generations.
Even after the death of guitarist Zé Pedro in 2017, the band remained active, both on stage and in the studio, featuring 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 compiled the 40 most significant songs from the band’s career, organized chronologically.
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,” released in 1982.
On September 14, the band will celebrate their 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 celebrated his 68th birthday.
The concert’s lineup 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.