Herbert Vianna

Herbert Lemos de Sousa Vianna (born May 4, 1961) is a Brazilian singer, songwriter and guitarist mainly known for his work with rock band Os Paralamas do Sucesso.

Biography

Herbert was born in João Pessoa, Paraíba. His father was from the military and, because of that, he changed to Brasília when he was still a child. There he met band member Bi Ribeiro. When they moved to Rio de Janeiro, they formed Os Paralamas do Sucesso (some still consider them part of the "Brasília gang", along with Capital Inicial and Legião Urbana) with their friend Vital Dias playing drums.

After Vital was replaced by João Barone, Herbert wrote the song "Vital e Sua Moto", to pay homage to the friend. The song became the band's first airplay hit and, shortly after that, they signed with EMI Music Group.

After spending ten years with the band, Herbert released the solo album Ê Batumarê (1992). He recorded two others, Santorini Blues (1997) e O Som do Sim (2000), with Cássia Eller, Nana Caymmi, Sandra de Sá and Marcos Valle.

Herbert reportedly dated Paula Toller, lead singer of Kid Abelha, and later married with British Lucy Needham, with whom he had Luca, Hope and Phoebe.

Accident

Herbert always liked to pilot helicopters and ultralight airplanes. In February 4, 2001, he suffered an accident in Mangaratiba, RJ, when the ultralight airplane he was piloting fell down into the sea, in the bay of Angra dos Reis. The accident killed his wife Lucy and put Herbert in the hospital for 44 days (part of them in state of coma). The musician became disable (he now uses a wheelchair) and lost part of his memory after the accident; however, after a slow recovering process, he returned to perform. Since the accident, Herbert recoreded three albums with Os Paralamas do Sucesso: Longo Caminho (2002), the live Uns Dias ao Vivo (2004) and Hoje (2005).