Remembering Rita Lee: Brazil’s Iconic Queen of Rock Passes Away at 75

Brazil has lost one of its biggest and most influential music icons – Rita Lee Jones. The “Queen of Rock” died at her home in Sao Paulo at the age of 75. Lee was known for her colorful and candid style, her versatility, and her compositions that brought feminism to Brazilian society. With a career spanning six decades, Lee left an indelible mark on the Brazilian music scene. She was one of the first Brazilian musicians to use the electric guitar and played at least five instruments: drums, guitar, piano, harmonica, and autoharp. From her feminine perspective, Lee saw through the worn-out cliches of the male rocker, paving the way for other female artists to break down barriers.

Rita Lee rose to fame with the group Os Mutantes in 1966, and by the mid-1970s, after selling 200,000 copies of the album “Forbidden Fruit,” Lee became known as the “queen of rock” in Brazil. Hits on “Forbidden Fruit” include “Now Only Missing You” and “Ovelha Negra,” which were long played on radio stations and featured on Brazilian soap operas. Her creativity, humor, and irreverence were trademarks from the beginning, evident in the flamboyant costumes she used in her shows.

Lee’s music infused feminist themes, such as her song “Mania de Voce” in 1979, which tackled female sexuality. Later, she continued to produce songs like “Amor e Sexo” and “Lança Perfume,” which contrasted love and sex in detail and celebrated unbridled hedonism. In her later years, she became an animal rights activist and vegan, further demonstrating her commitment to live by and uphold the values she believed in.

While many expected Rita Lee to pass on her iconic style to future generations of rockers, others saw that Lee had created her unique and original style, paving the way for other musicians to do the same. Lulu Santos, judge of the Brazilian version of The Voice, believes Lee was “an element that distances herself from the cliches of rock.” She saw the clumsiness of the worn-out cliches of the male rocker, the one who plays with his legs open. She saw right through him.”

Lee’s contributions extend beyond the music industry. She bared her soul, sharing some of the most intimate details of her life, including her sexual abuse as a child, her subsequent drug abuse, and her multiple stints in rehabilitation clinics. Through it all, Lee remained an advocate for personal freedom, human rights, and truthful self-expression.

Rita Lee has left a legacy of groundbreaking music, style, and activism that will continue to inspire future generations. As she said in her 2016 autobiography, “I was never a good example, but I was good people.”