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Luiz Carlos Leão Duarte Júnior (June 16, 1978 – September 9, 2013), better known by his stage name Champignon and also referred to affectionately as Champ or Champs by fans, was a Brazilian singer-songwriter, lyricist, bassist,
beatboxer Beatboxing (also beat boxing) is a form of vocal percussion primarily involving the art of mimicking drum machines (typically a TR-808), using one's mouth, lips, tongue, and voice.
, record label owner and drummer famous for his work with bands Charlie Brown Jr.,
Revolucionnários Revolucionnários (Portuguese for "''Revolutionnaries''" ) was a Brazilian alternative rock band from Santos, São Paulo. History After parting ways with his former band Charlie Brown Jr. in 2005 amid a series of creative divergences and c ...
, Nove Mil Anjos and
A Banca A Banca (Portuguese for "''The Stand''") was a very short-lived Brazilian alternative rock band from Santos, São Paulo, composed mostly by former Charlie Brown Jr. members and described as a "spiritual successor" of it. History Following the b ...
. Music critic Hagamenon Brito considered him one of the three greatest Brazilian
pop rock Pop rock (also typeset as pop/rock) is a fusion genre with an emphasis on professional songwriting and recording craft, and less emphasis on attitude than rock music. Originating in the late 1950s as an alternative to normal rock and roll, earl ...
bassists of all time alongside Paulo Roberto Diniz "PJ" Júnior of
Jota Quest Jota Quest is a Brazilian pop rock band. The band was founded in 1993 in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais as ''J. Quest'', but due to trademark issues with Hanna-Barbera, they renamed themselves ''Jota Quest'' (''jota'' being the Portuguese name ...
and Alexandre Dengue of
Nação Zumbi Nação Zumbi (formerly Chico Science & Nação Zumbi) is a Brazilian band formed by Chico Science. They have been hailed as one of the most important groups to come out of the manguebeat movement in the 1990s. The musicians of the group continued ...
, and Emir Ruivo of webzine ''El Hombre'' compared him to
Red Hot Chili Peppers Red Hot Chili Peppers are an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1983, comprising vocalist Anthony Kiedis, bassist Flea, drummer Chad Smith, and guitarist John Frusciante. Their music incorporates elements of alternative rock, funk ...
'
Flea Flea, the common name for the order Siphonaptera, includes 2,500 species of small flightless insects that live as external parasites of mammals and birds. Fleas live by ingesting the blood of their hosts. Adult fleas grow to about long, a ...
. Shortly after his death in 2013, caused by a self-inflicted gunshot wound following increasing bouts of anxiety and depression, he was featured in entertainment website ''Punk Brega''s list of the Top 10 Greatest Brazilian Rock Bassists of All Time, in 10th place.


Biography

Luiz Carlos Leão Duarte Júnior was born in Santos, São Paulo on June 16, 1978; the son of Maria do Carmo Duarte and Luiz Carlos Duarte, he also had two sisters. In his childhood he learned how to play the bass guitar and the drum kit, but came to prefer the former later in life. His musical career began when he was only 12 years old, as the bassist of juvenile band What's Up, through which he met and befriended Chorão. It was Chorão who nicknamed him "
Champignon ''Agaricus bisporus'' is an edible basidiomycete mushroom native to grasslands in Eurasia and North America. It has two color states while immature – white and brown – both of which have various names, with additional names for the mature ...
", because he thought his hairstyle at the time resembled a
mushroom A mushroom or toadstool is the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground, on soil, or on its food source. ''Toadstool'' generally denotes one poisonous to humans. The standard for the name "mushroom" is ...
. In 1992, shortly after the end of What's Up, they formed Charlie Brown Jr. alongside guitarists
Thiago Castanho Thiago Raphael Castanho (born February 8, 1975) is a Brazilian guitarist, record producer, painter and sculptor, best known for being a founding member of alternative rock bands Charlie Brown Jr., Aliados, A Banca and O Legado, and for his subseq ...
and Marcão, and drummer Renato Pelado. Amid a series of creative divergences and clashes with Chorão, Champignon, Marcão and Pelado left Charlie Brown Jr. in 2005 (Castanho was already no longer a member since 2001), after which Chorão put the band on hold. Following his departure from Charlie Brown Jr., Champignon formed his own band,
Revolucionnários Revolucionnários (Portuguese for "''Revolutionnaries''" ) was a Brazilian alternative rock band from Santos, São Paulo. History After parting ways with his former band Charlie Brown Jr. in 2005 amid a series of creative divergences and c ...
, of which he was the vocalist. Their only studio album, ''
Retratos da Humanidade ''Retratos da Humanidade'' (Portuguese for "''Portraits of Mankind''") is the only release by Brazilian alternative rock band Revolucionnários. It came out in 2006 through label Champirado Records, founded by vocalist and bassist Champignon (for ...
'', came out in 2006 through Champignon's own record label, Champirado Records, awarding him his second
Multishow Brazilian Music Award The Multishow Brazilian Music Award (in Portuguese: ''Prêmio Multishow de Música Brasileira'') is an award presented by the Brazilian cable channel Multishow to honor the best in the Brazilian music medium. The first ceremony was held in 1994 i ...
in 2007 in the "Best Instrumentalist" category – he had previously won the award in 2004, while still with Charlie Brown Jr. During his tenure with Revolucionnários, Champignon also won the MTV Video Music Brazil Award, in the "Best Bassist" category, for three years in a row (2005–2007). The band broke up in 2008, after which he joined the short-lived Nove Mil Anjos invited by
Junior Lima Durval de Lima Júnior (born April 11, 1984), better known by his stage name Junior Lima, is a Brazilian singer-songwriter, drummer, guitarist, actor and record producer best known for his work with duo Sandy & Junior. Biography Durval de Li ...
; his other bandmates also included vocalist Perí Carpigiani and guitarist Peu Sousa, a former member of singer
Pitty Priscilla Novaes Leone (born October 7, 1977, in Salvador, Bahia), better known as Pitty, is a Brazilian rock singer. She had played in two bands, Shes and Inkoma, before starting her solo career in 2003. She has sold over 2 million copies in ...
's live band. After releasing a single studio album the same year, Lima put the band on hold in 2009 following a series of creative divergences between the bandmembers. Around the same time he was a guest musician on the only album by his former bandmate Marcão's band TH6, '' Contra Insetos Parasitas''. In 2011 Champignon and Chorão settled their differences and he returned to Charlie Brown Jr. as bassist. The truce was short-lived though, and after an altercation with Chorão during a gig in
Apucarana Apucarana is a municipality in the state of Paraná in Brazil. The municipality covers at an elevation of above mean sea level. Its 2020 population was estimated as 136,234. Transportation The city is served by Cap. João Busse Airport whic ...
, Paraná in 2012, he was expelled from the band on stage. One day later though, Chorão changed his mind and allowed Champignon to stay. On March 6, 2013, Charlie Brown Jr. effectively ended its activities following the death of Chorão due to a
cocaine Cocaine (from , from , ultimately from Quechua: ''kúka'') is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant mainly used recreationally for its euphoric effects. It is primarily obtained from the leaves of two Coca species native to South Ameri ...
overdose. Champignon's final project was
A Banca A Banca (Portuguese for "''The Stand''") was a very short-lived Brazilian alternative rock band from Santos, São Paulo, composed mostly by former Charlie Brown Jr. members and described as a "spiritual successor" of it. History Following the b ...
, a
tribute act A tribute act, tribute band or tribute group is a music group, singer, or musician who specifically plays the music of a well-known music act. Tribute acts include individual performers who mimic the songs and style of an artist, such as Elv ...
/" spiritual successor" to Charlie Brown Jr. comprising former members
Bruno Graveto Bruno César Bezerra (born December 8, 1982), better known by his stage name Bruno Graveto, is a Brazilian drummer popular for his work with bands Charlie Brown Jr., A Banca and Strike. Biography Bruno César Bezerra was born in Santos, São Paul ...
, Thiago Castanho and Marcão, as well as new addition Helena "Lena" Papini. Their only release was the single "
O Novo Passo "O Novo Passo" (Portuguese for "''The New Step''") is a single by Brazilian alternative rock band A Banca. It initially debuted on August 24, 2013 through radio station Jovem Pan, but was played live by the band for the first time during a show ...
", which came out in August 2013 and was chosen by ''
Rolling Stone Brasil ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first kno ...
'' one of the best Brazilian songs of the year. A Banca was, however, overshadowed by controversy; a parcel of Charlie Brown Jr. fans criticized Champignon for "not respecting Chorão's death" and "not mourning it properly", going to the point of dismissing him as a "cash-grabber", a "traitor" and a "
Judas Judas Iscariot (; grc-x-biblical, Ἰούδας Ἰσκαριώτης; syc, ܝܗܘܕܐ ܣܟܪܝܘܛܐ; died AD) was a disciple and one of the original Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ. According to all four canonical gospels, Judas betr ...
". Champignon always vehemently denied such claims. In one of his final posts to his social media account he stated that the band's first full-length album was slated for an early 2014 release, following the end of their Chorão Eterno Tour in late August, but this never came to be. Towards the end of his life Champignon began to experience bouts of anxiety and sunk into a profound depression, disgruntled by criticism, his insecurities and financial problems caused by his hastiness. On the night of September 8, 2013, after an argument with his wife at a restaurant, he returned home, locked himself in his studio at his apartment and, at 0:30 a.m. of September 9, committed suicide by shooting himself in the head with a
.380 ACP The .380 ACP (9×17mm) ( Automatic Colt Pistol) is a rimless, straight-walled pistol cartridge developed by firearms designer John Moses Browning. The cartridge headspaces on the mouth of the case.Wilson, R. K. ''Textbook of Automatic Pisto ...
pistol. Four months prior, his former Nove Mil Anjos bandmate Peu Sousa had also committed suicide, by hanging; coincidentally, both he and Sousa died aged 35. Champignon was buried at the Cemitério Memorial Necrópole Ecumênica at his hometown of Santos, where Chorão was also buried six months prior. His wife, fellow musician Claudia Bossle Campos, with whom he had a daughter, Maria Amélia, later stated that "everything would have been different if he and Chorão had truly forgiven each other". Two years after his death, she released a song in tribute to him, entitled "Bright Light", accompanied by a music video; the song was later included in her 2018
extended play An extended play record, usually referred to as an EP, is a musical recording that contains more tracks than a single but fewer than an album or LP record.
''Bosslechamp'', released on what would have been his 40th birthday on June 16, which also contains songs they wrote together. Both he and his wife were
Spiritists Spiritism (French: ''spiritisme''; Portuguese: ''espiritismo'') is a spiritualist, religious, and philosophical doctrine established in France in the 1850s by the French teacher, educational writer, and translator Hippolyte Léon Denizard Riv ...
. From a previous relationship with Nicole Mecatti the musician had another daughter, Luiza, aged 8 at the time of his death.


Planned film

In 2017, filmmaker Gabriel Mellin announced he was working on a biopic about Champignon, entitled ''Champ'', which focuses on his relationship with Chorão. The script was being written by him alongside the musician's widow, Claudia Bossle. Since then, however, no further announcements were made.


Discography


Charlie Brown Jr.

* (1997) ''
Transpiração Contínua Prolongada ''Transpiração Contínua Prolongada'' ( Portuguese for "''Prolonged Continuous Sweating''") is the debut album by Brazilian alternative rock band Charlie Brown Jr., released on June 16, 1997 through Virgin Records. It was one of the band's many ...
'' * (1999) '' Preço Curto... Prazo Longo'' * (2000) ''
Nadando com os Tubarões ''Nadando com os Tubarões'' ( Portuguese for "''Swimming Alongside the Sharks''") is the third album by Brazilian alternative rock band Charlie Brown Jr., released in November 2000 through Virgin Records. It was the band's final album with origin ...
'' * (2001) '' Abalando a Sua Fábrica'' * (2002) ''
Bocas Ordinárias ''Bocas Ordinárias'' ( Portuguese for "''Ordinary Mouths''") is the fifth album by Brazilian alternative rock band Charlie Brown Jr., released in December 2002 through EMI. Vocalist Chorão described it as a "sequel of sorts" to '' Abalando a Su ...
'' * (2003) '' Acústico MTV: Charlie Brown Jr.'' * (2004) '' Tamo Aí na Atividade'' * (2012) ''
Música Popular Caiçara ''Música Popular Caiçara'' (Portuguese for "''Caiçara Popular Music''") is the second live album by Brazilian alternative rock band Charlie Brown Jr., released in CD, DVD and Blu-ray formats through Radar Records. Recorded during two gigs in ...
'' * (2013) ''
La Familia 013 ''La Familia 013'' (Spanish for "''The 013 Family''") is the tenth and final studio album by Brazilian alternative rock band Charlie Brown Jr. After a series of delays caused by the death of vocalist Chorão and the suicide of bassist Champignon, ...
''


Revolucionnários Revolucionnários (Portuguese for "''Revolutionnaries''" ) was a Brazilian alternative rock band from Santos, São Paulo. History After parting ways with his former band Charlie Brown Jr. in 2005 amid a series of creative divergences and c ...

* (2006) ''
Retratos da Humanidade ''Retratos da Humanidade'' (Portuguese for "''Portraits of Mankind''") is the only release by Brazilian alternative rock band Revolucionnários. It came out in 2006 through label Champirado Records, founded by vocalist and bassist Champignon (for ...
''


Nove Mil Anjos

* (2008) '' 9MA''


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Champignon (Musician) 1978 births 2013 deaths 2013 suicides Charlie Brown Jr. members Brazilian lyricists 20th-century Brazilian male singers 20th-century Brazilian singers 21st-century Brazilian male singers 21st-century Brazilian singers Brazilian rock singers Brazilian rock musicians Brazilian bass guitarists Brazilian drummers Male drummers Male bass guitarists Beatboxers Alternative rock bass guitarists Rap rock musicians Reggae rock musicians People from Santos, São Paulo Musicians from São Paulo (state) Brazilian spiritualists Suicides by firearm in Brazil Brazilian male singer-songwriters