Sepultura have confirmed that their 09/05 set at Rock In Rio in Rio de Janeiro will be built entirely around the Derrick Green era — meaning none of the material from the band’s classic Max Cavalera lineup will make the cut. Fan favourites like “Roots Bloody Roots”, “Territory”, and “Refuse/Resist” won’t be heard that night.
Cleveland native Derrick Green made the move from fronting Ohio hardcore outfit Outface to joining Sepultura in 1997, relocating to São Paulo for nearly two decades before eventually settling in Los Angeles. His tenure now spans well over half the band’s existence — yet the shadow of the Max era has never fully lifted, in part because Roots and Chaos A.D. remain Sepultura‘s commercial high-water marks, both certified gold in the U.S.
Green has never hidden his feelings about the constant backward glances. In a 01/2020 conversation with the Scars And Guitars podcast, he addressed the ongoing reunion speculation head-on (translated by Blabbermouth): “I think for some people, it’s hard for them to really move on. It’s hard for people to change in general because they’re fearful of change, because of the unexpected when changing. It’s hard for certain people, but that’s okay. It’s not where we’re at musically, and thank god that we were able to move forward and not only rely on the past. I think it’s natural for certain people that they gravitate to something that they’ve known from the past, and maybe that’s just where they like to have their heads.”
He continued: “I never wanted to be in that position, just because I’m an artist and, for me, it’s important to really explore and to evolve, and change is actually necessary. And that’s something that’s happening in all of our lives, so I accept it and go with it and live within the moments that are happening now.”
He added, “I don’t worry too much about other people and them being trapped in the past. It’s just something I don’t wanna be a part of or be near that. [Laughs]”
The Rock In Rio show arrives in the middle of Sepultura‘s ongoing farewell run. The tour launched 03/01/2024 at Arena Hall in Belo Horizonte — a sold-out night that also marked the debut of drummer Greyson Nekrutman, who came aboard after Eloy Casagrande departed to join Slipknot. The band is currently recording 40 songs across 40 cities for a live compilation, with the final North American leg — featuring Exodus, Biohazard, and Tribal Gaze — kicking off 04/29 in Montclair, New Jersey, and wrapping 05/29 at The Wiltern in Los Angeles.
