The Uncles

The name The Uncles refers to two different groups: a Brazilian band and a British indie pop group.

Brazilian group

The Brazilian The Uncles form in the interior of São Paulo as a group of four friends who begin by playing disco music covers in the mid-1970s. Their stage names reflect a desire to move in a different musical direction. The members are João, Paulo, Jorge and Bingo, and they are fans of the Beatles. They start out playing at small parties, weddings and discos, then release their first single, “Diga-me Que Me Ama”, in 1976.

Their first album, titled The Uncles, follows in 1977. The band’s wider breakthrough comes with the second album, The Uncles II, which includes the hit “SOS”. In 1986 they end their run with a double compilation release. After the group, João works as a jingle composer, Paulo becomes a public employee after marrying, Jorge returns to the interior of São Paulo and lives on royalties, and Bingo enters the property business. There are also rumours of a possible reunion and an acoustic MTV recording.

British group

The British The Uncles are an indie pop group active in the early 1980s. They release one single, “What’s The Use Of Pretending”, in 1983.