Famous for their humorous, unpretentious lyrics and for their sonority influenced by 1960s-era bands, the Jovem Guarda movement and traditional gaúcho music, they amassed a strong cult following throughout the 1980s and 1990s which lasts to the present day.

All four had previous experiences with music: Pianta was a founding member of experimental rock group DeFalla, and the Birck brothers, alongside Jorge (who was also a founding member of Os Cascavelletes), played alongside future TNT guitarist Tchê Gomes in the short-lived project Prisão de Ventre during the early 1980s.

In 1988 they released the demo tape Com Amor, Muito Carinho, a massive underground hit which spawned some of their most memorable songs, such as "Empregada", "Amigo Punk", "Fúlvio Silas", "Dênis" and "Colégio Interno", which was included in the soundtrack of the film O Mentiroso, by Werner Schünemann.

[3] Years later they signed with Carlos Eduardo Miranda's Banguela Records to release their first full-length album, Coisa de Louco II, in 1995, which was critically acclaimed and quickly sold out.

[4] A follow-up, Chapinhas de Ouro, came out in 1998 through Zoon Records and awarded the band a Prêmio Açorianos for Best Album the following year.