Heavily influenced by Anglo-American psychedelic pop,[7] they bridged Brazilian sensibilities together with studio trickery, feedback, distortion, and musique concrète.

Os Mutantes debuted their work in 1966, as a trio, when they presented themselves in the program O Pequeno Mundo de Ronnie Von of TV Record.

The group quickly became one of the main figures of the "new MPB" (popular Brazilian music), influenced by Tropicália, until their breakup in 1978, only with Sérgio Dias as an original member.

It was during this later decade that the importance of Os Mutantes was recognized, by both national and international rock, as one of the most creative dynamic, radical and talented groups of the psychedelic era.

Although the original line-up (Rita Lee, Arnaldo Baptista and Sérgio Dias; and later with Liminha and Dinho Leme) made the most notable breakthrough for the group, it has gone through numerous personnel changes throughout its existence.

The students began heckling even before the ensemble took the stage, and throughout the song, the anti-Tropicalist faction in the audience jeered and booed so loudly that the performers could barely be heard.

Os Mutantes continued playing, but Veloso stopped singing and spontaneously launched into an impassioned diatribe, denouncing the student faction for their conservatism, which provoked even louder howls of disapproval from the audience.

Os Mutantes (Arnaldo, Sérgio and Dinho, sans Rita Lee and Liminha—Lee was replaced with Zélia Duncan on vocals) played live for the first time since 1978 at the Tropicalia exhibition at London's Barbican Arts Centre on 22 May 2006.

This performance, which was first by drummer Dinho Leme since the end of Os Mutantes, was followed by shows in New York City, Los Angeles (with the Flaming Lips), San Francisco, Seattle, Denver, Chicago, and Miami.

The album is a follow-up to the 1996 "Red Hot + Rio," with proceeds from the sales donated to raise awareness and money to fight AIDS/HIV and related health and social issues.

[23] When Os Mutantes was formed, it combined influences from rock acts from the English-speaking world like The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Sly & the Family Stone, the Ventures, and Duane Eddy[24] with bossa nova, tropicália, samba and the cultural legacy of the Brazilian art vanguards from the modernist movement.

In addition, many contemporary underground or independent bands in the United States and Europe cite Os Mutantes as a major influence.

[25] Cobain was introduced to them by Pat Fear from White Flag (whose collaboration with Redd Kross and other friends under the name The Tater Totz was the first American band to cover or even cite Os Mutantes on their 1988 LP Alien Sleestaks from Brazil).

Red Hot Chili Peppers bass player Flea has stated on his Twitter account that "Os Mutantes the Brazilian band is so great".