Elisio Donas, keyboardist of Ornatos Violeta, has died

Portuguese musician Elicio Donas of Ornatos Violeta died on Sunday in Olhão, Faro, at the age of 48 after a sudden illness, the group’s agent Artur Figueiredo told Lusa on Monday.

Elicio Donas, producer and instrumentalist, was the keyboardist for Ornatos Violeta, founded in 1991 in Porto, along with Manel Cruz (voice), Peixe (guitar), Nuno Prata (bass) and Kinorm (drums).

With them he recorded the albums “Cão!” (1997) and A Monster Needs Friends (1999).

The musician also had a project in his own name called Gato Morto, in which he was preparing the first album with several guests such as Dana Colli (of Morphine), Miguel Lestre, Ines Souza, Vicente Palma, Antonio. Bento, Vivian, Emmy Curl and Joao Cabrita.

In an interview with Lusa agency in October 2020, Elisio Donas said that Gato Morto was a “life project”, “an art collective, not a band”.

“I thought it was a funny name with all the emotional charge of such a strange and dark name,” he said.

Despite the fact that some people caused “very active and very strong reactions” to this name, he kept it due to his “very good reason for existing” as a character who “due to unintentional mistakes in life” lost seven lives . by receiving others from a higher power.

“He has four or five more lives, he has already lost two or three because he didn’t learn the whole lesson, but he is fighting to get better. He’s already better than he was. summarized.

Along with Ornatos Violeta, Elisio Donas also toured with GNR, Jimmy P, Per7ume and Susana Félix and recorded with Sérgio Godinho.

One of Elisio Donas’ last concerts took place earlier this month with Ornatos Violeta at Queima das Fitas in Porto, and no further dates have been confirmed for the band.