Yeah, this one really hurts. I first started listening to Angra back in 2000, and I'm almost positive it was because they kept coming up in these Dream Theater messageboards. I also loved his work in Avantasia but am totally unfamiliar with Shaman so I'll check out their albums soon.
Anyone fan of the genre should listen to the first Shaman album, Ritual. A by now forgotten masterpiece, the best album Angra never recorded and all in all a great power metal album with brazilian music influences here and there.
Count me in among those deeply saddened at his sudden, unfair and shocking death. By now my tastes have changed and I don't really follow Angra anymore, but back in they day I was hugely into them and following Matos' carreer was an obvious consequence. I have seen Maiden, Metallica, Dream Theater, many great artists and fantastic concerts, but still I count the Shaman gig in Italy in 2002 as one of the best concerts I've ever seen, the intensity was amazing. Met Andrè before the show, talked to him in italian because he was fluent with that as well, he was just this happy and positive person all the time.
In later years as I said my tastes have changed so I didn't really follow what he was up to anymore - did he even continue his solo carrer? so when Tobias Sammet posted a pic of him on stage with Avantasia I was like "Oh, Matos, look who's back!"..... to think that literally a few days after he would pass away is unreal.
I also feel for Kiko, the poor guy is alone and hasn't nobody to talk to and he vents online, sharing his thoughts with fans trying to make sense of it all. Very human moment from him.
RIP Andrè, his music will carry on!
And to quote the magnificent and touching "Fairy Tale" from Shaman's Ritual.......
"Little lady, your tale has an end
For your love to the skies was sent
He's turned into sparks that shine with the stars...
And by night he will always be there
For his lady to stare
And thus he's never died"