Andreas Kisser explains that his wife’s death played a role in Sepultura’s decision to stop

Sepultura confirmed the band’s disbandment on December 8, 2023. That involves a world tour that lasts for a bit, but the end of a thrash institution like Sepultura is still significant. Why, therefore, did Sepultura decide to end its existence after more than 40 years? In an interview with Loud TV, guitarist Andreas Kisser stated that his wife Patricia Perissinoto Kisser’s passing was a contributing factor. Following a fight with colon cancer, Patricia passed away in July 2022 at the age of 52. Andreas discussed the value of palliative care and end-of-life care, the necessity of living in the present, and the certainty of death during the interview. It undoubtedly applies to groups like Sepultura just as much as it does to individuals and things.

Yeah, for sure. Definitely. The death of Patricia, my late wife, was two years and a half ago, (due to) cancer. The process was very painful, very difficult, of course, as we can imagine, but it’s been an open experience, to know myself, my family, new opportunities to talk about life because of dying. In Brazil is one of the worst places to die. A lot of people are forgotten from society, going through the same problems with cancer and very difficult illness and stuff. And I created this movement to inspire and stimulate people in Brazil to talk about dying in many respects, about euthanasia, about suicide, assisted suicide, about palliative care, especially, because in Brazil, we’re still growing up on that manner, because my wife, she had the palliative care and stuff. We were privileged to give that, because of health insurance and all that stuff. But most of the people in Brazil, they don’t have that. So we started this movement, this campaign, a festival, a music festival as well that we did for two years now. I just did the third edition now to raise funds for the people who take and give palliative care to the favelas in Rio, for the very poor people that are forgotten for society and stuff, and at the same time stimulate people to talk about dying. I learned that death is my biggest professor. I’m learning so much about life because I respect finitude. We cannot control that. We’re all gonna die. You’re gonna die. The camera’s gonna die. Any electronic. So it is what it is. We cannot choose. What we can choose is to live the moment. The intensity of the present is much more intense if you respect finitude.

In response to a question about his plans following Sepultura, Kisser stated that he hoped to have more time to focus on promoting palliative care awareness.

I hope so. I will have more time, definitely, to put on that, without Sepultura, without all the touring. Of course, I’m gonna keep working with music, different bands or whatever, different situations, soundtracks or who knows. I’m still studying music a lot, especially acoustic guitar. I have so many different ideas. But I don’t wanna make any decisions now. I wanna enjoy what I’m doing today, hence live in the present. But just aware of the possibilities, when it’s time to decide I’ll be a little more ready to know what to do. But it’s great that we’re on this tour now and enjoying the moment. It’s fantastic.