A solo act today, one of many we come across. This time we’re off over to Europe again… and then doubling back when we realise that our interviewee moved over here some time ago!
Simple things first – where are you guys from?
Soncino, an ancient village in northern Italy, but I moved to London since 2016.
How did you meet?
It’s basically a one-man-band, so I met myself since my birth!
How long have you been playing as a band?
From the age of 17 to 25 I had many bands, then I stopped for various reasons, mainly because thrash metal was disappearing except to the major bands. The Nu metal era came through and I wasn’t interested it. Some gigs are here available on YouTube.
Before you get sick of being asked… where does the band name come from?
It’s my surname.
What are your influences?
Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer as I listened to them a lot as a teenager. I could count Doors, Jimi Hendrix, and many other non-metal artists in, but my record would not…
Describe your music. What makes you unique?
I try to play metal without being a metalhead.
Do you have any particular lyrical themes?
Any song as a different theme, but some of the oldest is such a kind of funny gags. The latest is more politically oriented, spiritually involved, and taking inspiration for the current situation.
What’s your live show like? How many shows have you played?
Unfortunately this is a studio project at the moment, so no shows at all, but I did a few in the past with other band, and also jams/opened jam. You can see one here.
What’s the wildest thing you’ve seen or done at a live show?
I Angus Young soloing spinning through his sweat on the floor meanwhile licking the fretboard.
What kit do you use / guitars do you play / etc.?
I got all the unusual guitars. First of all my signature one. It is not sold anymore actually but I think you can have mine for just $1000! I personally designed and modeled the body.
Full description in the video. I used it in “WAR by War” and “Beside the Mask” with different tunings. My 7 strings is a Nashville Made in the USA, with original Floyd Rose and Seymour Duncan, I never met anyone endorsing it. I have another Jackson King V styled but self-made with spare parts with Floyd rose and EMG81 pickups for a classical metal tone which I used in Scream and Anxious. Dying forever has been played with a very old Kawai Aquarius custom where I put the Seymour Duncan’s of an ESP and a Wilkinson tremolo bar. It is my first electric guitar. I have a self-made 100 watts combo and an old pedalboard at my father’s house in Italy, but honestly, I am just playing through my BIAS amp software at the moment.
What, if anything, are you plugging/promoting at the moment?
My next album.
What are your plans for 2020?
Due to the current pandemic situation, I hope to survive…
If you were second on a three-band bill, which band would you love to be ing and which band would you choose to open for you? A chance to plug someone you’ve toured with, or a mate’s band we’ve not heard of before!
I’d would have loved to open for Slayer, but they are retired now, so Metallica or Megadeth would be fine. Yes, I am flying high, but who doesn’t? I would like to open for me this band I filmed an interview with a years ago. Now they are really well known worldwide, the drummer and the bassist toured with Lacuna Coil. I should be third in the bill, I know!
Casagrande: facebook | twitter | instagram | soundcloud | youtube | patreon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJJjPEUvWoY
